KwikFit - Avoid!

SBrown86

Hi all, I'm sure most of you already know this. I had the unfortunate experience of going to KwikFit after a nail got stuck in my tyre.

They replaced the tyre (at a nice big cost), then kindly told me that I needed the other 3 tyres replacing and tracking as well.

I came back a few weeks later to have the work done (after pay day). They changed the tyres (all with different amounts of air pressures for some reason). They said they couldn't do the tracking because a bolt had seized up, and they needed to cut the track ends or something and needed a lot more time.

I went on my way, and planned to get the tracking done later. I then found one of the tyres was leaking air, I took it to another garage (more local, 5 stars on google reviews). They fixed the problem in 10 minutes, the air intake valve had not been changed when they changed the tyre and it was leaking (they showed me but putting some water on there, to show that it wasn't fully sealed). They also tested the tracking, and said there was nothing wrong with it funnily enough.

They actually didn't charge me anything. As it only took them 15 minutes. Car has been fine ever since.

So all in all, KwikFit charged me a small fortune to get the tyres changed, then tried to get me to have more work done that was unnecessary. Yet they didn't even change the tyre properly in the first place.

I sent a complain on their website, the guy called me and gave me a load of BS about how accurate their tracking tests are. He kept steering the conversation away from the leaking tyre, so I get the impression that this happens a lot.

I'm just astonished how they get away with this, yet have no bad publicity (or at least I've not heard anything). To send me away with a leaking tyre is dangerous frankly and unacceptable.

Complete money grabbers, not expecting any compensation from them. Anyone else have a similar experience? Definitely won't be going back again!

Kernow666

doesnt surprise me with Kwik-Fit the one & only time i went in was for a free brake check and low & behold all of my brakes pads & discs were deemed faulty

JReacher1

I like kwickfit. I've used them many times and find them cheap and quick. They upsell a lot but you just have to be strong and tell them no.

Every time I've needed an emergency repair then they have sorted me out in an hour. If it's not an emergency and you can't deal with upselling then go to a local garage instead.

hollydays

http://money.aol.co.uk/2013/07/10/bbc-show-claims-shocking-tactics-from-kwik-fit-mechanics/

BBC watchdog
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jHYrn6F4_LI

SBrown86

Ah, fair enough. I guess it always pays to do your homework.

I can understand the up-selling. However, there's just no excuse for not changing a tyre properly. Never again.

hardtimes

I went to Kwikfit and came out with 4 new tyres and a battery....only went in for directions😎😎

marvin

I found Kwikfit to be very educational, did not know you can put a tyre on the wrong way round till they did and my normal garage pointed it out when it went in for a service.

zax47

And in other breaking news - bear spotting sh*ting in woods...

Seriously - thought everyone knew Kwik-fit are famous for telling bare-faced lies to get you to have over-priced, unnecessary work done badly? No? They prey on the weak-willed and the unknowledgable, whom they draw in with their "free" "checks" which, quelle surprise, invariably reveal that lots of expensive remedial work needs doing immediately on your "deadly" and/or "dangerous" brakes, tyres or shocks as "it'd be illegal if I let you drive out of here..." BS!

"Up-selling" is when you are persuaded to buy something of better spec or higher price than you NEED to purchase, not when you are conned into purchase something you DON'T NEED to purchase by means of blatant LIES - that's surely fraud or extortion?