NCT - car damage

Dubl07

Perfect car went in for the test this morning. Took half an hour, was passed.

A couple of hours later I spotted damage to a knob on the driver's door. It'll cost over €150 parts and labour to fix. It was undamaged when I used it last night so unless the pixies were using the car overnight the NCT bloke did it. If he'd even kept the bit I might've been able to do something but it's not in the vehicle.

Anyone else experienced similar? Will the NCT people pay up? So pissed off.

kona

Dubl07 wrote: »

Perfect car went in for the test this morning. Took half an hour, was passed.

A couple of hours later I spotted damage to a knob on the driver's door. It'll cost over €150 parts and labour to fix. It was undamaged when I used it last night so unless the pixies were using the car overnight the NCT bloke did it. If he'd even kept the bit I might've been able to do something but it's not in the vehicle.

Anyone else experienced similar? Will the NCT people pay up? So pissed off.

It was on it's way out anyways in that case IMO.
Of course you'd like to have been the one to break it but that didnt happen.

€150 sounds excessive too for what sounds like plastic trim.

buckfasterer

Dubl07 wrote: »

Perfect car went in for the test this morning. Took half an hour, was passed.

A couple of hours later I spotted damage to a knob on the driver's door. It'll cost over €150 parts and labour to fix. It was undamaged when I used it last night so unless the pixies were using the car overnight the NCT bloke did it. If he'd even kept the bit I might've been able to do something but it's not in the vehicle.

Anyone else experienced similar? Will the NCT people pay up? So pissed off.

If your positive it was damaged in the NCT centre, contact them and explain the situation and ask to check their cctv. Happened in my local centre last year. Took a solicitors letter to finally get them to admit liability.

Dubl07

kona wrote: »

It was on it's way out anyways in that case IMO.
Of course you'd like to have been the one to break it but that didnt happen.

€150 sounds excessive too for what sounds like plastic trim.

I don't generally reach through the open window to operate stuff on the dash when all's said and done. I reckon it caught on a watch-strap, sleeve or similar.

I've no beef with the lad himself other than that he didn't own up but I'm still going to be out a fair amount. Mistakes happen when they're under pressure but honesty would be preferable to keeping the head down. It's not just trim - it affects functionality as the whole switch operated by the knob now needs to be replaced.

Spook_ie

Ah switches, just don't make them like they used to. Old switches you could use them like you meant it, instead now you have to have weak pussy fingers so they won't break!

kona

Dubl07 wrote: »

I don't generally reach through the open window to operate stuff on the dash when all's said and done. I reckon it caught on a watch-strap, sleeve or similar.

I've no beef with the lad himself other than that he didn't own up but I'm still going to be out a fair amount. Mistakes happen when they're under pressure but honesty would be preferable to keeping the head down. It's not just trim - it affects functionality as the whole switch operated by the knob now needs to be replaced.

So what's broken?

Dubl07

kona wrote: »

So what's broken?

The mirror adjustment switch for the electric mirrors. A new one would be almost Stg£50 plus shipping then labour so the Dublin price isn't outrageous.

kona

Dubl07 wrote: »

The mirror adjustment switch for the electric mirrors. A new one would be almost Stg£50 plus shipping then labour so the Dublin price isn't outrageous.

So they broke something they wouldn't touch during the test?

€150 for a switch is robbery.

Dubl07

Has anyone experience of damage during their NCT and did the NCTS pay up?

bucketybuck

Dubl07 wrote: »

Has anyone experience of damage during their NCT and did the NCTS pay up?

Genuine question, how do you plan to prove they broke the part?

Note: "It must have been you" isn't proof.

kona

bucketybuck wrote: »

Genuine question, how do you plan to prove they broke the part?

Note: "It must have been you" isn't proof.

A part they don't touch in the test.

Which is exactley what their reply will be to any claim.

Dubl07

buckfasterer wrote: »

If your positive it was damaged in the NCT centre, contact them and explain the situation and ask to check their cctv. Happened in my local centre last year. Took a solicitors letter to finally get them to admit liability.

Thank you for this response. It shows me a possible approach to a genuine problem instead of attacking or challenging my enquiry. Kudos.

kona

Dubl07 wrote: »

Thank you for this response. It shows me a possible approach to a genuine problem instead of attacking or challenging my enquiry. Kudos.

Stopping you wasting your time . How will CCTV see them breaking a button inside the car?

Atlantic Dawn

There was someone on here some while ago who had some damage done, I think but I'm not 100% it may have related to damage to side skirts as a result of how it was tested. They got their damage paid for. At the end of the day the NCT organisation has to have some inbuilt ratio of damage to cars during the test, possibly 1 in every fews thousand, they will have a budget for this and you should demand CCTV coverage of the test for the date in question, all lanes are now recorded.

bucketybuck

Dubl07 wrote: »

Thank you for this response. It shows me a possible approach to a genuine problem instead of attacking or challenging my enquiry. Kudos.

The NCT centre definitely broke the switch in your car. You should send them a solicitors letter demanding they reimburse you or you will take it to the high court. The CCTV on the lanes will definitely zoom sideways onto your window and clearly show the tester hitting against the switch with his big wrench. Even if it doesn't the centre should pay anyway as a goodwill gesture because if they do you'll get your NCT done there 3 or 4 times a year.

Better?

Crackle

Genuine question for kona & bucketybuck.

If it was your car that was damaged what would you do?

In my opinion, regardless of how difficult it is to prove, it's still worth contacting them about it.

Guy:Incognito

Is it actually broken , as in snapped off? Or if you had the knob would it just push back on? Have you checked under the seat to see if its there?

Would you not just pick one up in a scrap yard/ebay for a few quid?What car is it?

bucketybuck

Crackle wrote: »

Genuine question for kona & bucketybuck.

If it was your car that was damaged what would you do?

A good question, which is why for the second thread/time I have asked somebody in this situation how they can prove that the damage was caused by the NCT centre? Its the type of thing I would like to know should it ever happen to me.

I have still not seen a valid answer.

Jesus.

Dubl07 wrote: »

the knob now needs to be replaced.

That's a bit harsh. Surely a warning rather than sacking the bloke?

Crackle

bucketybuck wrote: »

A good question, which is why for the second thread/time I have asked somebody in this situation how they can prove that the damage was caused by the NCT centre? Its the type of thing I would like to know should it ever happen to me.

I have still not seen a valid answer.

It is indeed a good question, do you have an answer?

As for your question, I would say pretty much impossible to prove. That's probably why Dubl07 came on here asking for advice on how to proceed.

Simply advising him/her of the difficulty of proving it or getting a positive outcome would have sufficed rather than the attack the op approach that seems to become standard in motors lately.

Chris_Heilong

When you are getting an NCT you sign a waiver stating that any damage the tester does to your car you have no right to claim.

cletus

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

When you are getting an NCT you sign a waiver stating that any damage the tester does to your car you have no right to claim.

I've never signed any such waiver. Diesel owners must sign a form saying their car is fit to be tested, but I think that's to do with red lining the engine on the smoke test.

Who would sign a waiver that gives somebody the right to damage their property

blade1

bucketybuck wrote: »

A good question, which is why for the second thread/time I have asked somebody in this situation how they can prove that the damage was caused by the NCT centre? Its the type of thing I would like to know should it ever happen to me.

I have still not seen a valid answer.

Ask the guy in the Nct centre.
Are you saying he will definitely lie about it if he did break it?

bucketybuck

blade1 wrote: »

Are you saying he will definitely lie about it if he did break it?

Where on earth did I say that?

blade1

bucketybuck wrote: »

Where on earth did I say that?

You said how can they prove the damage was done by the Nct.
So why not ask them?

bucketybuck

blade1 wrote: »

You said how can they prove the damage was done by the Nct.
So why not ask them?

The clue is in the word "prove". I made no comment on what the NCT will or will not actually say, my question is based upon any need to actually verify or "prove" what happened.

ba_barabus

OP go back to the centre that done the test. Speak to the manager. Explain the situation and go from there. Also worth calling the call centre before you go in and see how you get on with them.

kona

Crackle wrote: »

Genuine question for kona & bucketybuck.

If it was your car that was damaged what would you do?

In my opinion, regardless of how difficult it is to prove, it's still worth contacting them about it.

I'd fix it. Get a part from traynors.

I wouldn't go pissing money away on solicitors letters to the nct. May Aswell bang my head off the wall.