Massive jump in DOE test fees- RSA

Going Forward

Red Nissan wrote: »

Commercials are tested very year and busses and Taxi's every six months. NCT, four years from new and two year intervals?

Every six months? Since when?

Going Forward

Red Nissan wrote: »

Commercials are tested very year and busses and Taxi's every six months. NCT, four years from new and two year intervals?

He meant the difference between how long it takes to do the test, as in hours and minutes......

Red Nissan

aaakev wrote: »

Fair enough, i read it that you thought place that tests vehicles and also repairs them is going to be up to no good...

One will meet all kinds. Many moons ago my Hiace had a fail due to a bad bearing, the mechanic said "I can book you in immediately for €150 or slip me €80 and I'll fix it in the line" ~ he did.

Red Nissan

Going Forward wrote: »

Every six months? Since when?

I believe it's in the raft of changes since the first of this month.

Going Forward

Ardeehey wrote: »

Price increases are unfortunate but job needs to be done, just ask the family of the poor schoolkid that was killed and the rest injured in Offaly a couple of years back...rear axle came off the bus!

No one is saying that vehicles dont need to be tested.

visual

To best of my knowledge you can only buy pads in sets for both sides. Total 4 pads.
I have a feeling OP is mistaken only one pad was fitted.

bucketybuck

visual wrote: »

To best of my knowledge you can only buy pads in sets for both sides. Total 4 pads.
I have a feeling OP is mistaken only one pad was fitted.

Yep, pads are sold in sets these days.

You should always change brake pads on both sides of an axle at the same time, but unfortunately there are still people out there who think they are saving money by only changing one side if they think they can get away with it.

Going Forward

bucketybuck wrote: »

Yep, pads are sold in sets these days.

You should always change brake pads on both sides of an axle at the same time, but unfortunately there are still people out there who think they are saving money by only changing one side if they think they can get away with it.

I'd say OP is just making a mistake.
Otherwise mechanic is a loon.

rubberdiddies

Going Forward wrote: »

I'd say OP is just making a mistake.
Otherwise mechanic is a loon.

Yeah I said earlier that my knowledge of motoring terms is limited. He probably changed 2 brake pads so.

Can't see why he is an idiot. He saved me from having to pay approx €750.
The van passed te doe and I drove it for another year. Does that make him an idiot?

As another poster mentioned maybe they gave me an estimate. Maybe. But if so it put me off.

Not entirely sure why I'm being attacked here. I'm posting a factual account of what happened about 3 years ago.

I've already stated clearly that I wasn't tarring all garages with the same brush. Quite clearly stated that in my second post as well as explaining my brake pad terminology in other posts!

bucketybuck

rubberdiddies wrote: »

Can't see why he is an idiot. He saved me from having to pay approx €750.
The van passed te doe and I drove it for another year. Does that make him an idiot?

I know lots of mechanics that could save you money. They would be more than happy to let you drive your vehicle on nearly bald tyres and with uneven wear on your brake pads. But at least you saved money!

As another poster mentioned maybe they gave me an estimate. Maybe. But if so it put me off.

Did you pay the garage and let them properly inspect your car?

Going Forward

Any (independent) mechanic worth his salt should be able to give a reasonably accurate estimate based on a DOE fail sheet.

The only major hurdle would be if there is an emission fault.

I had one experience of a DOE centre when, just as I picked up the keys after a van failed the test, they had an estimate already conveniently prepared for me.

I got my own mechanic to do it for less than half the price.

The reason why is that a main dealer will supply main dealer original parts, eg, branded brake pads costing say, 80euros as opposed to OEM costing E25, along with around E60 per hour labour- they've got to pay for the big fancy glass forecourt.

The same goes for filters, bearings, track rod ends etc.

Develop a good relationship with a motor factors and a good mechanic and you will save big time.

NuckingFacker

D.O.E Test? Lol. I buy a lot of vans, I take the DOE as being bull till proved otherwise. You can buy a doe, it'll cost a few bob more than the legit test, but it's there to be bought regardless. I now tend to buy not doe'd vans, as it saves me having to pay €1000 extra for a madey-uppey piece of paper. I DOE them myself, at a center I know and trust, for peace of mind. €98 versus €70 ish? Big deal. It's €30. It's not the end of the world.

bucketybuck

Going Forward wrote: »

Any (independent) mechanic worth his salt should be able to give a reasonably accurate estimate based on a DOE fail sheet.

The Alternator warning light is on the vehicle dash. What do you quote for on the estimate?

- Do you quote 5 minutes labour for a fuse?
- Do you quote 2 hours labour checking for a wiring fault?
- Do you include the price of a new alternator in case it is a fault with that?

You haven't even touched or seen the vehicle, what do you quote for? Remember now, if you didn't quote for the alternator and it turns out that the alternator is actually faulty well now you are a rip-off garage doing things that you never quoted for. So come on, whats in your estimate?

The problem with the original story is that one garage had to do an estimate sight unseen, while the second mechanic was given the car and told to try and fix it, and the OP is shocked that there might be a price difference between the two. Imagine that.

Red Nissan

NuckingFacker wrote: »

D.O.E Test? Lol. I buy a lot of vans, I take the DOE as being bull till proved otherwise. You can buy a doe, it'll cost a few bob more than the legit test, but it's there to be bought regardless. I now tend to buy not doe'd vans, as it saves me having to pay €1000 extra for a madey-uppey piece of paper. I DOE them myself, at a center I know and trust, for peace of mind. €98 versus €70 ish? Big deal. It's €30. It's not the end of the world.

For this reason, from this month, you're out.

Going Forward

bucketybuck wrote: »

The Alternator warning light is on the vehicle dash. What do you quote for on the estimate?

- Do you quote 5 minutes labour for a fuse?
- Do you quote 2 hours labour checking for a wiring fault?
- Do you include the price of a new alternator in case it is a fault with that?

You haven't even touched or seen the vehicle, what do you quote for? Remember now, if you didn't quote for the alternator and it turns out that the alternator is actually faulty well now you are a rip-off garage doing things that you never quoted for. So come on, whats in your estimate?

The problem with the original story is that one garage had to do an estimate sight unseen, while the second mechanic was given the car and told to try and fix it, and the OP is shocked that there might be a price difference between the two. Imagine that.

Wouldnt an alternator light would point to a faulty or wearing alternator or a bad earth?

A reconditioned/exchange alternator is in the region of E70. Not terribly big money either way and not difficult to replace either 2 or 3 bolts. If its an oldish vehicle might as well change it anyway, it wont last forever.

Replacing a blown fuse wont cure an alternator/battery light on dash problem.

Shorts blowing fuses on the other hand can take hours to trace admittedly.
But I think from my reading this is not the case here.

bucketybuck

Going Forward wrote: »

Wouldnt an alternator light would point to a faulty or wearing alternator or a bad earth?

A reconditioned/exchange alternator is in the region of E70. Not terribly big money either way and not difficult to replace either 2 or 3 bolts. If its an oldish vehicle might as well change it anyway, it wont last forever.

Replacing a blown fuse wont cure an alternator/battery light on dash problem.

Shorts blowing fuses on the other hand can take hours to trace admittedly.
But I think from my reading this is not the case here.

You don't need to tell me any of that. So what would you put on your sight unseen estimate?

NuckingFacker

Red Nissan wrote: »

For this reason, from this month, you're out.

In as much as? I take them, replace the brakes, tyres, all bulbs, whatever needs doing and then get them actually tested as opposed to pretendey tested. I highly doubt i'm out, tbh.

Going Forward

bucketybuck wrote: »

You don't need to tell me any of that. So what would you put on your sight unseen estimate?

I wouldnt give nor expect to receive any accurate sight unseen estimate whether for plumbing or mechanical repair work, would you?

Red Nissan

NuckingFacker wrote: »

In as much as? I take them, replace the brakes, tyres, all bulbs, whatever needs doing and then get them actually tested as opposed to pretendey tested. I highly doubt i'm out, tbh.

My simple story, many moons ago, took van to test centre, failed, sold van, told buyer it failed, he came back to show me certificate, three years later told me it was the BEST van he ever had.

So anything goes. And I suppose, it still can.

Point not to missed though, in all [my] cases the vehicle was sound.

bucketybuck

Going Forward wrote: »

I wouldnt give nor expect to receive any accurate sight unseen estimate whether for plumbing or mechanical repair work, would you?

I have many times been asked to prepare an estimate based on nothing but a DOE failure list. Its part of the job, I do not have any choice in the matter. All I can do is work on a worst case scenario, and we are instructed to overestimate not underestimate as customers are rarely rational about the final invoice exceeding the estimated costs.

Clearly you yourself would not attempt an estimate based on nothing but the knowledge that the alternator light is on, which brings us back to the original story. He received a sight unseen estimate which obviously was based on the worst case scenario of service, replace alternator, replace brake pads and replace tyre.

Then on the internet this becomes another horrific tale of a nasty dealer trying to rip off the poor driver.

Going Forward

bucketybuck wrote: »

I have many times been asked to prepare an estimate based on nothing but a DOE failure list. Its part of the job, I do not have any choice in the matter. All I can do is work on a worst case scenario, and we are instructed to overestimate not underestimate as customers are rarely rational about the final invoice exceeding the estimated costs.

Clearly you yourself would not attempt an estimate based on nothing but the knowledge that the alternator light is on, which brings us back to the original story. He received a sight unseen estimate which obviously was based on the worst case scenario of service, replace alternator, replace brake pads and replace tyre.

Then on the internet this becomes another horrific tale of a nasty dealer trying to rip off the poor driver.

He says he was quoted 850 plus vat.

A thousand euro for replacing a fuse or an alternator, brake pads and a tyre.............

No wonder he feels slightly screwed.

bucketybuck

Going Forward wrote: »

He says he was quoted 850 plus vat.

A thousand euro for replacing a fuse or an alternator, brake pads and a tyre.............

No wonder he feels slightly screwed.

See how the figures grow...

Even just you repeating the story have inflated everything to paint a picture. €850 isnt a thousand euro. It wasn't replacing a fuse. It wasn't one brake pad. There was also a service included which you decline to mention.

But thats besides the point. He isn't allowed to feel screwed by the first garage, it seems he never even let them see the van at all.

BorneTobyWilde

If it was cheap we would all test more often
Fact that it's not cheap is reason people get it done for a 20.00

rubberdiddies

bucketybuck wrote: »

See how the figures grow...

Even just you repeating the story have inflated everything to paint a picture. €850 isnt a thousand euro. It wasn't replacing a fuse. It wasn't one brake pad. There was also a service included which you decline to mention.

But thats besides the point. He isn't allowed to feel screwed by the first garage, it seems he never even let them see the van at all.

Maybe then the problem is with communication.

I left my van in at 8am that morning. Some time after 12 I got a call to say it failed because of x, y and z.

As an average punter who just wanted to pass and go home without having to bring it back again I naturally asked how much it would cost to bring it to passing. about half an hour later I get a call with the bad news. At the time it never even entered my head that it may have been an estimate so naturally at that price I declined.

Communication issue? Maybe
But to be so far off the mark. At no point was I told the possible lower end of the scale.

Going Forward

bucketybuck wrote: »

See how the figures grow...

Even just you repeating the story have inflated everything to paint a picture. €850 isnt a thousand euro. It wasn't replacing a fuse. It wasn't one brake pad. There was also a service included which you decline to mention.

But thats besides the point. He isn't allowed to feel screwed by the first garage, it seems he never even let them see the van at all.

850 plus vat is how much?

theoneeyedman

Ardeehey wrote: »

Price increases are unfortunate but job needs to be done, just ask the family of the poor schoolkid that was killed and the rest injured in Offaly a couple of years back...rear axle came off the bus!

IIRC this bus was 'tested', at least on paper. Charging Joe Soap more to test his Berliingo won't cure the issues around how this bus was tested IMO......bit of a bogus argument

bucketybuck

Going Forward wrote: »

850 plus vat is how much?

Apologies. In my industry everything is a figure without vat.

ljpg

put me van through the doe today,failed on rear brake imbalance,(2% off!!!!!)was'nt happy handing over €110,just to add insult to injury its €43 for a retest.

mickdw

Its really crazy the cost of this test now. I dont have a commercial but I can see its not fair. If you end up failing and needing re test, its the guts of €200 if counting alittle diesel cost also and thats every year.
Who decided that this increase was a good idea? I believe its some form of levy that has been added to the cost. Whats it for?

Bpmull

mickdw wrote: »

Its really crazy the cost of this test now. I dont have a commercial but I can see its not fair. If you end up failing and needing re test, its the guts of €200 if counting alittle diesel cost also and thats every year.
Who decided that this increase was a good idea? I believe its some form of levy that has been added to the cost. Whats it for?

I was getting my focus test today and everyone was complaining about the price increase. It's apparently to cover new computers and equipment. It's very different in there now most stuff going in was failing while I was there very strict. Also the test is back dated. So if you van is 6 months out of test and it passes you only get a cert for 6 months. Where as before it was always a year from the day it was tested. Anyway I passed and I am getting the disc in the post next week it goes up on the window like an nct.