Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: fudgee on 05 June 2011, 21:17:15

Title: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: fudgee on 05 June 2011, 21:17:15
Has anybody used one of the Halfords auto centres to get their MOT done before?

I've just booked mine in for this Friday and for a total charge of £27.42 it seems like a good deal  :)


Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Lazydocker on 05 June 2011, 21:20:21
Quote
Has anybody used one of the Halfords auto centres to get their MOT done before?

I've just booked mine in for this Friday and for a total charge of £27.42 it seems like a good deal  :)



I bet it fails ;) ;) ;)

In fact... Shall we have a poll? I reckon I can probably have a reasonable guess at what it fails on too :-X ::)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: tonyyeb on 05 June 2011, 21:43:51
Discs and pads....

Near racing certainty  ::)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Lazydocker on 05 June 2011, 21:46:59
I should add... An MOT takes about 45-50 minutes... That price doesn't even cover the overheads for that period in a workshop ;) ;)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: fudgee on 05 June 2011, 22:00:28
I'll find out on friday and I promise to be honest and post the full outcome on this thread.

I'll tell you something though,I know for a fact that my pads and discs are all okay, so if they try and rip me off by telling me they need replacing whatever little prick it is that tells me is going head first straight down the inspection pit.

I really am not the sort of bloke you want to rip off....its one of the things that makes me see red and I've got in a lot of trouble because of it in the past.

Should be interesting either way.... :-X :-X
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Lazydocker on 05 June 2011, 22:06:54
Shocks, Springs or tyres come high on my list too :-X :-X :-X ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: the alarming man on 06 June 2011, 09:37:44
well some of the halfords sites are what were nationwide auto centres and thats what got them a slot on watch dog for changing parts that did'nt need replacing :y
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: sussex peter on 06 June 2011, 10:16:56
I would bet on the brakes or track rods, they know that most people dont know what they are.  ;)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 June 2011, 10:18:28
I think cheap MOTs are a false economy. As said, the true cost of an MOT to an outfit has to be around the £50 mark these days, if not more when you look at the amount of kit they have to maintain to do the testing. Anyone offering them cheap regards them as a loss leader and is looking to generate further work.

I pay the full fee at my local independent garage and feel that they are always fair.

Kevin
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Shackeng on 06 June 2011, 10:24:53
Quote
I think cheap MOTs are a false economy. As said, the true cost of an MOT to an outfit has to be around the £50 mark these days, if not more when you look at the amount of kit they have to maintain to do the testing. Anyone offering them cheap regards them as a loss leader and is looking to generate further work.

I pay the full fee at my local independent garage and feel that they are always fair.

Kevin


I agree that they rely on having to change some parts to make up the cost, however, our local stealer charged £29 odd for my MOT, and yes, it required work, for which I took it away and did at very little cost to me, and a further £10 'for admin' retest (As they didn't do the work). For me still a good result.  :y
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 June 2011, 10:29:42
Having said what I said, it's a bit galling to watch them spend 15 minutes testing the Westfield, another 30 minutes having an extended fag break so the computerised MOT system doesn't smell a rat, and then get presented with a bill for £50. >:(
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Andy B on 06 June 2011, 10:39:56
Quote
Having said what I said, it's a bit galling to watch them spend 15 minutes testing the Westfield, another 30 minutes having an extended fag break so the computerised MOT system doesn't smell a rat, and then get presented with a bill for £50. >:(

Exactly how my bike MOT was, just how long can it take? The bill was slightly lower though
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: jimac on 06 June 2011, 10:52:15
Quote
Quote
Having said what I said, it's a bit galling to watch them spend 15 minutes testing the Westfield, another 30 minutes having an extended fag break so the computerised MOT system doesn't smell a rat, and then get presented with a bill for £50. >:(

Exactly how my bike MOT was, just how long can it take? The bill was slightly lower though

Snap! I was told the system won't let them complete the test and print off the certificate until the allotted time had expired.  No way does it take 45 minutes to do a bike MOT.
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: TheBoy on 06 June 2011, 17:58:17
Halfords/Nationwide tried it on with me a few weeks back, when I was after an exhaust for her Rover.

A £46 phone quote turned into a £240+ quote once they looked at the car, with all the usual excuses about it being 'odd' and 'different' to the standard Rover exhaust, and that the middle section was also blowing. (Nothing odd/different about it, same exhaust system has been fitted to all 200s/25s since approx 1996).

Needless to say, a quick Piss-off Pill was dispensed, and I bought a backbox from a factors for £37, and it passed its MOT a week or so later (so no blowing middle section). 
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: omegod on 06 June 2011, 18:20:03
I remember my mum putting an escort into them in the 90's, charged for a gearbox mount and a tyre.....neither of which were even fitted....cue the manager getting a huge bollocking off a 6ft 2 spotty teenager ( me ;D )whilst showing him the old parts were still on the car in front of his own staff and other customers.

My guess is track rod end, wishbone and the obligatory bulbs!
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: sierrapaul on 07 June 2011, 19:17:22
discs,pads,springs,shocks,track rods,wishbones,tyres.anything they can rip you off with.i wouldnt let them change a bulb on my car.i always take my cars to a local place that does just mots and no repairs and never had a prob in 10yrs of useing them.paul
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: fudgee on 07 June 2011, 19:35:43
Just to let you all know that after reading all of your replys and comments I telephoned halfords and cancelled my appointment.

F**k me!!...... do you lot know how to scare somebody or what!!!  ;D ;D ;D

I've booked it in at my local independant garage who I've used B4 for 10.15 friday morning.
I'll still post the result as I said B4 though  :y :y

I've also been reading some storys on the internet from disgruntled punters that more or less echo the feeling on OOF.

Saying that the headlamps are slightely out of alignment and need adjusting seems to be 1 of their more favoured pieces of bullshit.

£15.00 each lamp apparantely :D :D
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: sierrapaul on 07 June 2011, 19:47:09
and your local place will prob do it for free for you.they just rip you off.
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: fudgee on 10 June 2011, 11:38:46
Passed!!!!... 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Only 1 piece of advisory which I'm going to put up in the gerneral help section in a mo.

Nice start to the weekend  ;)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: jonnycool on 10 June 2011, 11:57:04
Good stuff, another year on the road  :y
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: tonyyeb on 10 June 2011, 12:41:29
Glad to hear it, fudgee  :y
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Lazydocker on 10 June 2011, 12:42:48
Good news... I'd be interested to know what the outcome would have been at the Halfords centre though :-X ::)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: fudgee on 10 June 2011, 12:52:04
Quote
Good news... I'd be interested to know what the outcome would have been at the Halfords centre though :-X ::)
So would I......although I think we all know deep down :-X

I can't believe I almost went there TBH, it was just the price that was tempting me.

That's one of my problems. I can resist most things apart from temptation  :D
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: Lazydocker on 10 June 2011, 12:55:52
Quote
Quote
Good news... I'd be interested to know what the outcome would have been at the Halfords centre though :-X ::)
So would I......although I think we all know deep down :-X

I can't believe I almost went there TBH, it was just the price that was tempting me.

That's one of my problems. I can resist most things apart from temptation  :D

My comments were not meant to scare you into changing the test centre in any way, just as a warning that the results can be "odd"! ;D ;D

Glad you did though as I doubt your weekend would have been so enjoyable with a Failed MOT looming over it ::)
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: sussex peter on 10 June 2011, 14:33:31
Thats the reason we are on OOF! To get good advice.
Glad you sailed thru the MOT.
 ;D
Title: Re: Halfords M.O.T
Post by: CaptainZok on 10 June 2011, 16:35:30
Quote
Just to let you all know that after reading all of your replys and comments I telephoned halfords and cancelled my appointment.

F**k me!!...... do you lot know how to scare somebody or what!!!  ;D ;D ;D

I've booked it in at my local independant garage who I've used B4 for 10.15 friday morning.
I'll still post the result as I said B4 though  :y :y

I've also been reading some storys on the internet from disgruntled punters that more or less echo the feeling on OOF.

Saying that the headlamps are slightely out of alignment and need adjusting seems to be 1 of their more favoured pieces of bullshit.

£15.00 each lamp apparantely
:D :D

Bobbing Rastards. Mine failed on h/l allignment but had been corrected before the tester even presented me with the fail sheet. Total cost including retest after we patched up the hole in the inner wing £30 trade.