Problem with Halfords

inspirespirit

Wonder if anyone could give me any idea if I have any comeback in the following situation.

The last couple of times I have required new bulbs in headlights, blinkers, I have taken my car to my local Halfords and they have replaced them for me. (Cost 12.99).

3 weeks ago I noticed my headlight bulb had gone and knew my M.O.T. was imminent so took it to Halfords to be replaced. (They advertise outside and inside that they replace bulbs etc.)

Yesterday my car went in for it's M.O.T. It failed. They said the reason it failed was because the person who changed the bulb in the headlight had forced it in, bending the fittings and rendering the bulb loose so that when they tested the beam, they did not get the required reading. They asked who had replaced the bulb and I told them and they said, 'Well they have just cost you a lot of money because of their actiions).
It cost 60 pounds to be put right (I have a Nissan Micra) because they had to remove the front bumber to remove the headlight to be able to get at the bent fittings. I have used this garage for years and I know they are very good. They managed to fix it rather than the cost for a new headlight which would have been 150 pounds inc fitting, thereby saving me almost 90 pounds.
They have actually put on the invoice that they gave me that the 'fail' was due to the bulb being forced into the headlight, rendering the fittings damaged and causing the vehicle to 'Fail'.
It also cost me 25 pounds for a re-test.

Do you think I would have any comeback from Halfords for the 85 pounds it cost me to put right their bad workmanship?

PZH

inspirespirit wrote: »

Do you think I would have any comeback from Halfords for the 85 pounds it cost me to put right their bad workmanship?

You would have to be able to prove that the headlamp/bulb was not touched by anyone else within the 3 weeks from being changed at Halfords.

Additionally, you should have given Halfords chance to rectify the fault rather than let someone else look at it.


I would certainly write a letter to Halfords Head Office detailing the issue and include a copy of the invoice outlining their comment about the "forced" bulb - but any offer they make would be purely "Goodwill"

As for comeback - it's going to be very difficult to prove I suspect.

DVardysShadow

phoodless wrote: »

You would have to be able to porve that the headlamp/bulb was not touched by anyone else within the 3 weeks from being changed at Halfords.

Additionally, you should have given Halfords chance to rectify the fault rather than let someone else look at it.


I would certainly write a letter to Halfords Head Office detailing the issue and include a copy of the invoice outlining their comment about the "forced" buld - but any offer they make would be purely "Goodwill"

As for comeback - it's going to be very difficult to prove I suspect.

Although in general, you have to give an opportunity to put something right, in a case like this, where there is investigation to be done, the majority of the cost will have been incurred on the investigation, which I think Halfords should pay for - and OP would have been within rights to insist that Halfords replace with a new unit.

PZH

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Although in general, you have to give an opportunity to put something right, in a case like this, where there is investigation to be done, the majority of the cost will have been incurred on the investigation, which I think Halfords should pay for - and OP would have been within rights to insist that Halfords replace with a new unit.

Ah right - I understand. So the cost of purely the investigation itself to determine the issue should be presented to Halfords ?

inspirespirit

I'm going to go into Halfords and explain the situation and see what they say. Worth a try.

[Deleted User]

inspirespirit wrote: »

It also cost me 25 pounds for a re-test.

a bit off topic i know, bud did your car ever leave the garage? or did they do the work and then pass the car?

if you never left the garage and they charged you £25, then i'm afraid they are not a very good garage


back on topic, the fitting that headlight bulbs normally sit in are plastic, i fail to see how it could be bent

inspirespirit

yes, the car did leave the garage. The garage that does my car doesn't do M.O.T's. I take it to him cos I know I can trust him. He took my car to the M.O.T. centre for the M.O.T. He did try to fix it actually at the centre, but couldn't as he needed to remove the bumber and headlight, so he had to take it back to his own garage.

Well I went to Halfords today and they were wonderful. They seemed to know exactly what had happened and coughed up the 60 pounds without question. They said they were grateful to my mechanic for taking the trouble to fix it, as most garages would have insisted on a new headlight which would have then cost them over 200 pounds, so they were quite happy to pay me back the 60 quid.

I'm a happy bunny. I really didn't expect to get my money back, especially so easily.

PZH

inspirespirit wrote: »

Well I went to Halfords today and they were wonderful. They seemed to know exactly what had happened and coughed up the 60 pounds without question. They said they were grateful to my mechanic for taking the trouble to fix it, as most garages would have insisted on a new headlight which would have then cost them over 200 pounds, so they were quite happy to pay me back the 60 quid.

I'm a happy bunny. I really didn't expect to get my money back, especially so easily.

What an excellent result - many thanks OP for updating the thread.

"They seemed to know exactly what had happened and coughed up the 60 pounds without question." - Makes you wonder if it has happened before

pinkshoes

Wow! Brilliant result, and gold star for Halfords!! Nice to see a company with morals!

(If only they would change KA headlight bulbs!)