Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: SIR Philbutt on 14 June 2015, 12:41:30

Title: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: SIR Philbutt on 14 June 2015, 12:41:30

http://garagewire.co.uk/news/halfords-autocentre-fined-47000-following-undercover-sting/ (http://garagewire.co.uk/news/halfords-autocentre-fined-47000-following-undercover-sting/)

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 14 June 2015, 12:44:51

Watchdog will probably pick up on this and then name and shame the scallywags.

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: TheBoy on 14 June 2015, 21:29:21

They were rebranded Halfords Autocentres because their old name, National Autocentres, had such a dreadful reputation.

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: Vicar on 14 June 2015, 21:41:20

These idiots also ruined my sister's car when it went for a service,, changed the belts etc and it never ran right since. She then.took.It on and complained and was told it was a separate issue,,, the car plugs were damaged ..  (Wtf) car still off the road and hoping she's takin them to the cleaners. When I got yo here about it o was fuming. 
Always had a bad rep and don't know why she took it there..

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 June 2015, 09:35:10

Hang on...


"Vauxhall Astra...for a major service at a cost of £235...Magistrates fined the company £32,000, ordered them to pay £14,862.04 costs and a £120 victim surcharge"


Does that mean that the Astra Owner got £120 back out of £235 they shelled out for the service in the first place?  Have I read this wrong, or is it Trading Standards 'own' car, kind of thing?  :-\

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: Viral_Jim on 15 June 2015, 11:20:41

So I think it was Trading Standards' own "stooge" car ie with defects planted on it rather than any individual's own vehicle.

I think the bills break down as

£32,000 fine going to Trading Standards / HMRC / someone
£14,862.04 legal bill going to (presumably) Trading Standards' legal team
£120 victim surcharge going to a fund to compensate other victims of crime

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: Diamond Black Geezer on 15 June 2015, 14:39:09

That sounds better

I wish that the world we live in didn't take 14,862.04 for someone to say

'Here's a car, it's defective'
'oooh, really, why's that then?
'well, we're trading standards, and we sent this to them fellers over there, and they didn't notice any of the defects'
'get them over here.'
'Yes?
'Is what this bloke said true?
'Yeah, we actually plead guilty'
'Oh. Erm... right, then. Here's a fine. Don't do it again'
'Ok Mister. Sorry.'


Wish that didn't have to cost £14grand.

Title: Re: Halfrauds lives up to its name
Post by: the alarming man on 15 June 2015, 18:17:57

Quote from: TheBoy on 14 June 2015, 21:29:21

They were rebranded Halfords Autocentres because their old name, National Autocentres, had such a dreadful reputation.

I remember years ago LEX would use this shower and they always quicker at getting car in than a main dealer...one of ours went in for a clutch on a Monday...on a Wednesday needed recovering from Bristol because the clutch failed!!!!! :y