Car damage during NCT

FTT1 · 22-01-2020 08:50PM #1

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this?
I went for my car's first NCT and while viewing my car being examined from the waiting area I saw the examiner struggling to open the bonnet.
He firstly tried to open the bonnet without pulling the release lever inside the foot well of the car. He then asked a colleague for assistance, who reached in without looking and pulled the lever.
When I got home I checked it out myself and found that the bonnet release lever inside the foot well was loose where before the NCT test it was not. Before, it was possible to pull the lever to release the bonnet while sitting in the car with the door closed, now because there is too much play in the lever I can only do it with the door open.
I filed a complaint and they replied saying that their engineers know how to open bonnets... I said well he eventually opened it but with too much force.
I said I want cctv footage to show what I saw but was told they don't have cctv.
I said that's ridiculous and I want to speak to a supervisor, they said I will have to get a report from a garage stating how this could have happened?
I am waiting to hear from a supervisor.
I phoned a garage who said if the lever needs to be replaced it would be €150.

I might add that my car is only 4 years old and in very good condition.

Any help much appreciated.

22-01-2020 08:58PM

You need to make a format request for the CCTV data. There are examples on the Data Controllers website.

In my personal experience, the front line staff will just make stuff up. Everything has to be a 'Formal Complaint' in writing.

BTW they state they have CCTV here: "Personal Data We collect directly from you" - "Imagery from CCTV Surveillance" https://www.ncts.ie/1180

Bigus · 22-01-2020 09:02PM

A lot Modern cars are designed so that the bonnet catch cannot be opened with the door closed. This is a security feature to stop thieves getting access to the engine bay if they break a window , but can’t open dead locked doors,even with a broken window. what type of car is yours ?

Asitis2019 · 22-01-2020 09:05PM

FTT1 wrote: »

Hi,
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this?
I went for my car's first NCT and while viewing my car being examined from the waiting area I saw the examiner struggling to open the bonnet.
He firstly tried to open the bonnet without pulling the release lever inside the foot well of the car. He then asked a colleague for assistance, who reached in without looking and pulled the lever.
When I got home I checked it out myself and found that the bonnet release lever inside the foot well was loose where before the NCT test it was not. Before, it was possible to pull the lever to release the bonnet while sitting in the car with the door closed, now because there is too much play in the lever I can only do it with the door open.
I filed a complaint and they replied saying that their engineers know how to open bonnets... I said well he eventually opened it but with too much force.
I said I want cctv footage to show what I saw but was told they don't have cctv.
I said that's ridiculous and I want to speak to a supervisor, they said I will have to get a report from a garage stating how this could have happened?
I am waiting to hear from a supervisor.
I phoned a garage who said if the lever needs to be replaced it would be €150.

I might add that my car is only 4 years old and in very good condition.

Any help much appreciated.

Ah will you go wan and get out of the park

You're pulling a fast one

These people are trained to a high standard - very unlikely this happened. You are trying to create trouble

Fix it yourself

Dravokivich · 22-01-2020 09:07PM

Isnt there a disclaimer you signed that stated they arent responsible for damage?

Jo Kaine · 22-01-2020 09:10PM

Asitis2019 wrote: »

Ah will you go wan and get out of the park

You're pulling a fast one

These people are trained to a high standard - very unlikely this happened. You are trying to create trouble

Fix it yourself

How high of a standard? I know damn all about their training and qualifications.

FTT1 · 22-01-2020 09:12PM

Bigus wrote: »

A lot Modern cars are designed so that the bonnet catch cannot be opened with the door closed. This is a security feature to stop thieves getting access to the engine bay if they break a window , but can’t open dead locked doors,even with a broken window. what type of car is yours ?

It's a VW Passat estate and you could definitely pull the release lever while the door is closed. The lever has a lot of play in it. Garage said the lug and cable will need to be replaced.

reubenreuben · 22-01-2020 09:14PM

Asitis2019 wrote: »

Ah will you go wan and get out of the park

You're pulling a fast one

These people are trained to a high standard - very unlikely this happened. You are trying to create trouble

Fix it yourself

You work for the nct then?

Jo Kaine · 22-01-2020 09:18PM

reubenreuben wrote: »

You work for the nct then?

I'd say he does. Got the gig by knowing a lad already working there.

Asitis2019 · 22-01-2020 09:18PM

reubenreuben wrote: »

You work for the nct then?

I know people like the OP with respect to cars

Only they know how to operate their own cars,so they think...

He thought it was opened too far or with too much force, but that his subjective opinion ….

Asitis2019 · 22-01-2020 09:23PM

Jo Kaine wrote: »

I'd say he does. Got the gig by knowing a lad already working there.

ah jaysus

on one thread, I'm being accused of being Joe Duffy

On another thread I'm being accused of being Maria Bailey

On this thread "m being accused of working for the NCT

Toyotafanboi · 22-01-2020 09:23PM

Bigus wrote: »

A lot Modern cars are designed so that the bonnet catch cannot be opened with the door closed. This is a security feature to stop thieves getting access to the engine bay if they break a window , but can’t open dead locked doors,even with a broken window. what type of car is yours ?

Yeah, to my mind you cant pull the release lever in a Passat with the door shut, with the door open the handle is nearly fully extended before it pops open.

Not being too crass here OP but is anything actually wrong? You pull the handle and it opens. If the handle was functional, he wouldnt have had to pull it too hard and wouldnt have damaged it. If he opened the bonnet, the release must have worked, so it's probably ok?

Or are you saying he pulled it far too hard on the first pull and wrecked it?

Id say the only way you'll get anywhere with this is if you get it in writing from a main dealer or the likes that the handle is damaged from user error. Not a generic quote to repair, but a statement assigning blame.

colm_mcm · 22-01-2020 09:46PM

It’s not supposed to open with the door shut, that’s why it’s designed that way.

Also, do you really think a tester (who probably opens 15 bonnets a day) doesn’t know how to open a bonnet on a common car? Do you think they thought you could open it from outside the car without a key or by just randomly pulling at it?

Also keep in mind, the garage that quoted you €150 haven’t even seen the car. I honestly think you’re way off with this.

Asitis2019 · 22-01-2020 09:48PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

It’s not supposed to open with the door shut, that’s why it’s designed that way.

Also, do you really think a tester (who probably opens 15 bonnets a day) doesn’t know how to open a bonnet on a common car?

Exactly my point

He didn't open it a particular way, the way the OP opens it

OP should get legal advice, not here

FTT1 · 22-01-2020 09:50PM

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Yeah, to my mind you cant pull the release lever in a Passat with the door shut, with the door open the handle is nearly fully extended before it pops open.

Not being too crass here OP but is anything actually wrong? You pull the handle and it opens. If the handle was functional, he wouldnt have had to pull it too hard and wouldnt have damaged it. If he opened the bonnet, the release must have worked, so it's probably ok?

Or are you saying he pulled it far too hard on the first pull and wrecked it?

Id say the only way you'll get anywhere with this is if you get it in writing from a main dealer or the likes that the handle is damaged from user error. Not a generic quote to repair, but a statement assigning blame.

The lever still manages to open the bonnet, so technically yes it works, but the lever is now very loose and has been weakened. I don't pretend to be the only person who knows how my car works but I do know the lever is not as it was beforehand.

Asitis2019 · 22-01-2020 09:51PM

FTT1 wrote: »

The lever still manages to open the bonnet, so technically yes it works, but the lever is now very loose and has been weakened. I don't pretend to be the only person who knows how my car works but I do know the lever is not as it was beforehand.

You don't have a leg to stand on. Give it up. Might not be what you want to here, but you will not win.

FTT1 · 22-01-2020 10:10PM

Thanks everyone for your advice and opinions (except Joe Duffy, the NCT guy and Maria Bailey... would ye ever put the drink down and get off that swing!) ðŸ€£

tossy · 22-01-2020 10:13PM

Asitis2019 wrote: »

These people are trained to a high standard

That wasn't my experience before Christmas

pippip · 22-01-2020 10:15PM

Love the way the nct replied with a lie about not having cctv. Says alot about their credibility from the start.

Toyotafanboi · 22-01-2020 10:22PM

To be fair, they're hardly going to hand out their own CCTV footage of themselves to possibly incriminate themselves.

colm_mcm · 22-01-2020 10:27PM

Yeah sure the CCTV will clearly show them hooking the rope onto the bonnet lever and launching the Massey Ferguson.

Isambard · 22-01-2020 10:31PM

things break when they are used mostly. The handle broke when they pulled it rather than you, luck of the draw.

mrcheez · 22-01-2020 10:32PM

Asitis2019 wrote: »

ah jaysus

on one thread, I'm being accused of being Joe Duffy

On another thread I'm being accused of being Maria Bailey

On this thread "m being accused of working for the NCT

So to sum it all up you're generally accused of being unhelpful?

Seems about right.

22-01-2020 10:36PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

It’s not supposed to open with the door shut, that’s why it’s designed that way.

Also, do you really think a tester (who probably opens 15 bonnets a day) doesn’t know how to open a bonnet on a common car? Do you think they thought you could open it from outside the car without a key or by just randomly pulling at it?

Also keep in mind, the garage that quoted you €150 haven’t even seen the car. I honestly think you’re way off with this.

If they had to get someone over to help them I’m going to hazard a guess that they didn’t know.

colm_mcm · 22-01-2020 10:37PM

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

If they had to get someone over to help them I’m going to hazard a guess that they didn’t know.

More likely the bonnet wasn’t forthcoming the first time, so they pushed down on, or pulled up the bonnet and pulled the lever at the same time.

Wishbone Ash · 22-01-2020 10:42PM

Dravokivich wrote: »

Isnt there a disclaimer you signed that stated they arent responsible for damage?

I think that's more to do with damage which may occur while they are doing normal routine engine checks - e.g. something bursting when they rev the engine.

muckwarrior · 22-01-2020 10:42PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Also, do you really think a tester (who probably opens 15 bonnets a day) doesn’t know how to open a bonnet on a common car?

Well one didn't know how to adjust my driver's seat. They broke the handle off and threw it on the back seat.

pippip · 22-01-2020 10:44PM

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

To be fair, they're hardly going to hand out their own CCTV footage of themselves to possibly incriminate themselves.

But they would if it showed they did nothing wrong.

greasepalm · 22-01-2020 10:46PM

We are well used to dry bonnet locks not getting lubed and becoming stiff and hard to open with vws,and if car got a bang on the front is something out of alignment.

kirving · 22-01-2020 10:46PM

Asitis2019 wrote: »

Ah will you go wan and get out of the park

You're pulling a fast one

These people are trained to a high standard - very unlikely this happened. You are trying to create trouble

Fix it yourself

Unlikely yes, but possible of course. We hear all the time on the news about doctors making mistakes. Training or qualifications don't eliminate mistake.

colm_mcm wrote: »

It’s not supposed to open with the door shut, that’s why it’s designed that way.

Also, do you really think a tester (who probably opens 15 bonnets a day) doesn’t know how to open a bonnet on a common car? Do you think they thought you could open it from outside the car without a key or by just randomly pulling at it?

Also keep in mind, the garage that quoted you €150 haven’t even seen the car. I honestly think you’re way off with this.

All I could say to this is that there was clearly a problem, since he had to call a second tester over to help. Could be his first day on the job.

Certainly possible to bend or break a plastic lever by pulling it too hard. Unlikely of course, but possible.

On my car, if the both bonnet catches aren't fully locked, pulling the lever doesn't have that clicking feel to it, so I can see how someone could just keep pulling expecting to feel it click.

colm_mcm · 22-01-2020 10:47PM

Is the lever broken or is the cable just stretched/acting normally?
Is there a chance it’s actually been broken all this time (cable end not seated correctly in the catch) and has now fixed itself? Compare with other Passats.

Car damage during NCT

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