Formula 1 autocentre Basildon

Staceyleigh

I'm not going to blab on forever as i don't usually blog myself but I always read through them for a little bit of advice and when having trouble with f1 autocentres I was stuck when I found no reviews online! So I guess I'm the first... Being a young girl with a car to keep on the road to be used for work driving around 300 miles weekly I need to have full confidence in the fact that my car is running as smoothly and as safely as possible. This is hard when I know next to nothing about cars!! So.. My exhaust was blowing and I took it down to f1 to be checked over and was told I need a new middle and rear segment of my exhaust and the work will take 45 minutes. Brilliant - dropped it off at 1, and finally recieved a call at 3.30 to pick up my car... On arrival I noticed my exhaust was still very low to the floor. 'thats all done for you, no need for a new exhaust just a bit of TLC' i had only been charged £40 for the work but I was not notified or asked if this would be ok it was just done.. Taking 2 1/2 hours! I think not. Whilst questionning them about why I was given a quote and left my car here on the understanding a new exhaust would b fitted y am I back with no change I was spoken to like a child. I felt intimidated, angry, upset and worthless when I left!! 2 days later I leave for work and my exhaust is around 1 inch from the floor... I took a picture of this to send to my manager to explain why I could not risk driving to work and straight to the garage I went .. Fuming! A lady behind the desk with no clue as to what I was talking about said ok I'll get someone to check what work was carried out, 5 minutes maximum wait I was told... 45 minutes later up my car goes on the ramp and they start fiddling around tightening bolts underneath although i had specifically asked for my car to NOT be touched without my permission. I walked over and sneakily clicked record on my mobile. They're not getting away with talking to me how they did previously!! I had one silly man say 'it happens over time, speed bumps it is they ruin exhausts'... After 2 days I say? What numpty garage did u take it to he asked? That would be here then! Silly me!!! The bolts had been left undone. By the time I had driven to the garage the rear of my exhaust was dragging and the whole thing ruined! Once again I was told all sorted, nothing to worry about. I explained angrily how I've missed out on a days wage down to fools not knowing how to tighten a bolt and now an exhaust being ruined ! Off I went.. 2 days it happens again and after a week of trying to speak to a manager, finally I'm lucky enough to get through to b told 'get the work done elsewhere and we will reimburse the funds' great I said thanks for that but one more day I now have to take off work!! 5 working days he said and the cheque will b with u. On the plus side my car is fine now with a conpletely new exhaust and all new fixtures and fittings but 3 weeks later still no funds. I am disgusted by how I was treated, spoken to and lied to continuously by f1 auto centres in Basildon and I can assure you I would never use the garage again!

grizzly1911

Have you got names/details of who told you to get the work done elsewhere and committing them to pay?

have you asked them why they haven't repaid you?

Do they have a documented complaints procedure?

Have you formally complained to their head office in writing?

marlot

I know its your first post, but I gave up reading it. You need to use paragraphs!

Tilt

Fair play to Leon for coming on with a response... nice to get the other side's input. Please come back and let us know how it is resolved.

greyteam1959

marlot wrote: »

I know its your first post, but I gave up reading it. You need to use paragraphs!

So did I .............!!!

abysonta

I have used Formula One service only once and I may not go there again.
I went there in May 2013 for getting a quote for repairing driver side window which was stuck up. The quote provided was £30 higher than Halfords Basildon and £35 higher than a local garage, for the same parts and work combined. After giving the quote, formula one guy told that they will charge £35 pound for quote if the work is not carried out at their garage. I was not informed about it prior to giving quote. I felt strange as neither Halfords or the local garage did not charge a penny for quote. Thus I was forced to take their service and I was not happy with my Formula One Basildon experience.

worried_jim

You are a glutton for punishment! F1 and Halfauds, you really are desperate to appear on watchdog. You have been well mugged off and need to stay clear of all these cowboys including krap fitt and stick with your local independent garage.

ttnbd173

Never use F1 at Baslidon unless its a last resort.

I have used them for many years out of convenience,

Over time they have over charged me because
they didn't want to do a job ie £350.00 to change
a thermostat on a rover 75.
Had a oil change once and the floor pan fell
to the ground on my way home, the length
of the under floor pan goes from the radiator
to the rear wheels.
Don't bother complaining they don't give.

Just keep away

TTNBD173