Well, I think I'll be going back to have a chat with the manager on Monday armed with a print out of the relevant page from their web site because there is a world of difference between what they promised and what they delivered.
I will be asking to see the before and after temperature measurements (I don't believe they bothered to take any) and asking for a refund if they can't produce them, especially as they claim to charge nothing if there's not a 10% difference between the two (thatever 10% means when dealing with temperatures - no doubt they work in degrees Kelvin!).
..but I am conscious that it's hardly swealtering weather at the moment, the car is new to me so I'm not familiar with a system that's working properly and maybe my expectations are not realistic. Maybe someone could confirm based on the following that my system is not working satisfactorily.
The outside air temperature was 15 degrees today, the sun was shining and I drove home (20 miles) in shirt sleeves with the climate set to "lo" and the fan at full speed. Based on other air con systems I have experienced this should have quickly lead to an uncomfortably cold car. The reality is that it was a degree or two colder than I would have preferred but I didn't really get the urge to give up and dial in some heat.
The air con does give some cooling. Switching to eco mode does raise the temperature by a few degrees at a guess. The compressor is engaging, the auxiliary fans are running at low speed and the condenser looks clean and not blocked with debris. The pipes in the driver's footwell to the heater matrix do run reasonably cool (slightly warm but not at engine temperature) so I think the HBV is cutting any significant supply to the heater matrix.
I wouldn't have minded if they'd said that there was a fault in the system that can't fix. They only offer a recharge service after all. I wouldn't really have minded paying for their efforts if they'd been up front with me and provided whatever suggestions and information they could as to what was wrong. In the event they sent me packing hoping I wouldn't argue.
Kevin
Agreed - your system does not seem to be running a peak efficiency - like you, I would expect the car to be too cold.
Also agree with your other comments - good luck with the refund.
I expect the Kwik Fit people work at -273 degrees Kelvin - certainly in the brains department anyway!