To feel ripped off by Halfords Autocentres MOT

[NK493efc93X1277dd3d6d4]

Halfords Autocentres offer cheap MOTs as do many other places. Usually use Mr Clutch but thought I'd try here as bit closer and only 1.50 more expensive. Have now discovered that 1.50 is far from the end of it.

Collected car at Elmers End just before closing on day before yesterday and was informed that only had 24 hours for free retest if I took the car elsewhere.Got work done by 5pm but (stupidly) thought that as they would be closing by the time I got there I would wait until morning. Called up at 9am this morning to book retest and was asked to pay and couldnt retest until tomorrow.

It's a real Catch 22! They do not tell you this when you take the car in, only when you collect it. It is on their website but the booking was made by phone. So either you pay the 85 per hour labour charge and they do the work and retest for free, or you most likely end up paying for the retest. Complained to manager who simply said he doesn't care!

I know I should have asked! I realise that a free retest is not obligatory but AIBU to expect that a large company like this would offer similar terms to their competitors?

Yeah never use Halfords for fixing your car other than changing lights and battery, although they screw up the lights often enough. You can tell who had their lights done by Halfords if they have one pointing up too high.

Don't use any big brand garages either. My dad booked my old car into a ford garage because they are apparently good. I knew they weren't but had no choice so off it went. They managed to break the suspension on one side meaning any time I braked it swerved to one side and made a clanking noise when being driven. The mechanic claimed it wasn't happening, I got in the car and demonstrated to him, and he said 'all cars do that'. I just gave him a look and said 'get it fixed for free by tomorrow' and walked out. He did to be fair, but was cheeky about it and said 'I didn't have to do it but I was nice'. No mate, I was nice and didn't get you fired.

Hi,

What area is your garage? I would defo be interested in using your garage if you are near enough.

I originally thought that the problem was that females were being relentlessly ripped off, but having talked with a couple of male colleagues they get ripped off as well!

Ive even been ripped off by the RAC - but that's another story.

I was booked in with Halfords for some work today, but have cancelled and looking for a local independent to get the work done before taking car in for MOT at a council garage about 50 miles away.

i used the dartford centre last year…
i used the dartford centre last year and had occasion to complain about the way the front counter staff and how he conducted himself.

The other day l visited them again and was shocked to find the cocky attitude still exists so it was off to Kwik fit where the staff act in a profession and courteous manner.

Halfords try to rip-off people. I paid for a major service + MOT 300 pounds and failed me for positions lights not working and headlights being dirty. Instead of telling me to get two bulbs and give my headlights a polish, they made me a list of irrelevant repairs like changing my headlights for 500+ pounds, change disk brakes (not at the manufacturer standard), antiroll-bars, wheel alignment etc, somewhere over 1000 pounds. So, I got 2 bulbs of 1.5pounds each to install myself and gave my headlights a clean, paid another 15 for retest of course.