LAST year we took our car for an MOT to a garage in St Ives, knowing full well it would fail due to a faulty washer bottle which leaked so you couldn t spray the windscreen. We were told we couldn t wait and to go for a coffee and come back later. Upon ar

LAST year we took our car for an MOT to a garage in St Ives, knowing full well it would fail due to a faulty washer bottle which leaked so you couldn't spray the windscreen.

We were told we couldn't wait and to go for a coffee and come back later. Upon arriving back we were told that a coil spring needed replacing on the front and the middle box of the exhaust needed replacing as it had a hole in it (which it hadn't).

We were quoted �120 for the job, which we agreed to and then waited. On completion we were met with a bill for �210. Not just 90 quid more than quoted but we waited by the office and nobody saw fit to inform us (which is wrong, as you have to ask the customer's permission to carry on). What would happen if we didn't have the funds to support this?

However, the most amazing bit was yet to come. The car then passed its MOT. They clearly hadn't checked the screen-washers. Not only this, but they also claimed a coil spring need replacing (which was done on the front) but they come in pairs and are both supposed to be done.

On the MOT certificate all the pass and fail boxes were blank apart from the garage stamp. What a cowboy outfit, at least Dick Turpin wore a mask before he robbed you.

However, it's not all doom and gloom. We discovered Mo's Motors at Fenstanton, who picked up my faulty screen-wash this year. Honest, straightforward, reliable, helpful. I can't speak highly enough of them.

STEVEN HUNT

Old Pound Close

Hemingford Grey