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| Plating Regulations http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11842 |
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| Author: | Foggy [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:28 am ] |
| Post subject: | Plating Regulations |
Hi. I wonder if anyone can help me with this or has experienced anything similar. I'm a private hire driver in Sefton, Liverpool. I recently re-plated my vehicle. There was then a difference of opinion between my garage where I get all my repairs & maintenance done who said my brakes were wearing nicely and were good for another year and the tester at the authorised garage who insisted my discs were 'shot to pieces' and I needed new discs all round. At his insistence my garage replaced the discs but they still maintain my vehicle passed the MOT standard. They are a reputable MOT garage. I have retained the discs... Not happy with this I e-mailed VOSA and Sefton Council. Sefton Council have not replied. This is the reply I got from VOSA ::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thank you for your email of 9 July 2009 concerning MOT testing standards. As the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is responsible for monitoring and supervising the MOT Scheme it has been passed to me for reply. The MOT Inspection Manual sets out the testing standards and procedures for those who carry out statutory testing of cars and light commercial vehicles. I enclose a copy of the relevant section of the Manual concerning the condition and security of brake drums and discs. Where there is evidence that incorrect standards or procedures have been applied VOSA will take disciplinary action in accordance with the MOT Testing Guide. (See attached file: Section 3.5 of the MOT Inspection Manual.doc) Because it is not practicable to lay down limits of wear and tolerances for all types of components on different models of vehicles, a Nominated Tester is expected to use experience and judgement in assessing the condition of a component. The main criteria to be used when making such an assessment are: i) whether the component has reached the stage where it is obviously likely to affect adversely the roadworthiness of the vehicle; ii) whether the condition of the component has clearly reached the stage when replacement, repairs or adjustment is necessary. From information held on the MOT database it appears your vehicle was not subject to an MOT test at Virginia Street Garage, Southport on 8 July 2009. I am, therefore, unable to progress your complaint about the standards applied by the garage through the MOT appeals procedure, as VOSA has no authority over servicing and repair work carried out by MOT stations. Our role is solely concerned with the standard of MOT test conducted. I regret VOSA is unable to provide you with more positive assistance on this occasion. Yours sincerely Caroline Howes VOSA Corporate Office Caroline. Thanks for the info. Not much use to me however. Can you tell me who does have authority over these guys. Regards Further to your email of 14 July 2009 your local Trading Standards officer may be able to provide you with assistance. Yours sincerely Caroline Howes VOSA Corporate Office :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: So VOSA are saying that as it wasn't an MOT test then they don't supervise the approved garages ( of which there are only three in Sefton) and furthermore they don't know who does. It seems a bit odd to me. Somebody must oversee these people. Cheers Foggy |
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| Author: | Nigel [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Your disc's have to be within a certain millimetre before they fail them. I MOT'd my car last week and the tester gave me an advise on the disc's, he said they'll need doing before the next MOT. This is what I can't understand, why does one VOSA approved garage OK the disc's yet another one will fail them?? The mind boggles. Keep us informed this is a good one. We had a problem with our Council a few years ago, they were failing taxis on emissions saying they were to high, one lad took his car for the test only for the Council to fail it on the emissions, he came straight out of the council garage and went to another MOT station round the corner, they tested the emissions and it passed infact it was well under. He took the car back to the council and shown them the print out, they wouldn't give him a pass because it failed on their machine. He contacted VOSA who came out to test the Councils machine and guess what? The Council hadn't calibrated the emissions machine since they'd had it. There were some red faces at the testing station. |
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| Author: | Foggy [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Plating Regulations |
Hi Nigel. Thanks for the interest. I'm hoping someone knows who I can go to next. I've left a copy of the email from VOSA with my local garage and they are going to show it next time the VOSA inspectors visit them. Foggy |
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| Author: | grandad [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
The problem you have here is thet the council approved garage were not, as I understand it, conducting an MOT test. Therfore VOSA can't do anything about it. On the other hand you need to check, if you can get a reply, what standard your council use for the checking and testing of the brakes. They may, but I doubt it, have a tougher criteria than the MOT test. I know for instance that a windscreen can have a stone chip of a certain size and still pass the MOT but our council say that there must be no chips in the windscreen so the car can pass an MOT and fail the council test. |
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| Author: | Sussex [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 5:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Plating Regulations |
Foggy wrote: So VOSA are saying that as it wasn't an MOT test
VOSA were right, it's not an official MOT test, just a test done at an official MOT testing station, done by an official MOT tester. VOSA hate this situation for the reasons you have out-lined. |
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| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
This when a plate-test (HC or PH) are looking for extra work after probably tendering low to get the whole LA's work testing the whole HC and PH plated fleet its a scam, but I doubt the LA will be interested UNLESS you can ask around and see if anyone else in the area has a similair tale where I was plated 15 years ago (for example) every petrol/carb car "needed the mixture adjusted" but injected cars didnt.....not one....turn of a screw, £12..... |
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| Author: | Jeckle [ Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Next time ask for an MOT to be carried out at the same. Even though you may have a current MOT carried out at you favourite garage. Some council inspection stations will provide an MOT certificate at a reduced rate i.e. I am charged £10 for an MOT certificate at the same time as the council test. I always get my cab MOT'd at my local garage prior to the annual council test at an approved testing station. This means that I cam confident of the cab passing without any problems. If this is doen this way then there would be no question of the tetsting station being held answerable to VOSA. |
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| Author: | MR T [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:06 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
A MoT tester is required to test your car to the minimum standard..... normally the vehicles he would test would probably do no more than 10 to 12,000 miles in the next year...... in Sefton you will have to appeal against his decision at the hackney carriage Office....But my own personal opinion... is that considering you're vehicle will be licensed to carry paying passengers for the next 12 months... the tester was correct . and I am confident the council will take the same view..... and by the way there are four testing stations in Sefton.. ps.. private hire and hackney testing is set to a higher level than the ordinary MoT test. |
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| Author: | Foggy [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:27 am ] |
| Post subject: | Plating |
Thanks for your comments... So no-one has the answer then. The situation seems to be that there is no national system of checks. It might be easier or harder to get a vehicle plated in Sefton than say Newcastle or Luton. We don't even know whether its a penpusher or an engineer sets the standards for the testers. Foggy |
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| Author: | grandad [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:18 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Plating |
Foggy wrote: Thanks for your comments...
So no-one has the answer then. What was the question that you wanted answering? |
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| Author: | wannabeeahack [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 3:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Plating |
Foggy wrote: Thanks for your comments...
So no-one has the answer then. The situation seems to be that there is no national system of checks. It might be easier or harder to get a vehicle plated in Sefton than say Newcastle or Luton. We don't even know whether its a penpusher or an engineer sets the standards for the testers. Foggy The tester sets the standard, on the day - hope he had a good night the night before... |
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| Author: | Doom 101 [ Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
As you can see this is a common problem. If the council test station will issue you with an mot cert, then you can appeal to VOSA, if not then there is another avenue open to you. If it is a 12 monthly or new vehicle test, once it has passed you are issued with a NEW license. You then have 14 days to appeal to a magistrates court any condition which you feel is unreasonable. If for example there is only one test station, you may feel that being forced to go there (and nowhere else) is unreasonable. It is your call. Do you have a trade association or are you a member of the PH Assoc? If not - do your research and it should be simple to go to magistrates, if you lose (quite common) at magistrates, then you can appeal to the Crown. This is where you will most likely suceed. Comments on this solution more than welcome - especially from the"wise men" on here. |
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| Author: | Foggy [ Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:59 am ] |
| Post subject: | Plating Regs |
Littlejack.. Thanks, that's very interesting.. I wish I'd known intime and anyway I think I'll still contact the court to see what can be done. I'd like to get an explanation and an official engineers report on these discs. Thanks again Foggy |
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| Author: | Doom [ Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:04 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
How many miles has your car done on these discs? You have to remember the tester has his licence to think of also, if someone brings a car in and he passes it and then they go out and crash it and the investigator find wafer thin discs on it he's for the high jump for passing it, there will always be difference in opinion about car parts wear, what one man says is ok another will say isn't, I suspect yours were on the limit and where the MOT guy will look at them and say ok, the authority tester is thinking about the state of them in 5 mths time and that's probably why he's failed them. |
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| Author: | Foggy [ Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | plating regs |
My garage asked me to ask the Taxi tester what readings he had obtained on the gauges and on the rolling road test. He just got all stroppy and wouldn't give me any information.. They showed their readings and they were well within limits. The car should be safe for all use not just for paying passengers. If its safe for my kids then its safe for everyone. I don't shy away from any repair work. My garage know I always ask them to do everything that needs doing and I have the vehicle fully serviced every three months. My car is safe.. |
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