Rights regarding a car service?

[Deleted User]

Halfords are fine if you want to buy cleaning products or even the odd bulb (to fit yourself).

Horlock

For anyone interested in hearing the outcome.

After a long time waiting, I finally got around to contacting Halfords.

I used the online form on their website.

Within a couple of working days, I received a phone call from the manager of the store who was extremely apologetic. Thus we were both spared any inconvenient in court fees etc - but equally it does mean that I cannot comment as to how a court would have ruled.

The manager offered me a full refund £9, for which I needed to return to the store, plus a further £50 compensation.

I returned to the store same day, the refund was issued immediately on my credit card and the further £50 given cash from the till.

Final conclusions:

1. I'm £59 better off than had I not complained and at least £50 better off than had I just walked back into the store at the time.
2. Halfords have gone up considerably in my estimation, especially the customer services. Sadly going into the store again, I've been tempted to spend money, as their professional socket sets are reduced from £320 to £120.
3. I'm far from convinced that when you ask a genuine question on MSE you get genuine helpful answers any more.
4. People's rights are almost certainly greater than most people believe.

Thank you to all who contributed helpfully. As always feel free to say you don't believe me, want to see the receipts, that I was in the wrong or any other trolling comments you like.

Zandoni

Horlock wrote: »

For anyone interested in hearing the outcome.

After a long time waiting, I finally got around to contacting Halfords.

I used the online form on their website.

Within a couple of working days, I received a phone call from the manager of the store who was extremely apologetic. Thus we were both spared any inconvenient in court fees etc - but equally it does mean that I cannot comment as to how a court would have ruled.

The manager offered me a full refund £9, for which I needed to return to the store, plus a further £50 compensation.

I returned to the store same day, the refund was issued immediately on my credit card and the further £50 given cash from the till.

Final conclusions:

1. I'm £59 better off than had I not complained and at least £50 better off than had I just walked back into the store at the time.
2. Halfords have gone up considerably in my estimation, especially the customer services. Sadly going into the store again, I've been tempted to spend money, as their professional socket sets are reduced from £320 to £120.
3. I'm far from convinced that when you ask a genuine question on MSE you get genuine helpful answers any more.
4. People's rights are almost certainly greater than most people believe.

Thank you to all who contributed helpfully. As always feel free to say you don't believe me, want to see the receipts, that I was in the wrong or any other trolling comments you like.

Well done you deserve some compensation for them wasting your time, if they weren't prepared to do the job they should have told you at the start.

unholyangel

Despite the half a dozen posters telling OP he was wrong, OP was actually right.


Once a contract is agreed, you can't then decide you're not performing your side of it without being liable for damages - with the damages primarily being assessed on the basis of putting the innocent party into the same position they would have been in had the contract been completed correctly.

Businesses are supposed to carry out due diligence. The time for them deciding they couldn't do it was at the pre-inspection or before.

mattyprice4004

3. I'm far from convinced that when you ask a genuine question on MSE you get genuine helpful answers any more.

I’m glad you got it sorted, but bye then!
People were giving up their free time to try and help - next time pay for proper legal advice if you want the right answer first time