A council has responded to accusations that cabbies are being ‘targeted’ after a taxi driver said a council-run MOT centre is failing drivers for ‘ridiculous’ indiscretions.

Soyeb Abid ,who has been a taxi driver for 16 years and drives a Toyota Prius, says he was baffled as to why he was told his front headlight was ‘loose’ at a recent MOT test.

A newly elected councillor also accused Blackburn with Darwen Council of ‘profiteering’ by charging drivers £60 more than neighbouring councils for an MOT and re-test.

Blackburn with Darwen Council clarified why the vehicle had failed its MOT and said, ‘all of the council’s MOT testers have an unblemished testing record with no DVSA sanctions against their name’. The council also said it was happy to ‘discuss failures further with the driver at the time of the test’.

Mr Abid said: “It is just ridiculous. I got told that the front headlight on the driver’s side was loose. It is exactly the same as the one on the passenger side and it is not loose at all. I tried pulling it off and I would ask anyone else to check it and see if they can find a fault.

“Then there is a scuff mark on a bumper and this was brought up. Nobody made an issue of the barely noticeable scuff mark the last two times when the taxi was passed. I was also told to fix the ball joints dust cover.

“I think we are being unfairly targeted by the MOT test centre. I am also concerned we are having to pay over the odds for an MOT test every six months.

“We realise that this is important for the safety of everyone but we can’t function and do our jobs.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr Abid said this scruff mark was one of the reasons his MOT failed

Tony Watson, head of environment at the council, said: “Mr Abid’s vehicle failed the MOT side of the test, on an issue with the offside front headlight and an issue with an anti-roll bar ball joint, as well as the security of the offside front bumper and inner wing lining, as they were loose.”

Mr Watson said Mr Abid was ‘shown the broken headlamp but it was not possible to show the actual failure under the vehicle, on grounds of health and safety concerns for people under a raised vehicle’.  

Mr Watson said: “In relation to the MOT failures, it was explained to Mr Abid that if a driver is not happy with the results of an MOT, then the procedure would be that the driver should go online and fill out a complaints form and submit it to the DVSA.

 “It was also explained to Mr Abid that if he was not happy with the tester’s opinion, then he could address the bodywork with the licensing section.

 “No section of drivers are targeted in any way by the council. All of the council’s MOT testers have an unblemished testing record with no DVSA sanctions against their name. 

“We are always happy to discuss failures further with the driver at the time of the test, should they so wish. 

“We also have the option for the driver to approach the office at the testing facility with any concerns regarding the actions of our staff and also the testing process or outcome. Going forward, we will be encouraging this with every driver.”

Cllr Altaf Patel, a taxi driver himself, said: “We need private MOT centres for taxi drivers.
“A lot of people are being failed on the first attempt.

“Drivers are lucky if they pass the first time and this is just getting ridiculous and I have heard of so many complaints from drivers who think they are being unfairly targeted.

“Other councils in the area have private MOT centres which cost £30 and the retest is free. Here drivers are paying £60 more if they fail the first test. This is taking advantage of cab drivers and profiteering.”

He added: “We also have 1,200 drivers and there are only two ramps at the MOT Centre. The waiting times are just so long.”