Should I be nervous about using a nationwide autocentre for a service/mot?

MRSPOON_2

Some months back my new car was due a cambelt change as per it's service history. Initially I contacted vauxhall by phone who initially couldn't give me a price quote for a cambelt kit and said they would phone back in an hour. After them not calling for two days I decided to take my custom somewhere else.

So I contacted nationwide autocentre as I would get a discount as Iam in the AA. I have to say they were excellent , I brought the car in at 10AM and everything was finished by 1pm. Also the price was 220 for cambelt kit and labour.When vauxhall eventually decided to phone back ,they wanted 400 pounds.

Now it is pretty hard to find a decent garage who won' rip you off. I don't know any independent who could do this service or MOT but Nationwide did as far as I'm concerned a good job. I have just heard so many horror stories with the chain garages Iam a bit hesitant to book my car in. I mean lets face it, I could take my car to an independent and they could also rip me off and not do the work properly.

Have I taken leave of my senses?

Pollycat

When people are unhappy about something, they shout LOUD.
When people are happy about something, they either don't say anything at all or maybe just mention it to a few people.
This applies to EVERYTHING, from service in supermarkets and stores to holiday companies, airlines and hotels.

It's human nature. :rolleyes:

You say you've

heard so many horror stories with the chain garages

- how many are those 'horror stories' specific to the company you're considering using?
And of that number, how many are VALID complaints?
As a newbie on here, you've probably not seen many of the so-called complaints that some people post on here - but, believe me, it sometimes beggars belief.

You've used them once - and been satified with both price and their service - so why are you questioning using them again based on what other people are saying?
Isn't your own personal experience enough to convince you?

MRSPOON_2

Well, when I got the cambelt done it was a specific job,at the end of the day I could easily query if they had 'found' something else while working on the car.

But an MOT/service is a little different as I personally do not know much about cars at all. Also I had a terrible experience with a 'Mr clutch' with my old car ,where they lied to me about my car needing a certain part to pass it's MOT assured me that they could pass the car after fitting it then a few days later after fitting said part then said it wouldn't pass.

I was getting different stories from different members of staff too. When I spoke to the manager he demanded I pay for the labour and the part they fitted before handing me my keys back. There was a terrible row as my cousin turned up with some of his mates as a couple of the lads working there took a liberty with me and the Police were called .I ended up paying for everything apart from the part which I wasn't happy about as how did I know if they were not lying about the other jobs?

Now I know Mr Clutch is a different chain but most people I know think Iam insane to take my car to another chain garage even though they personally haven't heard anything bad about them. I guess Iam suffering from PTSD.

hoyles10

I have used Nationwide for MOT's in the past and I have to say they have been brilliant. They have even done little extra bits like replace a headlight bulb that went during the test and didn't charge me any extra (Vauxhall would have charged me 9 quid to do it). I wouldn't hesitate in sending any future cars there for tests.

Pollycat

Ok, so you had a bad experience with Mr Clutch (I assume that this is what you call a 'chain garage').
Ergo, all 'chain garages' are suspect?

'Most people you know' are telling you not to use another 'chain garage' even though they personally haven't heard anything bad about them?
And you're obviously listening to them.
Do you always listen to people who give advice based on no factual evidence at all?

Nobody can advise you which garage to use.

Make your own mind up.

MRSPOON_2

Pollycat wrote: »

Ok, so you had a bad experience with Mr Clutch (I assume that this is what you call a 'chain garage').
Ergo, all 'chain garages' are suspect?

'Most people you know' are telling you not to use another 'chain garage' even though they personally haven't heard anything bad about them?
And you're obviously listening to them.
Do you always listen to people who give advice based on no factual evidence at all?

Nobody can advise you which garage to use.

Make your own mind up.

Whats wrong, got out the wrong side of the bed? time of the month?bad case of piles? hubby not given you a seeing too for a month? PMT?

Don't take it out me on me luv.

Pollycat

MRSPOON wrote: »

Whats wrong, got out the wrong side of the bed? time of the month?bad case of piles? hubby not given you a seeing too for a month? PMT?

Don't take it out me on me luv.

There's nothing wrong with me, luv.

I was just pointing out how silly your reasoning is.
But, given the hassle you say you had with Mr Clutch, maybe Nationwide will be glad not to get your custom. :rolleyes:

geordieracer

MRSPOON wrote: »

Some months back my new car was due a cambelt change as per it's service history. Initially I contacted vauxhall by phone who initially couldn't give me a price quote for a cambelt kit and said they would phone back in an hour. After them not calling for two days I decided to take my custom somewhere else.

So I contacted nationwide autocentre as I would get a discount as Iam in the AA. I have to say they were excellent , I brought the car in at 10AM and everything was finished by 1pm. Also the price was 220 for cambelt kit and labour.When vauxhall eventually decided to phone back ,they wanted 400 pounds.

Now it is pretty hard to find a decent garage who won' rip you off. I don't know any independent who could do this service or MOT but Nationwide did as far as I'm concerned a good job. I have just heard so many horror stories with the chain garages Iam a bit hesitant to book my car in. I mean lets face it, I could take my car to an independent and they could also rip me off and not do the work properly.

Have I taken leave of my senses?

I wouldnt be too put off using another national chain just because you have had one bad experience at another.. I had to take me mother in laws car into a nationwide when we were on holiday and they were great and done what needed to be done(replace 2 tyres) quickly and reset the tyre indicators and balanced them.

try em, you may like em :beer:

LittleMissAspie

See if you have a council MOT station near you for the MOT, there's a list on this site somewhere. They don't do repairs so there's no reason for them to make stuff up.

tomocb

MrSpoon - Ignore the stupid comments. They are always the same comments from the same people.

This related thread may prove useful to you:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1787693

hartcjhart

horses for courses reall, you get good centres and bad centres,but as 'Littlemiss' says see if there is a council mot centre near you