Ok so i thought i'd add my wonderful experience, not a dealer, but the car did end up at a dealers due to someones stupidity (and not mine lol). Sorry its a bit of a long one.
So it was time to get the Cup MOTed. The independant garage i normally use was overrun with work and couldnt fit it in so i took it too a garage that had done some work for me previously.
So i dropped the car off on a Friday morning then went off to work pretty confident the car would pass no probs. So about 14.00 that afternoon a phone call.
Garage: Hi there Miss Williams, Its Mike from the garage.
Me: Hi, so how did the car get on?
Garage: It failed on a couple of things. The o/s rear shock has had a serious leak and needs replacing, and the rear brakes are showing little or no effort.
Me: Ok, well go on and replace both rear shocks, and you guys only replaced the brakes all round 2000 miles ago so something is not right there.
Garage: Oh yes we did, i remember now. must be a seized caliper or something. Dont worry Miss Williams as we only replaced the brakes 2000 miles ago we will sort that for you.
Me: Ok, good. Just to check you do know about the rear brakes on my car dont you?
Garage: Yes of course Miss Williams.
Me: Ok good, so what time are we looking at having it all finished?
Garage: Well thats where we have a bit of a problem. As you car is a "special" model we cant get hold of the rear shocks for two weeks.
Me: What, you have got to be kidding me, i could get some tomorrow or Monday at the latest.
Garage: Oh, ok. Well we've got our supplier looking for some for you and we will get back to you later.
So i left them to it and i got busy at work and forgot to ring them back before closed.
So i ring them Saturday morning.
Me: Hello, its Emma Williams. Im ringing about the blue Clio you have in for MOT. How did you get on with sourcing some shocks?
Garage: Not good Miss Williams. Still going to be two weeks.
Me: Right ok, i will source my own shocks. Have you looked at the brakes yet.
Garage: No not yet, it will be easier for us to do all the work at once so if you would like to pick you car up until your shocks are here thats no problem for us and the retest will still be free.
Me: Ok no probs. I'll come get my car now.
So up till now it hadnt been too bad. I could get my owns shocks and save myself some money and i had my car. So a quick call to K-tec and new shocks on their way. Two weeks my ass!!
So the Tuesday my shocks turn up ring up the garage and its booked back in on the Thursday.
So drop the car back off on the Thursday morning. A few hours later the phone rang.
Garage: Hi there Miss Williams, its the garage about your Clio.
Me: Ok good, all done yeh?
Garage: The shocks are all on ok. But we had a look at your brakes and the pads, discs and calipers and they are fine.
Me: Right ok then.
Garage: When we had it up in the air the mechanic noticed part of your braking system must have just fallen off which is why your rear brakes are recording little or no effort.
Me: Right ok, would that be the actuating arm by some chance?
Garage: Yes it is. I was just going to steal the part we needed to get it through the MOT from another Clio we have here but the part is different.
Me: Thats how its supposed to be. Was never connected when it left the Renault factory, and what have you borrowed of my Clio to get other cars through their MOT's?
Garage: I dont think so Miss Williams. Ive never seen a Clio without the arm. And thats not normal practice we was just going to do it for you as we've messed you about a little.
Me: Right ok, if you look on the internet there is an official VOSA article explaining this problem and what to do.
Garage: With all due respect Miss Williams i have been a mechanic for 30 years and i know what im talking about. Without this part your rear brakes wont work.
Me: Right ok i will print off the article and show you. I will be there in five minutes.
So i turn up and he refuses to even read the article and is convinced he's correct. So i demand my keys back which he gave over without a fight tbh.
Took it straight round to a stealers. Oh and surprise surprise it passed first time lol.
I never did get a bill for them replacing the rear shocks. Im guessing that he then read the article i left with him and realised he made himself look that a right donut in front of several customers. Im not sure if its funny or scary that he was going to steal parts from another car just to get mine through the MOT, and that he refered to my car as "special" lol and two weeks to get rear shocks, he must have a rubbish supplier. What a tool (sorry for the essay content)