[thistledome]

Hi thought I'd share this with you and let e know what you think!!!!
took my car into the local dealership for its 2nd mot, everything went ok, had my little one with me nothing was said about anything inside the car so popped the little one in the car seat and off we went, a few days passed (5 days) and was going down a local road which was national speed limit, when as I went round a corner someone pulled out on me, so did an emergency stop, as doing so the little one screemed and to my horror, I saw her squashed between her car seat and the passenger front seat, when I pushed the seat back and calmed her down I then noticed that the seat belt had been removed from the seat , I was shocked and angry, she looked to be ok, so I turned the car round and headed to bmw as the car seat does not get removed apart from the time that when it had its 1st service (as I don't need to remove the seat as we have 3 seats) got to the dealership and was told that there was no one in to take the complaint, I told them that I was not moving till Isaw someone, someone came down took details and said they would pass it on and would get back to me on monday, also asked if little one was ok I said yes as I looked at her she had got a 3 to 4 inch mark under chin I was so mad I'd been driving around for 5 days with the seat not in, monday came and so did the call it is policy that if there is a child seat in place that they don't test that seat belt, and the tecnician who carried out mt test had finished on friday, so they couldn't ask him and therfore not dicipline either, they said a sort of sorry but there was nothing else they could do, the little one is now waking 3 to 4 time a night not bad to say that she slept through the night from 6 weeks, I think they have washed there hands of this as the tecnician as left what a cop out, I've phone mini uk headoffice and complained there, also a letter is been drafted to the person who is the head of this dealership with a photo attached of the mark on the little one.
All I'm saying is that my car won't be going there again!!!

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Thats terrible

The dealership should be taking something like that seriously!!!

[Aberdeen Al]

Not good at all - hope the "little one" is ok.

When my MCS went in for it's MOT a few weeks back I was informed that unless the child seat was removed they wouldn't test the seat belt (which may construe as a fail) so it was removed.................really for my own peace of mind.

Will be interesting to see what sort of reply you get from Mini UK.......................if you get one at all.

[mikeythemini]

If we get a car in that needs a baby seat removing for work on the car, we don't refit it, but put it in the car upside down & tell the customer - that way the customer knows its not fitted & can fit it to their own satisfaction

[jpw]

Not a very good response from the dealer, but not sure what else you could expect - must say though as someone who has 2 little ones in and out of the car all the time I make it a regular thing to check their seats EVERY trip - the little devils do mess with the fasteners themselves - just glad your little one is not hurt.
Jon

[BRG/Blk Cooper S]

Quote: Originally Posted by jpw (original)

Not a very good response from the dealer, but not sure what else you could expect - must say though as someone who has 2 little ones in and out of the car all the time I make it a regular thing to check their seats EVERY trip - the little devils do mess with the fasteners themselves - just glad your little one is not hurt.
Jon

Agreed..

The vehicle was having an MOT, so you must know that they are required to check the seat belts as part of the test.

Regardless you should be checking the security of the seat every single time you put a little one into it - I know I certainly would be.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

If we get a car in that needs a baby seat removing for work on the car, we don't refit it, but put it in the car upside down & tell the customer - that way the customer knows its not fitted & can fit it to their own satisfaction

What he said , as all those seats fit in differently and even if your technically minded they can still be awkward to fit or can easily be fitted incorrectly.

Quote: Originally Posted by drainaudio (original)

Quote: Originally Posted by jpw (original)

must say though as someone who has 2 little ones in and out of the car all the time I make it a regular thing to check their seats EVERY trip - the little devils do mess with the fasteners themselves - just glad your little one is not hurt.
Jon

Regardless you should be checking the security of the seat every single time you put a little one into it - I know I certainly would be.

What they said , always do regular checks on baby seats as they can slip, come lose etc... etc...

The MOT testers do have to check the seat belts though (as previously stated) to do the MOT properly, but they should've made sure that you where fully aware that it had been removed to do the MOT and not refitted properly, IMO they shouldn't refit the seats (they may not be allowed to either), as "mikeythemini" says it should be left to the owner to refit the seat properly to their own satisfaction.

As I think they said they should have failed the MOT because the seat was fitted (And not touched it at all), but I do think it's a cop out that they're saying the person who did it has gone (they employed him so they will / should have some sort of responsibility).

Glad the little one isn't / wasn't seriously injured.

[Suj999]

Quote: Originally Posted by thistledome (original)

Hi thought I'd share this with you and let e know what you think!!!!
took my car into the local dealership for its 2nd mot, ....

Im sorry, but I think you are trying to blame the dealer for your mistake.. Its just lazy not to check the child seat after its been to an MOT! Let alone just every other day or so, all it needs is a little pull & slide to make sure its ok.

We are starting to inherit the blame culture from the US where, if we make a mistake it has to be someone else's fault.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Suj999 (original)

We are starting to inherit the blame culture from the US where, if we make a mistake it has to be someone else's fault.

HEY! I resemble that remark, but I do agree. The car was being inspected and as a parent it is your job to ensure that the seat is installed correctly. If your MOT requires the belts to be tested, then you should have at least checked it for yourself. In fact, it is probably best to check it whenever anyone else ever takes your car even if the belts are not touched just to make sure that it is correct.

Now, having said that, the dealer should not have attempted to install it at all. Like Mikey said, I would have put it back in the car upside down to make the parent do it. Those dang seats can be confusing.

I hope that your little one is ok and thank you for sharing this as it can be a reminder to other parents to check those seats.

[chrisflyer]

Maybe the real answer is to remove it yourself before the MOT takes place.

[NeuroBeaker]

Oh no - hope the little one recovers from the trauma quickly!

I do think you should give a tug on the seat each time it's about to be used to make sure it's secure - but poor response from the dealership in relation to your complaint.

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

HEY! I resemble that remark, but I do agree.

You 'resemble' or 'resent' that remark?

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by thistledome (original)

Hi thought I'd share this with you and let e know what you think!!!!
took my car into the local dealership for its 2nd mot, everything went ok, had my little one with me nothing was said about anything inside the car so popped the little one in the car seat and off we went, a few days passed (5 days) and was going down a local road which was national speed limit, when as I went round a corner someone pulled out on me, so did an emergency stop, as doing so the little one screemed and to my horror, I saw her squashed between her car seat and the passenger front seat, when I pushed the seat back and calmed her down I then noticed that the seat belt had been removed from the seat , I was shocked and angry, she looked to be ok, so I turned the car round and headed to bmw as the car seat does not get removed apart from the time that when it had its 1st service (as I don't need to remove the seat as we have 3 seats) got to the dealership and was told that there was no one in to take the complaint, I told them that I was not moving till Isaw someone, someone came down took details and said they would pass it on and would get back to me on monday, also asked if little one was ok I said yes as I looked at her she had got a 3 to 4 inch mark under chin I was so mad I'd been driving around for 5 days with the seat not in, monday came and so did the call it is policy that if there is a child seat in place that they don't test that seat belt, and the tecnician who carried out mt test had finished on friday, so they couldn't ask him and therfore not dicipline either, they said a sort of sorry but there was nothing else they could do, the little one is now waking 3 to 4 time a night not bad to say that she slept through the night from 6 weeks, I think they have washed there hands of this as the tecnician as left what a cop out, I've phone mini uk headoffice and complained there, also a letter is been drafted to the person who is the head of this dealership with a photo attached of the mark on the little one.
All I'm saying is that my car won't be going there again!!!

That's one long sentence

[Paul]

In my view the dealer should really have left it so it was obviously not attached, rather than sat it in unattached, just to avoid any confusion.

However, I would say the ultimate responsibility rests with you, the parent, for putting your child in the seat however many times without checking it. Really you should check the seat is secure every time.

I am certain you will have learnt that lesson in a hard way, but in a way it could have been much worse, it doesn't bare thinking about.

I just wish the dealer would have taken it a bit more seriously and learnt their lesson so they can help avoid this happening again by making it clear that child seats are NOT fitted once removed for the tests.