Halfords Repairwork / sub-par where do I stand?

looknohands

I've never used the motoring forums before on here, so hello!

Am sure there's a million threads like this, I searched and found one about low quality tyres, but wondering if anyone had any info on where I stand here.

I took my car to Halfords to have my clutch repaired after i had a service and it was recommended. The quote was £350.

After taking the car to the garage the mechanic informed me he'd call me up and price this properly for me. He never called, I left it over a weekend, around 4 working days I called them back and he said he'd fitted the clutch but there'd been a problem and they needed a clutch rod as it's an older car, so he'd ordered it in, he said he'd call me back again and let me know when it's ready.

So he never called back, then today a different mechanic called me from Halfords and said they'd fixed it and the clutch is great, runs perfectly etc.. and the cost is £406... which wasn't what I was quoted and i never received a call back, I told him this and he apologised on the other mechanics behalf.

I picked the car up and the mechanic commented that the gears on the car were a little different to other cars they've driven... A little confused i thought maybe it was just the car and I was used to it. However I drove the car home and noticed the gears are now not the same as when I dropped it off, the thing is there is no locking gate to stop the reverse gear, so because it shifts into reverse so easy getting into second or first is quite tricky.

I've already paid and I'm pretty sure they're going to claim that it was like this as i think this was why he pulled the 'weird gears' story, but it was fine before the clutch repair, just the clutch was slipping! Now i have a nice clutch but a gears problem.

Is there much i can do? Ask them to repair it? and what can i do if they try and charge me?

rich13348

They probably broke something removing the gearbox and or gearknob.
Take it back to them and explain to them what is wrong and what you want them to do to put it right.
They have a legal obligation to fix it and you have an obligation to give them a chance to put it right if you expect any money back from them.
You may wish to put the problem you have and the solution you want in writing and give them that so there is no misunderstanding.

angrycrow

Likely that this is a car with cables connecting the gear leaver to the box. After removing the cables from the box some cars need the gear selector re centering in neutral, sounds like they missed this step, take it back and tell them to fix it properly.

tacpot12

They can't charge you to fix their mistake reassembling the gearbox linkage.

peter12345678910

I would never take a car to halfords or kwik-fit, my rule is big jobs to dealer and small jobs to local garage. And m.o.t to a place that is not a garage.

Though the halfords shop is a different thing.

looknohands

I've taken it back, the mechanic said they don't touch the gears on a clutch change so this is how it was... I drove it 100 miles the day before and had no problems with the position of the gears and there was a reverse lock out which is no longer there! I told him and said I'd prefer it how it was pre-clutch change.

Agree wouldn't use Halfords again I have used them for service before and was fine but regret getting this done now. Right now I'd prefer them to reset it back to old clutch parts give me my £400 and I'll go elsewhere.

salubrious

They might not touch the gears, but they do touch the thing that changes the gears.

What car is it?