really angry with Nationwide AutoCentre

SDH

Nationwide Autocentre have Serviced and MOT'ed my car today.

Throughly disgusted with them.
I selected them purely on the basis that i could pay with tesco clucbcard vouchers.

Apart from an outrageous list of "defects" they wanted to fix on my car (totalling 800quid, only 2 failed the MOT) they have also broken my bonnet catch and there is oil all over the floor in the drivers-side footwell.

I am taking the car back at 8:30am tomorrow for them to fix said bonnet catch and hopefuilly sort out oil issue. However this means time out of work, which I am not impressed about.

*RANT RANT*

Anyway the moneysaving point of this post is that my boyfriend - who picked the car up for me forgot to show his tesco clubcard for 20% discount and forgot to pay with the Tesco clucb card vouchers. (he just wacked it all on a credit card. GRRRR)

Do you think that I get them to refund the bill, then i'll pay with clubcard vouchers and get clucbard discount?? Might use the inconvience/broken catch/oil issue as leverage. What do you think of my chances?

vikingaero

Sounds like with £800 worth of defects and 2 MOT fail points the car is a bit of a banger and the bonnet catch was on it's way out too? So maybe only oil in the footwell is unacceptable?

jeannieblue

Bit harsh Viking?

Don't want to talk down to you - but nobody in right mind goes to these centres.

The fact that your boyfriend paid on credit card, well it is probably too late now. Sorry.

What did your car actually fail MOT on? £800 is alot of money.

SDH

car actually failed on front tyres (new ones £110) and windscreen wiper linakge is missing a nut & bolt - they want to replace entire wiper unit which costs £250quid.

other bits that added up to the 800 were "advisory"

raskazz

jeannieblue wrote: »

Don't want to talk down to you - but nobody in right mind goes to these centres.

I was just thinking the same - they are used as recommended repairers by a lot of insurers for one reason - that their prices are low, and unfortunately the standard of service is equally as low.

jeannieblue

SDH wrote: »

car actually failed on front tyres (new ones £110) and windscreen wiper linakge is missing a nut & bolt - they want to replace entire wiper unit which costs £250quid.

other bits that added up to the 800 were "advisory"

Good heavens!

You may need a new wiper linkage - but what car is it??? That is alot of money.

Tyres, £110 each - again what car is it???

Think you may need to get an alternative quote here.... you are under no obligation to get the work done at Nationwide.

anewman

Surely a missing nut and bolt from a wiper linkage would be noticeable when using the wipers. Did they work ok before going in? Have you tried them after going to National Autocentres?

They're only supposed to check the operation - so if they worked before I have the nasty feeling they stole the nut and bolt for you.

jeannieblue

Can't trust anyone these days - am curious to know what vehicle has a linkage that costs that amount anyway. And such pricey tyres...

SDH

its a Fiat Punto. Apparently Fiat only sell the linkage as a whole unit so you have to purchase motor, linkage etc.

Yes the wipers worked before it went for MOT. They broken a couple of years agao and my Dad fixed them (was supposed to be a temporary fix at the time but it got through the previous 2 MOT's) strangely the nut & bolt have fell out again. Could have been coincidence but I don't feel like it was

oh and it £110 for a pair of tyres!

SDH

When I had "old bangers", I used to get them fixed/MOT'ed etc at a "little local garage" that i trusted ... but they sold up and retired to Australia

Since then I have really struggled finding a suitable garage - that both fits around my work, other commitments etc, I end up trying a different garage every year....

So any suggestions for next year welcome ;-)

in the meantime need to find a) friends who like have mechanics for boyfriends or something b) new wiper linkage ... or maybe a nut&bolt c) whether I can pursuade them to do refund and then let me pay with the clubcard vouchers

jeannieblue

Ah - pair of tyres isn't so bad.

So we have £110 for tyres - assume fitting included - if not, go elsewhere. (Go elsewhere anyway, think you could improve on that price).

£250 for linkage...

That makes it £360... so HOW much labour do they want then to fit the linkage?!!

Please go and get the work done elsewhere. Have you thought of looking in a breakers for the linkage? Or even just for the nut and bolt?

I'd ring your nearest Fiat dealership and ask for the parts department and find out for yourself how much the linkage is.. Just to put your mind at rest, it may be that price, it may not.

Good luck