There is a new mentality emerging in the motor trade I'm afraid, there is a complete lack of respect for customers cars, they don't comprehend the fact that sometimes, cars belong to someone, not a company fleet, and they are free to 'play' with them as they think fit.
Back in the confusing times when the SVA test was first applied to home built cars, I took a car that I had built for a MOT a week or so after passing said SVA, (a SVA, test is a very long, thorough examination, that tests everything). At the time, there was confusion whether an mot certificate was required to get a tax disc, (it wasn't), but I digress, I left the car for a couple of hours for the MOT to take place, when I went back to collect it, they were in smug mode, 'Its failed mate', 'pardon', said I, 'for what? 'It needs a track rod end mate, you can't really drive it like that, we'll book it in for tomorrow if you like'. I steamed in, 'show me', the car is a 7 type, the chimp then waggled the front wheel highlighting the 'play'. The nut had been deliberately loosened a bit, it was loose on the taper, my earhole was just inches away from the tinkling engine, now cooling down.
I almost burst!! I explained in no uncertain manner, that the nut will be tightened up by me, now, using the same spanner that slackened it, You will give me a pass certificate, free, while I ring up the ministry to see what their take is on this, there was a good set of tyre marks on the roadway outside that corresponded with my rears. The ministry did take action, the chimp was sacked, I got a free test, a pair of rear tyres, and a few hundred pounds 'compensation'. I must admit, I was very, very, close to murder.
