File photo. Photo: 123RF
A customer of a repair shop in Auckland that had hundreds of warrants of fitness revoked by Waka Kotahi says she was left in the dark about what to do next.
The Transport Agency has notified the Motor Trade Association - MTA - that the 677 warrants issued over the last 10 months by one of its members, Newmarket Auto Repairs, have been void due to the lack of a certified WOF inspector.
Last week, Waka Kotahi wrote to the affected vehicle owners to inform them that their cars would need to be re-tested.
Beth* has had both her car and boat trailer inspected by the shop in the past 12 months.
She said the business used to be her go-to when it came to her vehicles.
"At the time of the WOF, I spoke to the manager and requested he take a decent look at everything and if anything was wrong to please inform me so we could get it fixed and my vehicle would be safe for myself and my 4-year-old son."
Beth said the business then proceeded with the inspections to check for any faults, but she was surprised when they gave her the green light.
"I thought [it] was a bit strange because my car was never test driven, although we knew there was a shutter in the brakes."
She said after getting her WOF issued with "flying colours and nothing wrong with it [the car]", she had to go to another mechanic.
"I had a gut feeling something was not okay so went elsewhere for a re-check.
"Two weeks later my car ended up at another local mechanics for another check, as the shutter continued.
"[The mechanics] found a sway bar link worn as well as my shocks and brake discs needed skimming."
Since then, the issues had been repaired, she said.
"But this should have been picked up for repair on the WOF sheet if a proper inspection was conducted."
Beth said now, with a voided WOF, she has been kept in the dark on how to get her money back.
"I've sent the mechanic a message, but he didn't get back to me.
"What should I do? Contact them or wait for a letter in my mailbox? I really don't know."
'Serious breach' - Waka Kotahi
Waka Kotahi said it was contacted by a member of the public who believed a vehicle inspector assigned to the Auckland car garage had permanently left New Zealand in December 2022.
The person believed the business was using his authority code to enter the inspections into the WOF online system.
"We completed a mystery shop to confirm the activity and discovered the information was correct," a spokesperson said.
"We acted immediately and suspended Newmarket Auto Repairs and the vehicle inspector's authority."
The Transport Agency said the case was still under investigation.
Contacting customers - mechanic
RNZ tried to get in contact with Newmarket Auto Repairs via phone and email, without success.
Over the phone, the mechanic who serviced Beth's vehicles, who did not want to be identified, said he had been in contact with affected customers.
"I've been going through the list [of customers] and checking who needs reimbursements and how long the period of the warrant was.
"I've already been in contact since they received the letter from Waka Kotahi," he said.
The mechanic said customers should be contacting to check on any reimbursements.
"As of yesterday, MTA said they are going to do the reimbursements, so you're better going straight to them."
When asked who the inspector was granting the warrants, the mechanic said he could not comment on it.
"Badge still stands for honesty" - Motor Trade Association
The shop advertised its warrant of fitness for $50, and would have to reimburse the 667 customers more than $30,000.
MTA chief executive Lee Marshall said it tried to contact the business but had no luck.
"We decided to have a think in how we would respond in the event that the business will not issue refunds to people that would have to get their warrants re-checked.
"In an ideal world the reimbursements should come from the business, but at the end of the day our role is to make sure no member of the public is disadvantaged."
Marshall said affected customers struggling to get in contact with Newmarket Auto Repairs can fill out a form on the MTA website to claim a $50 voucher.
"We thought the right thing to do in this case is to make available funds for members of the public who have been disadvantaged, so they can get their car warrant-checked somewhere else, a gesture of good will."
Marshall said feeling disappointed would be an understatement about his reaction to the saga.
"There will unfortunately always be those that let everyone down, but we want to assure motorists that the blue MTA badge still stands for honesty, quality and professionalism.
"MTA is extremely disappointed that one of [its] members has broken our rules and Code of Ethics, and misled and inconvenienced so many vehicle owners," Marshall said.
'Look for a second opinion' - car expert
Editor of the car review website Dog and Lemon, Clive Matthew-Wilson, said when a non-certified person issued a warrant, it was like getting a health certificate from someone that was actually not a doctor.
"You want the person who is issuing your car's health certificate to be a qualified WOF issuer, as you simply don't know what they have let through if they are not qualified to do the job, it's that simple."
"There are still a few of these shops out there that only see a WOF as a piece of paper to go on the windscreen, rather than the fact that a WOF is saying that the vehicle is safe."
The motoring expert said drivers should always look for a second opinion, and if in doubt, drivers could do basic checks on their own vehicles.
"Does it have four tyres with tread on them, does it drive right, does it shudder when you brake, does it pull to the left or the right?
"Any of those symptoms would make me suspicious of a car that just received a warrant," Matthew-Wilson said.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
