Would you formally complain about this?

[bluelid]

Car was serviced on Thursday. Was picked up and taken to the garage (large, international manufacturer) and then dropped back the same afternoon.

Fast forward to this morning when I'm driving my 2yo DS to his nursery. Had to do a rather sharp brake, due to car in front suddenly stopping. Wasn't a full on emergency brake, but I was going at about 20mph and had to slow down quite rapidly.

DS is screaming in the back- I turn round and his car seat has flown forward and he is half in the footwell/ half pressed against the passenger seat!!

He has one of the seats that is secured with the seatbelt round the back- basically, I can only presume that the seat was unbuckled when it was serviced and not secured again. I definitely have not undone it and he is not capable of doing it himself.

No one me ruined the seat needed to be re-secured and it was just put back in place... which meant I wasn't even promoted to check. If it has been laid flat/ places back to front or something, I would have known it was loose!

Would you make a formal complaint based on this?

I had it drummed into by DH to check every day - not necessarily every journey- to check the car seat when the children were little. It was second nature to do this.
Most garages won't touch car seats that are strapped into the car even for MOT purposes How do you know this?

Most garages won't touch car seats that are strapped into the car even for MOT purposes How do you know this?
Sorry I meant to add, I remember them taking the car seat out and leaving it loose on the back seat. once during the MOT and I was really annoyed as it was quite tricky to put back!

I understand why people are responding the way they are...

However, if the garage hadn't flagged that they touched the seat and the seat hadn't visibly moved position, I don't think it was purely your responsibility. Putting myself in the shoes of a technician with a conscience, if I couldn't figure out how to remove and then safely secure a child seat again, I'd flag it when the car was collected

Our garage refuses to touch car seats (to either remove or secure) for this very reason. It's sole responsibility of the car owner to remove the seat before work starts (and if it hasn't been removed, you are asked to return to the garage to do so). I used to think their policy was OTT but I think I can understand their reasoning in light of this (they're completely removing all room for error).

@notacooldad Because it states it in the Gov.Uk guidelines for MOT testing

"...Child seat(s) retained by seat belt(s) must not be removed. A visual examination is required of only those parts of the seat belt(s) which are readily accessible..."

See here

Why on earth did they remove it for a service? Would be my first question to the garage.

If it was necessary, they should have secured it or let you know.

Agree

??? Is this MNHQ with a namechange fail? What does this mean, posted twice?

So, it’s not rude for you to ask me if I’m mentally unwell but it is rude for me to ask you? Do people point out you’re a hypocrite often?

Theyre 16 and 10 and just fine, thanks.

Eh? I haven’t asked if you are mentally unwell?

@bloodywhitecat
Thanks for that info. It's years since I've needed a car seat so I dont know if it has always been that way.

My apologies. I assumed you were the person I responded to - why did you take such offence at a comment that didn’t involve you?

Why do you think it’s rude for me to ask them if they’re mentally unwell but it’s not rude for them to ask me?

Lol at you not having the balls to tag the people you’re digging at. Of course people are offended that you’re accusing them of having mental illnesses because they’re better parents than you are.

Yes I did, just in case

But not sure if that puts me in the minority