Formula 1 autocentre Basildon

[Staceyleigh]

I'm not going to blab on forever as i don't usually blog myself but I always read through them for a little bit of advice and when having trouble with f1 autocentres I was stuck when I found no reviews online! So I guess I'm the first... Being a young girl with a car to keep on the road to be used for work driving around 300 miles weekly I need to have full confidence in the fact that my car is running as smoothly and as safely as possible. This is hard when I know next to nothing about cars!! So.. My exhaust was blowing and I took it down to f1 to be checked over and was told I need a new middle and rear segment of my exhaust and the work will take 45 minutes. Brilliant - dropped it off at 1, and finally recieved a call at 3.30 to pick up my car... On arrival I noticed my exhaust was still very low to the floor. 'thats all done for you, no need for a new exhaust just a bit of TLC' i had only been charged £40 for the work but I was not notified or asked if this would be ok it was just done.. Taking 2 1/2 hours! I think not. Whilst questionning them about why I was given a quote and left my car here on the understanding a new exhaust would b fitted y am I back with no change I was spoken to like a child. I felt intimidated, angry, upset and worthless when I left!! 2 days later I leave for work and my exhaust is around 1 inch from the floor... I took a picture of this to send to my manager to explain why I could not risk driving to work and straight to the garage I went .. Fuming! A lady behind the desk with no clue as to what I was talking about said ok I'll get someone to check what work was carried out, 5 minutes maximum wait I was told... 45 minutes later up my car goes on the ramp and they start fiddling around tightening bolts underneath although i had specifically asked for my car to NOT be touched without my permission. I walked over and sneakily clicked record on my mobile. They're not getting away with talking to me how they did previously!! I had one silly man say 'it happens over time, speed bumps it is they ruin exhausts'... After 2 days I say? What numpty garage did u take it to he asked? That would be here then! Silly me!!! The bolts had been left undone. By the time I had driven to the garage the rear of my exhaust was dragging and the whole thing ruined! Once again I was told all sorted, nothing to worry about. I explained angrily how I've missed out on a days wage down to fools not knowing how to tighten a bolt and now an exhaust being ruined ! Off I went.. 2 days it happens again and after a week of trying to speak to a manager, finally I'm lucky enough to get through to b told 'get the work done elsewhere and we will reimburse the funds' great I said thanks for that but one more day I now have to take off work!! 5 working days he said and the cheque will b with u. On the plus side my car is fine now with a conpletely new exhaust and all new fixtures and fittings but 3 weeks later still no funds. I am disgusted by how I was treated, spoken to and lied to continuously by f1 auto centres in Basildon and I can assure you I would never use the garage again!

[grizzly1911]

Have you got names/details of who told you to get the work done elsewhere and committing them to pay?

have you asked them why they haven't repaid you?

Do they have a documented complaints procedure?

Have you formally complained to their head office in writing?

[marlot]

I know its your first post, but I gave up reading it. You need to use paragraphs!

[Tilt]

Fair play to Leon for coming on with a response... nice to get the other side's input. Please come back and let us know how it is resolved.

[mervyn11]

Originally Posted by marlot

I know its your first post, but I gave up reading it. You need to use paragraphs!

So did I .............!!!