council short of money or testers on commission ?
I think Mr Oakes will be writing a lovely letter to the council that'll confuse them
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| Blackburn driver not happy with testing station http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36954 |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sun May 23, 2021 7:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Blackburn driver not happy with testing station |
Council responds to claims taxi MOT checks are being failed for ‘ridiculous’ reasons A council has responded to accusations that cabbies are being ‘targeted’ after a taxi driver said a council-run MOT centre is failing drivers for ‘ridiculous’ indiscretions. Soyeb Abid ,who has been a taxi driver for 16 years and drives a Toyota Prius, says he was baffled as to why he was told his front headlight was ‘loose’ at a recent MOT test. A newly elected councillor also accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of ‘profiteering’ by charging drivers £60 more than neighbouring councils for an MOT and re-test. Blackburn with Darwen Council clarified why the vehicle had failed its MOT and said, ‘all of the council’s MOT testers have an unblemished testing record with no DVSA sanctions against their name’. The council also said it was happy to ‘discuss failures further with the driver at the time of the test’. Mr Abid said: “It is just ridiculous. I got told that the front headlight on the driver’s side was loose. It is exactly the same as the one on the passenger side and it is not loose at all. I tried pulling it off and I would ask anyone else to check it and see if they can find a fault. “Then there is a scuff mark on a bumper and this was brought up. Nobody made an issue of the barely noticeable scuff mark the last two times when the taxi was passed. I was also told to fix the ball joints dust cover. “I think we are being unfairly targeted by the MOT test centre. I am also concerned we are having to pay over the odds for an MOT test every six months. “We realise that this is important for the safety of everyone but we can’t function and do our jobs.” Mr Abid said this scruff mark was one of the reasons his MOT failed Tony Watson, head of environment at the council, said: “Mr Abid’s vehicle failed the MOT side of the test, on an issue with the offside front headlight and an issue with an anti-roll bar ball joint, as well as the security of the offside front bumper and inner wing lining, as they were loose.” Mr Watson said Mr Abid was ‘shown the broken headlamp but it was not possible to show the actual failure under the vehicle, on grounds of health and safety concerns for people under a raised vehicle’. Mr Watson said: “In relation to the MOT failures, it was explained to Mr Abid that if a driver is not happy with the results of an MOT, then the procedure would be that the driver should go online and fill out a complaints form and submit it to the DVSA. “It was also explained to Mr Abid that if he was not happy with the tester’s opinion, then he could address the bodywork with the licensing section. “No section of drivers are targeted in any way by the council. All of the council’s MOT testers have an unblemished testing record with no DVSA sanctions against their name. “We are always happy to discuss failures further with the driver at the time of the test, should they so wish. “We also have the option for the driver to approach the office at the testing facility with any concerns regarding the actions of our staff and also the testing process or outcome. Going forward, we will be encouraging this with every driver.” Cllr Altaf Patel, a taxi driver himself, said: “We need private MOT centres for taxi drivers. “A lot of people are being failed on the first attempt. “Drivers are lucky if they pass the first time and this is just getting ridiculous and I have heard of so many complaints from drivers who think they are being unfairly targeted. “Other councils in the area have private MOT centres which cost £30 and the retest is free. Here drivers are paying £60 more if they fail the first test. This is taking advantage of cab drivers and profiteering.” He added: “We also have 1,200 drivers and there are only two ramps at the MOT Centre. The waiting times are just so long.” |
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| Author: | edders23 [ Mon May 24, 2021 6:10 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Blackburn driver not happy with testing station |
council short of money or testers on commission ? I think Mr Oakes will be writing a lovely letter to the council that'll confuse them
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| Author: | Sussex [ Tue May 25, 2021 8:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Blackburn driver not happy with testing station |
Quote: He added: “We also have 1,200 drivers and there are only two ramps at the MOT Centre. The waiting times are just so long.” Let's assume he meant vehicles not drivers, if so two ramps is no where near enough. 
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| Author: | roythebus [ Wed May 26, 2021 1:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Blackburn driver not happy with testing station |
Mr Watson said Mr Abid was ‘shown the broken headlamp but it was not possible to show the actual failure under the vehicle, on grounds of health and safety concerns for people under a raised vehicle’. So why do the garage staff use the ramps if there's an H&S concern about people going under a vehicle on the ramps? Maybe a visit from the LOLER inspector or their insurers ought to be made aware of this concern. There's obviously some faults with the car, a bit more than the loose headlamp, but it seems typical of a lot of drivers, use the MoT test to find out what's wrong with the car then moan when something wrong is found. FFS it's not rocket science to book a car in for a pre-MoT inspection, get all these little bits done then get a clean sheet. It looks far better all round doing it that way. |
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