Kwik Fit hard sell?

jc292

Hi there

Just spoke to my local (Guildford) Kwik fit about my car which I took in due to some grinding noise on the back when braking. Sure enough it needs new rear pads and the said discs too due to scoring.

They also told me the front pads were "below minimum spec" and thus needed changing and also discs too.

I felt they were having me on so just asked them to change the rear. They agreed but then called back and said that due to legal requirements they had to change the front too.

I don't know if this is their minimum spec, or a legal one, but it smelled of hard sell to me so I said thank you very much and took the car away (obviously I will get the rear brakes done but elsewhere)

Now I'm interested, was this a hard sell (they wanted almost 600 pounds :eek:) or is there really a legal obligation on a garage to fix all aspects of brakes they feel need work or else not touch it? Any ideas?

OddballJamie

Don't let them do anything, just go and get your car after the 'free brake check'.

tykesi

Hard sell. More proof Kwik Fit tell lies to screw more money from unsuspecting motorists. Thankyfully you've not been taken in by them.

Go find a decent independant garage locally who don't have sales targets to meet and get them to do the work you want doing.

colino

Take it elsewhere and report them. It is illegal for traders to fantasise like that, just the same as the old door-to-door alarm salesmen who would shout FIRE! through the letterboxes of little old ladies.

TrickyWicky

jc292 wrote: »

They agreed but then called back and said that due to legal requirements they had to change the front too.

What a load of cobblers.

KF are under no legal requirement at all. They also cannot seize a car, refuse to let you take it etc etc. They may have a duty of care to inform you of vehicle defects but it doesn't mean that they have a duty to fix it and charge you for it.

If you ever get them do that to you again, just say something like "Oh, ok well I'll call the breakdown driver to come and collect it then and they'll also confirm what you're saying". Watch them brick it at the thought of another vehicle maintenance professional saying the total opposite of what they've just told you

Jamie_Carter

It's just typical KF trying to stitch you up.

ariba10

If I broke down outside Q F I would push the car to the next garage.

Mankysteve

jc292 wrote: »

Now I'm interested, was this a hard sell (they wanted almost 600 pounds :eek:)

600 is rip off even if needs doing. I paid £ 300 odd quid for new front discs, pads rear brake shoes and a new gear linkage not that long a go.

1.5 mm is the minimum but its wise idea to get them replaced before then. Where do you live one of us may be able to recommend a decent garage.

There's no law saying a garage has to change something even if its dangerous they can't keep your car from you or stop you driving it.

pstuart

No other well known 'High Street Name' operates in the same way as they do.

How they continue to get fleet contracts (apart from their sheer size) is totally beyond me.

"Sorry sir, but we can't let you leave the premises with your tyre depth reading 2mm, we shall have to fit new ones for you".

I left, complained to my leasing company and was told that it must have been a "one off".

Trouble is that I can't go anywhere else for tyres to get my intelligence insulted.

Horizon81

Should only be a matter of time before their 'company representative' appears on this thread. Would be interesting to hear an official response regarding this branch's tactics.

Rather humorously, they lost out on the sale of the rears in their greed to sell you the fronts too. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned there.

salubrious

Why did you take your car there originally?

I know a lot of people get sucked in by the discount vouchers but on the whole they are the very last garage anyone should use.

They cannot carry out work without your authorization, and they certainly have no legal obligation or authority to do so. This is another case, as you have pointed out of 'hard sell'