Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Gaffers on 06 January 2013, 11:59:49

Title: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: Gaffers on 06 January 2013, 11:59:49
While I was away in the sandbox last year the wife had to get her car MOT'd.  She took it in to the garage I get mine done at thinking they would recognise the name as they know me in there from my Omega days.

[rant]

It failed with a list of jobs including front discs, apparently badly scored.  Which was funny as I had changed them 2 months before I deployed.  The jobs list was basically a rip-off, stuff that really didn't need changing.  When I found out I was livid but the discs were kept by the wife and left outdoors so by the time I got back they were corroded and I was unable to prove anything.  They also had trouble opening he bonnet which I know was iffy but if you did it right it worked.  Guess what they did, up ripped out what was left of the key mechanism and gave her a allen key to use instead.  That worked until I came home and I have juts spent half a day breaking in to the f***ing thing.

I had to drill it out in the end.  New garage time I think >:( >:( >:(

[/rant]
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: tunnie on 06 January 2013, 12:04:00
Really hate garages, MotherT had her Elite Estate serviced few years back. Before I was doing it all, they charged her for an oil change, but the oil was still really dark. I changed it, 1k later still nice and clean. So there is no way they changed it, but they charged her!  >:(

I think some of them just see a women and charge for loads of work which is not done  >:(
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: Gaffers on 06 January 2013, 12:11:33
I agree, also add to that the american accent of Mrs G and I'm sure these c***ts just saw £ signs.

Just found a crank case breather pipe disconnected......... even if it wasn't them they should have seen this with all the 'work' they did on the car.
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: pscocoa on 06 January 2013, 12:19:23
I continue to use main dealers for all 3 cars. Sometimes their quote for a job is too high and I have it done by an independent but by and large they know that I will take it elsewhere so they do compete on price as much as the corporate regime allows them. When they screw up they have always put it right at their expense. So it is not all bad if you are able to engage with them and quite often I quote info off OOF to prove a point which by and large they take notice of.

If my wife takes her car in they will ring me to discuss but I appreciate that option was not possible in Guffer's case.

For those like me who are not as interested in getting our hands dirty as we used to be - you have to find a workaround with garages especially when in our family you are advising/assisting with 7 cars.
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: Martian on 06 January 2013, 12:48:29
Should have got your old lady to call me Matt, Rhonda's godfather is an AE  ;)


PS

Was it the branch on the one way system by the station?
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: Gaffers on 06 January 2013, 13:07:27
Should have got your old lady to call me Matt, Rhonda's godfather is an AE  ;)


PS

Was it the branch on the one way system by the station?

Didn't think about that, and the missus in her usual well-prepared way took it for an MOT a few days before it expired......

And yes, it was that one >:(  I'll be going in to have a word on Wednesday.
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: Martian on 06 January 2013, 13:15:21
The prices in that place are ridiculous mate.

When the Beemer needed 4 new boots, I had already settled on Kumho KU31's and got a quote from them to supply/fit said tyres.
Most places were around £320 - £350 mark, they wanted £440  :o
Title: Re: F*****g Halfords Autocentre - grumpy old git moment warning
Post by: TheBoy on 06 January 2013, 17:39:07
After they, unsuccessfully, tried to pull the wool over my eyes, I refuse to set foot in there