halfords fitting service damaged my car!

Nine_Lives

timbstoke wrote: »

Why is it unrealistic? If the OP drove to a store 15 miles away when there's one at the end of his road, then maybe you'd have a point, but even then, his complaint is with that particular store. He incurred additional fuel costs as a result of their mistake, and I don't see why he shouldn't be reimbursed for that. Time can't be claimed for, but fuel is a legitimate cost which can be recovered.

You get me mistaken

I agree that fuel SHOULD be refunded. Like when the seller cocks up your eBay order & you should be refunded P+P fees.

I'm just saying good luck getting it, that's all.

timbstoke

I agree that if you ask for it, they may argue. Which is why I'd start from the assumption that they've agreed to reimburse me for all costs, and do it by letter. That way, they have to explicitly contact you to say no. No one likes making that call, so there's a good chance they'll just pay out.

unholyangel

molerat wrote: »

The official way is to remove the battery which can bring its own problems. If you have little girly hands you may be able to do it but the other problem is getting the cover back on which has to be fitted under lugs and the battery stops it from angling back far enough. I can do it in 10 mins taking the headlight out, usually the quickest way.

If its anything like the focus i learned to drive in the only way is to take the full headlight out. I remember standing arguing with my dad for a good 10 mins that he needed to take it out and he was convinced something was wrong with the car as there was no space at all to get in at it from the back (he's used to working on older cars, so newer ones confuse him). He eventually caved after i went and got the repair manual and showed him where it said the headlight needs to be removed.

Not really hard to remove though. If i remember right there was only 3-4 bolts holding it in.

highstx

On mine you can't reach behind the back of the head light due to metal housing, there is a bolt you have to unscrew and then put a long screwdriver down the back to pop two brackets so it also un clips, you then pull the hole headlight unit out and then can access the back and remove the cap and then the bulbs etc.

My issue is they advertise an affordable convenient and professional service and their stafff are trained as such, clearly not in the case, I accept accidents happen, but in my mind I paid for a service I never received and as a result my head light was broken in a couple of places which is not acceptable.

I also see it as having to return twice isn't convenient nor is it cheaper than going to a dealer to have fitted which there signs advertise, I'm just pee'd off with the hassle and expense. I've told them how it's been damaged and explained how the lad has fitted it was totally incorrect to how it should be, but have to wait for the manager who is in Friday, but was told to contact the ford dealer to get a quote for the parts which need replacing which I have done and had the quote faxed to them.

I don't find it unreasonable to be compensated for direct costs incurred, ie fuel phone calls etc. the lost time is a royal pain in the !!!! at the moment as its not as if I have anything else to be doing this time of year so close to Xmas.

6 months ago. I had some private plates made at halfords and fitted, when I got my car serviced they where nice enough to tell me my back plate is out of line, that I have to drive to hull 60 miles away I was told as that's where I had them made and fitted.

I'm really hacked of with halfords at the moment.

highstx

K_P83 wrote: »

I highly doubt you'll be able to claim for EVERYTHING!

I had to wake up at 8am, i usually wake up at 8:30am, i was so inconvenienced.
I then discovered all the coco pops had gone, this made me flip my lid & i threw my bowl at the cereal cupboard, which then dropped and smashed into a million splintered pieces.

I want refunding for this also.

It could go on & get silly. I'd say you'll be very lucky to get refunded on your fuel costs & anything on those lines.

like you say that's silly on not a fair comparison is it? In my case I have no option to drive back to the shop, I didnt break anything more am I responsible, yes I choose to pay for a service but I didn't receive that service and as a result they have broke my head light not me, and I've been told to contact the dealer, I can't help it being a 0845 number more was I offered to use there phone.

My point is why should I have to suffer and pay around £9 in fuel? As if it's not expensive enough to drive, or make a phone call which will costs a further £3, which on its own is almost more than I've paid halfords for the built and fitting.

My argument to the manager will be it would of been cheaper to goto my main dealer and paying them, as there repair shop and staff are fully qualified an know what they are doing and it would be cheaper to pay the extra few quid and still have change left over to what I've paid.

I was told anything £200 ore less can be paid with petty cash, more than that has to go through head office.

unholyangel

highstx wrote: »

like you say that's silly on not a fair comparison is it? In my case I have no option to drive back to the shop, I didnt break anything more am I responsible, yes I choose to pay for a service but I didn't receive that service and as a result they have broke my head light not me, and I've been told to contact the dealer, I can't help it being a 0845 number more was I offered to use there phone.

My point is why should I have to suffer and pay around £9 in fuel? As if it's not expensive enough to drive, or make a phone call which will costs a further £3, which on its own is almost more than I've paid halfords for the built and fitting.

My argument to the manager will be it would of been cheaper to goto my main dealer and paying them, as there repair shop and staff are fully qualified an know what they are doing and it would be cheaper to pay the extra few quid and still have change left over to what I've paid.

I was told anything £200 ore less can be paid with petty cash, more than that has to go through head office.

Unless i'm mistaken it adds up to less than £200?

£140 repair, £9 fuel, £3 phone call and £6 refund for fitting service?

Although I do believe that based on what you've told us you shouldn't be out of pocket, please do remember to stay reasonable with your requests. The shops are far more likely to accept your "loss" if it is reasonable and if you had to go to small claims over it, remember you can usually only claim for quantifiable loss and the claimant usually has to have tried to mitigate their losses.

See what they say

Mark_Hewitt

A bit of praise for Halfords. My lights blow on a semi-regular basis.

There was one time I was in York and went around about half a dozen repair garages - large and small, "can you supply and fit a bulb for me".
"No don't do that", "Can you come back in 4 hours", "Leave the car here we'll look at it at some point", "Too busy", "Too busy" etc etc.

Whereas Halfords came out to the car and fitted it immediately, and I've been going there for fitting ever since, excellent service - although the skill levels of the people who do the fitting can be 'variable'.

highstx

Spoke to the manager today, he's told me if I book my car in have the work done he will authorise payment and when I asked about fuel etc he said fill up £10 and get the receipt. I had to ask about refund on the fitting but said he can do that also.

Will report once all done prob after Xmas etc now

timbstoke

Sounds like a pretty good result - top marks for Halfords if it all goes to plan.