Car damaged by halfords!

mrspennypincher

Good afternoon,

Sorry if this a long post but it is one of my first big posts and any help would be appreciated.

Yesterday, I noticed my washer jets were not working on my Clio (54 Reg and only 30,000 miles on clock) I thought all I needed to do was top up with water and screen wash. I opened the bonnet and went to top up but noticed it was full. However, there were a few leaves that were in the well etc so I cleared them out, and any others that had got stuck in the front grill etc. I got a pin to try and clear the jets but I still could not get them to work.

The car was due for a service and I decided to put car in and get them to look at jets at the same time.

I booked online to halfords auto centre 2 mins from my house for this morning first thing. I did not move or touch my car since, I had cleared the leaves and attempted to top up my jets.

I parked the car at halfords this morning and mentioned the jets which the manager said would be looked at. 3hrs later I get a call listing a number of things that should be looked at as amber points:

Replace cambelt
4 spark plugs
Brake fluid flush
Antifreeze change
Exhaust mount perished
Gearbox oil change.

However, a red point and something that would fail my MoT in Feb was that my offside front headlamp bracket was broken and insecure!
I agreed to come and pick up the car and discuss with my husband when I got home.

When I was heading home I checked my water jets, the one thing that I was needing checked and sorted and they were still not working!!

I arrived home and showed my husband the report of checked areas in service. We went out to the car and went to lift the bonnet when I noticed the front of my car has been dented and damaged with a fresh marks! This was not there yesterday as I cleared a few leaves from the front grill. Also when we lifted the bonnet the headlamp was hanging off and the plastic bracket was clearly freshly broken! This again was not like this yesterday.

My husband and I returned to the centre. Where he first mentioned the jets had not been checked. The manager stated, that yes, they had but he had forgotten to put that on the report!! We then went on to show and explain our concerns about the other 2 issues. He said it was not them and he would get area manager to phone, but it was definitely not them!!! He has not phoned!!

Help! I am so sorry for the long rant, (still very upset!) and not sure what to do next.

Any advice will be greatly received.

M :mad:

Sgt_Pepper_2

So the broken headlight mount is the same side as the dents?

mrspennypincher

Good afternoon Sgt Pepper,

Dent/scrape is just off the right side of Renault badge at front and the headlamp damaged is at the other side!!

M

Still waiting for area manager to phone!

James_Lahey

Gearbox oil change at 30k - automatic box?

No real surprise at Halfords damaging car (and probably gouging you on prices + doing unnecessary work.) Strongly recommend finding a small, local and personally recommended garage to do your work in future.

Good luck sorting out these issues!

mrspennypincher

James_Lahey wrote: »

Gearbox oil change at 30k - automatic box?

No real surprise at Halfords damaging car (and probably gouging you on prices + doing unnecessary work.) Strongly recommend finding a small, local and personally recommended garage to do your work in future.

Good luck sorting out these issues!

Thank you for your advice, I am so upset and disappointed.
Not automatic!

And still no call from area manager!

James_Lahey

I can't speak as an expert mechanic - I do work on my own (usually old/cheap) cars though.

I thought gearbox oil in a manual transmission hardly ever gets changed (I did my car with 107k on it recently - I'm fairly sure by the almost full service history and how well fused the drain plug was that it was the first time it had been done.)

Likewise I was under the impression that cambelts were done at around 80k intervals (although age of car is also a factor as the rubber can perish.)

I'm sure more knowledgeable people will be along to advise soon - try searching google for CEO emails to complain to (the CEO will probably never see it, but I hear you might get through to a separate customer service team who do actually give a $#1&.) Again best of luck with your endeavors!

jsmith4519

when you picked up the car I assume you did not check it over? Did you sign any paperwork before or after? Especially important if you signed paperwork afterwards it will probably have stated in the small print that the car is in the condition it was when you dropped it off. If so you may not have a leg to stand on.

mrspennypincher

jsmith4519 wrote: »

when you picked up the car I assume you did not check it over? Did you sign any paperwork before or after? Especially important if you signed paperwork afterwards it will probably have stated in the small print that the car is in the condition it was when you dropped it off. If so you may not have a leg to stand on.

When I went to collect the car, I went to the office, manager gave me my keys and gave me the sheet/receipt and a booklet telling me what had been checked during the service. I did not check my car until I got home. 2 min car journey. As I was driving home that's when I checked my jets to find they were not working! That's what triggered my husband and I to look under the bonnet whenever I got home. We then just went straight back to Halfords. Fobbed off and still waiting for area manager to call!

Sgt_Pepper_2

What do you expect from the area manager?

He will tell you he needs to gather the facts, the branch won't admit to it. So can you provide credible evidence to the contrary?

mrspennypincher

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

What do you expect from the area manager?

He will tell you he needs to gather the facts, the branch won't admit to it. So can you provide credible evidence to the contrary?

To be honest I am not sure what to do. This has never happened to me before. If I had any doubt that I many have caused the damage, I would never have accused anyone from the centre.

I am very frustrated as I am not sure what to do. It is going to cost me money to get the headlamp replaced as my MOT is due in Feb.

Sgt_Pepper_2

mrspennypincher wrote: »

To be honest I am not sure what to do. This has never happened to me before. If I had any doubt that I many have caused the damage, I would never have accused anyone from the centre.

I am very frustrated as I am not sure what to do. It is going to cost me money to get the headlamp replaced as my MOT is due in Feb.

You need it repaired regardless of when your mot is.