Good Garage Scam

[Sancho]

As some of you know, I have a love of crappy cars and a total inability to fix them. As such, I tend to spend a lot of time getting MOTs and services.

Being a careful soul, I have been using a couple of local garages that are recommended by the Good Garage Scheme. One has been quite good but a bit weird, the other (which I stopped using) very Kwik Fittish (pure water in the rad, not replacing the ATF etc.

Thinking this was all a bit weird, I did a bit of research and found out that the Good Garage Scheme is, in fact, run by a firm called Forte Lubricants. To qualify as a 'good' garage, you have to exclusively use Forte lubricants.

This would, of course, explain why I am constantly being told I need an 'engine flush' using amazing Forte chemicals.

So, in short, if you're looking for a good garage, don't bother with the Good Garage Scheme; just find a good garage,

[oneidadan]

When I had problems with a garage and complaining to them didn't work I thought I'd try their ombudsmen as they were part of the good garage scheme and they claimed to mediate disputes between customers and garages. After much digging I got an email address for one guy at Forte who wanted to know about it. As it then didn't concern lubricants they told me they weren't interested in my issue.
Similar things have happened with builders and their many schemes so I've given up with it now.

[M8WHR]

My mate is setting up a business which I think should be instilled around the uk.

He is going to be an independent MOT station, not fixing cars whatsoever. He will offer trade cheaper MOT's and be very competitive for public.

The benefit I see is, it doesn't matter to him whether your car passes or fails. He won't fail it just to say "the vehicle needs full brake lines to the back, bushes and ball joints.. I can do it for 600 quid." He just needs to give you your fail sheet and a list of local recommended garages.

[Sancho]

My mate is setting up a business which I think should be instilled around the uk.

He is going to be an independent MOT station, not fixing cars whatsoever. He will offer trade cheaper MOT's and be very competitive for public.

The benefit I see is, it doesn't matter to him whether your car passes or fails. He won't fail it just to say "the vehicle needs full brake lines to the back, bushes and ball joints.. I can do it for 600 quid." He just needs to give you your fail sheet and a list of local recommended garages.

How much does he charge to be a recommended garage?

[M8WHR]

Haha nothing, but obviously if garages take their mot's elsewhere they won't be high on his list.

Finding a decent mechanic is tough.

[BUSHWHACKER]

My mate is setting up a business which I think should be instilled around the uk.

He is going to be an independent MOT station, not fixing cars whatsoever. He will offer trade cheaper MOT's and be very competitive for public.

The benefit I see is, it doesn't matter to him whether your car passes or fails. He won't fail it just to say "the vehicle needs full brake lines to the back, bushes and ball joints.. I can do it for 600 quid." He just needs to give you your fail sheet and a list of local recommended garages.

The MOT garage I use had been doing that for the past twelve years.

[TwoBobRob]

For the record, in my experience Forte stuff is really good.

Hardly the basis for the Good Garage Scheme though...

[fatfires]

this no repair is already in existence, a lot of local councils, fire service workshops, bus depots etc do this.

[M8WHR]

I knew it was in place for larger vehicles, but I didn't think there was much similar for cars.. Northern Ireland use a similar system I think?

[MYLUX]

Just a minute fellas let's put down the tar and the brush for a second.
I work at a garage that happens to be part of this "scam" and would just like to correct a couple of points.
Forte don't tell us what lubricants to use, in fact Forte don't make lubricants. The only forte products we carry are engine flush, fuel treatment and coolant system degreaser.
ALL lubricants are our choice and can be Comma, Castrol, or whatever is stipulated for the job.
We do have to use 1 x flush and 1 x treatment on every "standard service" we do, thats it.
Every time we do we put a feedback form in the car and ours is currently around 98%.
In fact we did some work on a forum member's car a couple of months ago.
Now I'm not saying that all mechanics, technicians or whatever you want to call us are angels or any good at all, BUT please remember some of us have been around cars all our lives and have huge pride in what we do.

There are some truely awful garages out there I'll be the first to admit but you put your lives in our hands daily and some of us take that responsiblity VERY seriously.
Just posting because I'd like the other side's view to be heard just this once.

[oneidadan]

I think the point of the thread is not to say that all garages that are part of the good garage scheme are rubbish, but rather that it can't be relied upon as an indicator of whether a garage is good or not.
The Good Garage Scheme simply refers to what products the garage uses instead of guaranteeing quality work, which is a bit shady in my opinion.

[Sancho]

That was indeed the point. Neither garage is truly awful, but they weren't very good either. The other point was to highlight that the good garage scheme is not independent, but is a system set up by forte to sell more product.

Just to add, they are called 'forte lubricants' so it is kind of reasonable to assume they make lubricants...

[MYLUX]

Fair point about the name, I'll be the first to admit I don't read the labels as it's all colour coded.
I just wanted to make the point that there is a feedback system in place and the only time we are tied to them is for 1 particular job - a std service (less than 50% of our work).
If I came across a little abrupt I apologise but you must admit garage mechs get a good knocking on most car forums.

[Ben_D]

Nothing wrong with the scheme, I just don't like the name as it's misleading. Good garage scheme implies to me that a garage has been awarded something for its quality in a similar way to a beach getting a blue flag for not being covered in turds.

Not a dig at you or your garage Mylux, I just don't like being deliberately mislead. Until I read this I had assumed that using an establishment that was part of the good garage scheme was in some way a safer bet than going to one that was not.

Cheers

Ben