To wonder what the fuck they actually checked when they serviced my car?

[FlyMCA]

Not even 6 weeks ago I had my car serviced with a pretty well known garage, 77 point check (or something like that), all singing all dancing, supposed to check and change everything. I know nothing about cars so wanted somewhere I thought would be reputable to have a pretty good look over the car and do any work that needed doing because the MOT is due soon, plus I drive around a lot with DD in the car and I wanted it to be safe and have a good chance of it not breaking down on me.
This morning the clutch has gone, something that was part of the checks when it was serviced. Took it to a garage, turns out tyres are so worn on the inside they are illegal, something that should have been checked. Something on the front suspension (or it might have been wheel axle, not sure with out the list the mechanic gave me in front of me) has eroded so bad it's not safe to drive and and something is loose underneath.
When the car was serviced it cost over £900 for the service and some bits of work they said needed doing. I'm now looking at an additional £500+ to get the rest done.
AIBU to think that actually all the checks I paid for havnt been carried out, or is it really possible for all this to have happened since it was serviced? Its not so much the additional cost I'm annoyed over, but the fact I've been driving around illegally (the tyres!!) And they never even mentioned they looked worn on the service or I would have asked them to replace them at the time.

[TheTrollFairy]

You should speak to them and ask why XYZ wasn’t picked up in the service which is supposedly included in their service.
My assumption would be that they haven’t even done the basics of changing the oil or air filters if they can’t pick up on the tyres needing a change

[JoesExotic]

Fuck me, NEVER go to a Halfords service centre.
Behind the bright lights and corporate branding they're absolute rip off merchants.
I speak with inside knowledge. They're commission kings!!!!
They saw you coming. I'm sorry. Another one falls for it.
Find and give your money to a good, local, family run garage who actually care about their customers and reputation. Halfords are NOTORIOUS!!

Then threaten legal action. I don't know, even after being exposed on TV how they're still getting away with this shit.

Halfords service centres are NOT representative of the motor trade as a whole.

[Heko]

Just to add, I would get a comprehensive report of the faults from the garage, and then report to trading standards.

[Glendaruel]

I went to well known establishment and they forgot to put oil back in after changing it.

I now use garage in village, who will always give good advice. When I had small fault on my lights he didn't charge as he knows it's a long term relationship he is building with customers

[PawPawNoodle]

Did they give you a check-list of checks and work completed when you picked up the car? My little service centre writes down the work completed on their invoice as evidence of what they've done. It might be your starting point for establishing whether they've signed off on checking something and then you having to have the car looked at again elsewhere.

[tiredanddangerous]

Are you on Twitter op? Hopefully if you contact Halfords they’ll look into it for you. I’ve had cars serviced and MOT’d with them for years and never had a problem.

[EngagedAgain]

Nrtft, but second what Glenda said. If you can find a small independent (on recommendation if you can) and build a rapport. Find the right place and they are more likely to help you in an emergency. Also, unfortunately there are places that take advantage of not only women, but men, who know little about cars.

[TroublesomeTrucks]

I had my brake pads and discs changed by Halfords for £300. 3 months later the whole thing on one side was shot, ruining the new disc. Halfords said the piston was stuck and needed replacing - another £900. I was convinced they'd screwed up the first change and caused the second problem but they refused to entertain the possibility. I took it to the dealer service centre who confirmed my suspicions - they'd fitted the brake pads the wrong way round causing excessive wear and there was nothing wrong with the piston. So not only did they mess up the first work, they didn't spot they'd done it wrong and tried to charge me more money for further work I didn't need.

The dealer service centre made a video explaining the problem and I got Halfords to refund the money I paid for the initial work AND reimburse me for what it cost for the dealer to fix it properly

[JoesExotic]

Who the fuck fits brake pads the wrong way round?
In the main, they're handed.
Secondly, this really is 'car mechanics 101-Day 1 at college'.
Terrifying.

[Sloth66]

I’ve dodged these big chains as there’s no accountability and rip off prices. Now use a small local one that only employs a few mechanics and I trust the owner.

[WoollyMollyMonkey]

I think you should contact Trading Standards.

[safariboot]

£600 for work doing relating to the front and back suspension...the tyres are so bare on the inside you can see the wire

The garage that did that suspension work might have fucked it up. That could contribute to excessive inside tyre wear. Or they just didn't fucking both looking while they charged you nearly a grand.

Find a different garage.

[Sandybval]

Yeah let this be a lesson not to use Halfords again!

[Thomasina79]

My garage does a yearly service and mot which is usually around £400. I have used them for years and when I ask them to check something they will give me a quote before doing it.

It does sound as if you have been somewhat ripped off by this garage which is majorly annoying I know!

[UrbanDoughnut]

That's super expensive. I always have main dealer services for my mini because I only keep the car 3 years at a time and it's value is higher with the dealership stamp and that 'only' costs me £310 - and they do this almost pointless whole vehicle check too.

Is your car very old? Is it worth considering cutting your losses now and it sounds like you're just chucking good money after bad now

[GinDaddyRedux]

Halfords are like Kwik Fit. Both are reputable from the perspective that there's a big name underpinning the work you're getting.

However both operate on a business model that incentivises getting people to spend money at a time of servicing or "inspection".

independent garages aren't perfect but a lot of them are more mindful of relationship and reputation - a good honest one is worth its weight in gold as you won't be doing unnecessary or costly work on the car

[SummerDayWinterEvenings]

The mileage should be on their service. Then take a photo of your current mileage. If the two are similiar -yes you have a case. If the two are 5,000 miles apart, no chance.

I'd be demanding a full refund from Halfords with the threat of ligitation. But get your evidence first. Take pictures of tyres, front suspension etc and ask the garage to put it all in writing. Then go to Halfords in email and ask them to refund you -

[theemmadilemma]

Yes, 100% get the other garage to give you a written description of what was missed that should have been seen on the check they did. To be honest, I would also ask the garage to check Halfords actually DID all the replacements/work they said they did - wouldn't be the first time they hadn't. Then go after Halfords for money back and never darken their door again.

[mencken]

not surprised it is Halfords...

formal complaint time. And a bit of twitter won't hurt.

tyres down to the wires? Jesus.

[SnackSizeRaisin]

I never have cars serviced - check tyres, oil etc, clean windows, make sure all lights are ok. Stuff gets fixed when it goes wrong. And I've got a 10 year old car.

This is terrible advice. If you don't service your car it will end up with costly problems. Things like oil and filter changes are not optional. You may get away with it for a few years but it may be the difference between a car lasting 10 years and 20 years. Plus it makes a big difference to the resale value, for obvious reasons.

[KingOfDogShite]

Did the £600 worth of work you had done include anything to do that necessitated taking your wheels off?

Years ago I had my brakes done and they fucked up my wheel alignment so much it ruined both my front tyres by wearing them away on the inside edge.

[GinDaddyRedux]

"I never have cars serviced - check tyres, oil etc, clean windows, make sure all lights are ok. Stuff gets fixed when it goes wrong. And I've got a 10 year old car."

This is scary to me. Really scary.

I'm not going to say too much because I don't want the "you're a bloke telling me stuff" thing...but...I just don't agree with the above as a way to look after a car over such a long period.

Things like spark plugs for example...yes many are meant to last tens of thousands of miles, but the minute one or two misfire and you're looking at engine management problems and some costly work. So when it comes to things like that, I get them changed when the service schedule demands me to. Yep it's not a typical "consumable" like a brake pad that can be easily measured, but I have a trusted professional I work with and I'm happy that such preventative maintenance is saving me a £0000s bill down the line with a nasty expensive engine-out job.

[myusernamewastakenbyme]

Im another that would never use Halfords....Kwik Fit etc....i have a local mechanic who is fab and gets my car through its mot every year...in fact i dont use national chains for anything. ..local small family company is always better.

[VeganVeal]

Worn tyres? Surely you check them weekly?

[FixTheBone]

My wife had a service, plus two tyres in kwikfit, 2 days later got a flat, took it back, they showed us a nail in the tyre and said they'd charge us again for a new one as it was just bad luck. I also said we'd noticed the radiator leaking - another £250.

When I showed the manager the pictures of the flat tyre with no nail in it prior to attending and the shiny tool marks where someone had deliberately punctured the radiator (car had been in the garage since the service, so had to be them) and threatened to show trading standards, the police and post them on Facebook, they repaired it l for free. Then I showed trading standards, the police and posted it on their facebook., That branch doesn't have a licence for MOTs any more.