I have used the same garage for my MOT's for the last 20 years and have built up a good working relationship with them over this time
Last week a customer asked me to MOT his high mileage Vectra, which i new had a few issues. I arranged for it to come in a few days before to carryout a pre-check......he did not show up
When he came in on the day of the MOT, i told him that it probably would not pass, but he said could i take it anyway
It failed on front shocks, rear discs (badly corroded) and a lower rear bush. I paid the £38:00 fee (trade). I carried out the work and re-submitted for another test 3 days later, a full retest was done and another £38:00 fee was paid (even though i have been a loyal trade customer for the last 20 years)
I think us Independents that do MOT's on behalf of the customers are just going to have to accept that the days of a free retest are long gone. We are going to have to carryout thorough checks before submitting vehicle for testing.........goodbye to all the cowboys who submit without prechecks!!
If a customer want's an Independent to do the work for them, then they must realise it is going to cost. The alternative is to take it themselves and be at the mercy of the testing station
Hopefully all the MOT stations will soon be on par with each other, no free retesting or discounting (if they want to stay in business)