i have an N reg volkswagen golf estate and a rear wheel bearing has just collapsed ofr the third time in three months. It has been repaired by a garage each time. What is going wrong here?

D. Robinson, August 2009

You need a better garage! They are clearly incompetent to the point of being deadly!!
Either they are using the wrong bearing, they are fitting it incorrectly, or the surfaces the bearing runs on are damaged. If they weren't damaged before they will be now, so you'll need a new stub axle etc.
Honestly, change garage!!!

fester, August 2009