NCT miss or Garage rip off.

The NCT is only a snapshot of the condition of the vehicle at that point in time, and even then its not infallible. Things like ball joints, and especially the rubber seals around them are very susceptible to wear and tear, but mostly age, they split and crack and the grease is forced out, causing excessive wear and tear on the balljoint itself. Happened to me one time, car passed the NCT, no problem, then it was parked up for a year ( the NCT centre refused to believe that the car had basically only driven to the test centre and back, but it was true ) None the less, the inactivity had caused one ball joint ( the left hand side one...the one that meets all the pot holes on country roads here in Ireland ) to seize up, and I had to replace it. The chances are that if I HAD driven it for a longer distance before the test, it would have freed itself up and passed the test. So yes, I can understand balljoints ( an anything else) failing a short time after the test. There was one tragic case where a young driver crashed her car, and was killed. In the subsequent investigation, the Guardai discovered that the cause of the crash was faulty shock absorbers, yet it had been recently NCT'd. This was a fault in how the testing equipment works. It measured the condition of both shocks, and compares them, and as there was no varience between them, they were considered OK. But the reality were both of them were equally defective.

Does the place that serviced it and gave you the report happen to sell the likes of tyres/bulbs and wipers too? Some of these places are very eager to upsell these things so can be "proactive" about them needing replacing, if you catch my drift.

I'm sure that it will work out fine you. Balljoint's are serious though, but again, shop around and get the best price you can. How long remaining in the NCT? And what make of car? For the clutch, sit in the car, start the engine, put your foot on the brake and apply / pull the handbrake up to the max,select 1st gear and while the engine is ticking over, ( dont rev it up) let your foot off the clutch slowly. If the clutch is good, the engine will cut out, If its worn, it will slip..the engine will stay running, but the car will not move.The other items you mention, you seem to be doing fine sorting them out.

Generally, Toyotas are good reliable cars, but like all cars, they can have faults too, Google "common avensis faults" and you will see what I mean. In any case, it still has a long NCT. You will be fine, I'd say.

They most certainly are. Plenty of places around still do them and there is nothing wrong with buying a part worn tyre as long as you know what you are getting. A decent part worn "named" brand tyre would still be better than a cheap plastic ditch finder.

Passenger side spring? No surprise there ( or Driver side either) but especially on secondary country roads the potholes breed at ferocious speed, and broken springs and damaged wheel rims and suspensions are far too common. And they can happen in a split second.

Thats the problem.....and unless either you or a friend have mechanical experience, you are pretty much at the mercy of unscrupulous dealers. Well, at least now you have found someone who is honest. Hang on to him.