Apollo Service Centre on Armoury Way have been very good, even fixing minor things for free!

Their charges for repairs (that are actually required) are also reasonable, or they happily let you take your car elsewhere to be fixed and will retest without a fuss.

Thank you Ebn - appreciated.

My husband was contacted through another forum by an ex-DVSA garage inspector regarding "dodgy" MOT testers...It was quite interesting and we may act...
 "if anybody gets a bums rush at an MOT station, contact DVSA who will be most happy to investigate and rid us of shysters. I did it to a major dealer with several outlets which made my job a lot easier as the news got around. There are two types of 'appeal'; first that the MOT has been poorly done or 'bought' without a valid test (usually happens when buying a banger from a back street garage); secondly that the car has been failed for spurious items just to get work under false pretences. A poor test could result in 're-education' or withdrawal of the testers authorisation. However if it is to get more work under false pretences it is the garage that will lose its authorisation. Oh and every garage will tell you they do the test properly, unlike the garage down the road!"

I would highly recommend Springbok Garage in Tooting (http://springbokgarage.co.uk). Very professional, organised and trustworthy. A few times they have told me I don’t need certain things to save money.

Thanks all!

Your advice much appreciated.

We have always used Oldridge but the council is the one to go for if you want no doubts - they can't do the work so have no incentive to fail your car without cause

Hi Denwand.

I go to Wandsworth Council for that very reason. Great service. Have a waiting room on site but I believe car can be left and collected out of hours.

Their site is actually behind the Town Hall. Near The Roche School. Best entrance is Dormay Street. Turn left at The Crane Pub Armoury Way South Circular Road.

Hope that helps.

Wandsworth Council
Environment and Community Services Department
Frogmore Complex
Dormay Street
Wandsworth
SW18 1EY

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/artic ... ally_trust
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/mot
 

Oldridge motors have always been excellent t

Hi all,

my husband has been using a local garage for our family cars for the last five years or so.

However there has been a change of proprietor and the two MOTs we've had done were "suspicious" to say the least.

He cannot prove anything (otherwise he would report them to the DVLA or VOSA straightaway) but the new testers have failed one car for silly reasons and asked for a small payment (in cash) to rectify before passing. My husband let this go in order to get the car passed.

On the second occasion he gave an "advisory warning" on the brakes, not dangerous but would need work and was heavily encouraging my husband to book it in for service - what he did not know was the entire braking system had just been changed/overhauled by an Audi main dealer and there was no way it it had worn out in two months!

The new owners know we are old customers who get our cars fixed without quibble but he has a strong feeling that his good nature is being taken advantage of and he's being seen as a "cash cow" for easy and unnecessary work.

I won't name names as I cannot prove anything - also whereas the old proprietor was friendly and helpful the new one is sullen and grumpy, never looking you in the eye...as my dear old Father used to say "Never do business with someone you don't like"...

So can anyone recommend a helpful friendly independent garage (prefer not to use a chain like Halfords or Kwikfit  thanks) that gives you a straight forward MOT without trying to con you and hellps you to get your car past rather than aggressively trying to fail it?

Thanks!