BRAKE BULB OKAY BUT NOT LIGHTING

[RUM4MO]

Has anyone come across the problem that I have the other week, O/S brake light bulb not lighting, checked bulb, filament looks okay but solder contact areas have been compressed by the pressure exerted by the contacts? I've replaced both bulbs - last two from Halfords, so I decided to flow the solder again on both the original bulbs and keep them as spares. I'd say that this is due to VAG crap lighting cluster design meaning that the bulb contacts, that would be in the past, quality material and thin sprung material, have evolved into being part of the thick sheet of galvanised mild steel which forms the entire supply/return connections plate.