Formula One Autocentres

Cocorico123

I have recently had my car serviced at my local formula one autocentre. I've used them for a couple of years and never felt that they had recommended unneccessary work, but this time I feel thoroughly ripped off.

The car was serviced by them this time last year and has only done 3000 miles since, but they have re-done work like changing spark plugs and brake fluid, despite there being a note on the invoice saying that the latter should be changed every 24 months. They have also charged for the spark plugs, despite the fact that they were included on the previous year's invoice.

Am I being too optimistic in thinking, given they had serviced the car 12 months earlier and they had records of the previous work done, they should have applied some common sense when recommending work to be done? Or, as I suspect, did they just see me coming?? I have spoken to the manager and he has agreed to refund the brake fluid change, but won't budge on the spark plugs. Any views or similar experiences appreciated.....

Weirdlittleman

You should have found out exactly what you were paying for.
You may have used them last year but the mechanic may not remember this and if they are asked to do a service they will do a standard service regardless and not bother checking back necessarily. It would have been for you to tell them not to bother with this stuff.

Also re spark plugs - change in policy or invoice type.

You should have asked what you were getting beforehand.

lincroft1710

If the manufacture's service recommendation is at 12 month or 12,000 mile service replace spark plugs (which is a 99.9999% certainty) then if Formula One hadn't replaced spark plugs, I would be complaining.

hypno-h

Cocorico123 wrote: »

I have recently had my car serviced at my local formula one autocentre. I've used them for a couple of years and never felt that they had recommended unneccessary work, but this time I feel thoroughly ripped off.

I truly sympathise with you, I have had the misfortune of dealing with these alleged "auto" centres. It has been a catalogue of disasters and they have nearly weedled, lied and ripped me off to the tune of £2000 plus. On top of that they have lost me 3 days pay due to their incompetence.

They fitted a bush seal that started leaking, apparently thats a car thing??? What the hell does that mean, you have charged me for fixing a leak that is not fixed. Then apparently its a "known fault" with the vehicle. Errr..... how can a leak that has not been there before be a known fault?

Then the service (just after the MOT done elsewhere we it sailed through) suddenly escalated to £600.............ok, I need my car for work, I'm stressed by the amount but figure spend it now and save it later.

But no, then weird and wonderful noises start, apparently it might be my gearbox. How can this be, I had it replaced less than 18 months ago. We'll have a look for you. No its my cluth....that's not cheap, other stuff needs doing (I have the list but I wont bore you with the details.)

Clutch is replaced, it apparently drives like a dream (so I am assured) I drive it the short (less than 2 miles) home. All seems well, the next day due to work I have to go see a client a bit further afield..........and then the car overheats.

What the heck, this has never happened before.....could it be something formula 1 did or did not do. I ring them, well it might be, but they don't know. Have I checked the water? Er............did I not pick the car up less than 12 hours ago from an alleged Garage? Well that's nothing to do with them, I should have checked. Ok, I am stuck, stranded at the side of a road and not making my customer meeting. Can they come and have a look, see what is going on, something does not add up. They can but the nearest garage is, blah blah blah, tow me back but if I cannot "Prove" the fault is theirs then it will cost me and arm and a leg. Plus I will have to wait 3 to 4 hours stuck in the car, on a boiling hot day. Nice customer service guys.

I get my partner to call the AA, who come out and take one look and show me the damaged radiator. Damaged with a ding and a hole (clearly visible) on the INSIDE. It looks (says AA man) that when they fitted the clutch and have to swing head out they have cracked it. Would they know that that had happened - his answer, "well if they didn't see that then they are blind."

So I am left to drive off with a car that may be at fault that someone knows is a risk. I take the car back and am offered a radiator at trade price............I will not insert my response. It is fitted - FREE - but it takes 2 more days, guess who is without a car....again.

Clutch a couple of weeks later starts making an awful noise. Sorry for being paranoid but is this another issue. I take the car back (again), well they are busy but yes it does sound bad, they do not know what that could be (blah blah blah) it may be dangerous though so don't drive it and I can fit you in next week.

Sans car another week, this is not costing me an arm and a leg on public transport, I cannot really call in any more borrow your car favours it is becoming too frequent.

Car is left with them, they call my partner as I am out with customers all day. It is not the clutch, it is the gearbox. How do they know it is the gearbox? Because they have decided to have a look and now do I want them to send it off to be fixed or put it back together?

Well seeing as this was not discussed and at no point had they been authorised to do any work at all on the car (call me paranoid but my experiences to date have not been positive) I ask them to put it back and not do anything else.

The car is not going to be ready for me - they are flat out, come back in the morning. Oh and by the way you owe us just over £400 for labour.......

Refusing to pay this fabricated charge it then turned quite nasty, myself and my partner are shouted at, insulted, personal verbal attacks and intimidating behaviour. The car STILL was not ready and I am now considering legal action against these dangerous charlatans.

Please dear forum folks, avoid these guys like the plague. I find it hilarious that they have the audacity to post that they pride themselves on customer service. If that involves screaming in your face, inflicting personal insults and conducting themselves with nothing short of threatening behaviour then they score 10 from me.