Halfords 'Free' MOT test

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Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by EDC5 »

Whilst I was browsing their online store I noticed Halfords seem to be giving out a free MOT with any purchase. (https://www.halfords.com/advice/motorin ... t-halfords)

Qualifying criteria seem to be that you make a purchase and that you book it in to their service centre before the end of October next year.

Since my MOT is due on the 21st of December I'm pretty tempted to take it a month early and see what they say.

Obviously, part of me is thinking that anywhere offering a 'free' MOT will be extra harsh on anything; as they'll be out of pocket to the tune of an hour of mechanics time if they can’t find any issues.

Has anyone here taken up their generous offer, or a similar one elsewhere? Did you find them extra picky?
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole Elis. Customer reviews say it all, currently 1.4 out of 5. Plenty of cases of being overcharged for work and ripped off. Check it out:

https://www.reviews.co.uk/company-revie ... utocentres

And one concerning the free MOT:

https://www.reviews.co.uk/company-revie ... es/4738457
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by bobins »

......no such thing as a free lunch. 8-[
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by EDC5 »

Just had a look at those reviews... :o

I don't think a bargepole would come close to describing the distance I'd like to maintain from that place!
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by GiveMeABreak »

It reminds of the scamming autocentres in America that were investigated and fined - they were getting customers in under the pretence of a free oil and fluid check - and were basically charging customers for oil and transmission / brake fluid that they did not need after getting an independent engineer to check the vehicles before and after the visit.

They had some of the staff (now ex-staff) actually confess to being 'told' they had to bull crap the client and upsell services that they didn't need to increase sales - or risk losing their jobs if they didn't hit targets!
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by van ordinaire »

There doesn't seem much point going to Halfrauds any more as they only seem to do batterys, bulbs, wipers & filters in the way of parts now.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by EDC5 »

GiveMeABreak wrote: 02 Oct 2018, 18:24 It reminds of the scamming autocentres in America that were investigated and fined - they were getting customers in under the pretence of a free oil and fluid check - and were basically charging customers for oil and transmission / brake fluid that they did not need after getting an independent engineer to check the vehicles before and after the visit.

They had some of the staff (now ex-staff) actually confess to being 'told' they had to bull crap the client and upsell services that they didn't need to increase sales - or risk losing their jobs if they didn't hit targets!


hmm, that’s pretty bad! Definitely giving it a miss.

I might still get my MOT a month early to benefit from the 13 month MOT :)
van ordinaire wrote: 02 Oct 2018, 21:20 There doesn't seem much point going to Halfrauds any more as they only seem to do batterys, bulbs, wipers & filters in the way of parts now.
I bought their 200 piece tool set recently as I got an irresistible offer in an email, they seem pretty good quality.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by Michel »

Halfords Pro tool range is brilliant. I believe they are made by Britool for Halfords. Very very good quality.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by Richard_C »

Isn't there some new rule about not being allowed to drive your car away if it fails its MOT? Maybe that's why Halfords have started doing this - even if you have the car tested one month in advance you are still "captive" and have to get them to do whatever work they say you need. Same applies to all garages of course, the scope for profit-boosting malfeasance is immense.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by white exec »

Richard_C wrote: 03 Oct 2018, 08:50 Isn't there some new rule about not being allowed to drive your car away if it fails its MOT?
Surely not, for all levels of failure?
Was/is it the case for a vehicle discovered as dangerous?
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by Richard_C »

Yes, its only the 'dangerous' category that prevents drive away. Dangerous, Major, Minor, Advisory.

But in almost every category testers judgement applies, example: Brake pipe ferrule corroded: Major. Brake pipe ferrule corroded and likely to fail: Dangerous.

I'm sure most testers are thoroughly professional, ethical and well trained, but its not hard to see how someone working in a pressured environment with targets to meet might be tempted to err on the side of make-work - and very few customers will know the rules. "This is a major fault, you really shouldn't drive it away ...." will convince most people. On the other side of the coin, garages which sell second hand cars, especially older ones, might encourage their testers to err on the generous side. Maybe I'm too cynical.

In some countries, the MOT equivalent is carried out by wholly independent government run centres - that strikes me as a good idea but maybe wouldn't work in thinly populated rural areas where you might have to drive miles to get to one.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by Gibbo2286 »

There were and maybe still are, some government MOT testing stations, we had one in Gloucester and another I used in Hereford for the over 3.5 tonne vehicles, they did cars too for the locals but were too far from me for that.


https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot/
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by Pug_XUD_KeenAmateur »

those Halfrauds Reviews should be under the 'Joke of the Day' thread.
....not funny though if you're the one with the blown engine or a £500 bill you've paid for no reason.

Have seen the Youtube video (or one similar) with regard to the American Autocentre scam Marc. Would like to say its 'Shocking', but sadly not.

I'm a Cheapskate, by necessity, but I never take up a 'Cheap / Free MOT Deal'.
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Yes, as Robin said - no such thing as a free lunch and I'm far too cynical now to trust anything like this sort of thing.

The days of free giveaways and finding a Cartier watch in the Kellogs Cornflakes are well and truly over!
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Re: Halfords 'Free' MOT test

Post by RichardW »

There's nothing to stop you driving away a car that has a current MOT, even if it's been retested and failed with a Dangerous marker. Should you be stopped, or have an accident, however, you could be charged with driving an un-roadworthy vehicle (chances are you were before the test anyway, you just hadn't been told). Police ANPR only knows if <1 year since last MOT - there is no info on new test, so it will pass the ANPR quick check and not get flagged up. That's not to say of course that the garage won't put pressure on you not to drive it away!
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