Halfords Autocentres Car Servicing - What to expect?

smub99

Hi all,

So I have been reading some of the forum posts on halfords autocentres and getting rather concerned, given that I have gone and booked my car for a major service and air con service, before reading all this!

Feel a bit stupid for falling for the cheap deal and brand name trick...I just hope I haven't thrown £200 down the drain.

I looked at T&Cs and it is too late to cancel, so was hoping to get a heads up as to what I can expect from them?

GAZ237

Expect to be ripped off.

They are not known as Halfrauds for nothing

What terms and conditions? I would be cancelling. ASAP

OddballJamie

smub99 wrote: »

Hi all,

So I have been reading some of the forum posts on halfords autocentres and getting rather concerned, given that I have gone and booked my car for a major con service, before reading all this!

That's better.

On a serious note, what car is it and how old?
I have mine done at the main dealer and my last major service was about £170 with some haggling. Regarding aircon, there's generally half price vouchers or group on deals around.

worried_jim

What ever happens- don't forget to post back about your experience, include your car, engine, fuel, price paid to price advertised and tell us about the service you received. Good luck.

smub99

T&Cs say that you need to cancel before 5pm the day before but thankfullu I got a lifeline! They called this am saying they are a technician down and can they keep the car overnight! Ha!

Needless to say I stalled the rebooking, cancelled with customer services and booked it with my local garage! In others' experience, how long do they usually take to refund bookings?

gardner1

lucky escape.....some people will say Halfords are great and always have car serviced/mot with no problems......BUT if you havnt got a clue about cars you would say that

smub99

OddballJamie wrote: »

That's better.

On a serious note, what car is it and how old?
I have mine done at the main dealer and my last major service was about £170 with some haggling. Regarding aircon, there's generally half price vouchers or group on deals around.

Do you know of any of any half price air con deals at the moment? Also what are people's experience of servicing with ATS euromaster? I called the peugeot dealer and they are quoting £100 more than my local garage.

Strider590

Do an little inspection of the vehicle yourself, check your lights and tyres.
Give the engine a few K rpm, repeatedly and listen for odd exhaust noises which may indicate a hole.

If you brake warning light isn't on, then the brake pads are probably ok, if you have alloys get your hand in a check there's not a very pronounced lip on the edge of the brake discs.

If they call you and say there's stuff that needs doing, tell them you'll take it to your friend. Don't give them any more work than agree'd, no matter how much they protest and try to tell you the car is going to kill you.


Finally to make sure they do the work, open the bonnet and put a small bit of selotape over where the top of the air filter box joins the bottom, find the oil filter and clean a patch of it. Check these have been disturbed later.

Check the mileage when you leave the car and take a photo of that + the fuel gauge. They do employ children at these type of places and there have been horror stories of people turning up early to find their car doing handbrake turns in the carpark.

jbainbridge

I use one near my work in Smithdown Rd, Liverpool. Never had any complaints or felt pressured into having work done. In fact most of the time the service or MOT is completed with no suggestion of work.

mattyprice4004

I'm a home mechanic and have done pretty much everything mechanical. The last car I bought had years of Halfords work in the book, all done well too.