Kwik Fit!! Kwik my *rs* !!!

Hunnymonster

April2 wrote:

Or that manifold is the one they keep out the back just in case some awkward punter asks to see the evidence - would you recognise the manifold from your car?

Well I certainly recognised when a garage claimed to have replaced the sump washer (29p+VAT) on a previous car of mine as part of the oil change - but that was because I'd spraypainted over the sump plug that morning with pink paint - having suspected that they sucked the oil out rather than draining it.....

Net result of that discovery lead me to dispute the whole bill as I had no way of knowing which of the processes they'd itemised out they had actually done.... Lead to an interesting conversation involving trading standards and the owner of the garage.

Ever since then, whenever my car is going in for a service or repair, I make sure that all possible items are covered with some method of revealing it's removal/replacement - no repairs are authorised without seeing the defect before it's repaired - annoys the hell out of the garages, but I'm the customer and it's about time they remembered who pays their wages.

Wig

Fairly sensible idea (above), I just make sure I'm right there next to the car when the work is being done. But I realise a lot of peeps can't do this, and even if you wanted to it might not be possible in all the expensive posh places you peeps take your cars to!

I actually trust my mechanics wholeheartedly, but I'm there incase anything goes wrong, so I can see for myself and agree to get the new part that is now needed.

IvanOpinion

I have used Kwik-Fit regularly and never had a problem ... maybe I have been lucky. The biggest issue I ever had was when I left my MG in for an oil change and after a short while they came and asked if I knew how to put the oil in (as if I would know).

Ivan

waterbaby

April2 wrote:

Or that manifold is the one they keep out the back just in case some awkward punter asks to see the evidence - would you recognise the manifold from your car?

Thats what I always think. They probably have a room full of faulty parts. I'd love to know my manifold from my whatever else, but I don't. (However I am signing up for a car maintenance course :j )

After each service I always ask the garage what is likely to need doing by the next service.

I asked one garage and they told me that my brake pipes were corroding and that my front passenger side tyre had minimal tread. I subsequently moved house to 300 miles away. A few months later I had a tyre fitting place check my tyres, didn't say what I'd been told but he told me that I needed a new passenger side front tyre.

Then it had its service, again I said nothing but they rang and said that my brakes pipes needed changing, and a couple of other things that the previous garage had also mentioned.

Its not foolproof, they can easily make up other stuff if they want to. But its good when two places say the same thing.

Dee123_2

LOL @ this thread.

My local branch quoted me £90 for two exhaust parts. When the thing came apart while I was in another town, I rang the branch there and it was £98. When I took my car in to the second branch a few days later - woohooo that person said it was £78. Obviously I didnt argue as I got the lowest price but they should try to get some sort of consistent policy on what they make up for customers.....

AND I am about to take it in to them for the fourth time as there is still a horrible clunky sound.

ben500

Dee123 wrote:

LOL @ this thread.

My local branch quoted me £90 for two exhaust parts. When the thing came apart while I was in another town, I rang the branch there and it was £98. When I took my car in to the second branch a few days later - woohooo that person said it was £78. Obviously I didnt argue as I got the lowest price but they should try to get some sort of consistent policy on what they make up for customers.....

AND I am about to take it in to them for the fourth time as there is still a horrible clunky sound.

I had a similar problem with them, when you go back aslk them to check the manifold thoroughly they had left an apprentice in mine :rotfl: :rotfl:

MissSunshine

no repairs are authorised without seeing the defect before it's repaired - annoys the hell out of the garages, but I'm the customer and it's about time they remembered who pays their wages.

We've only lived in the Middle East for 4 years and dh always asks to see the faulty parts when the car's in at the dealers, or local garage Luckily he's always trekking round the island so can easily call in Yes it does annoy them, but as Hunnymonster says we're footing the bill and want to make sure they're being honest for the money they charge :eek:

Mr_Skint_2

Hebejebe wrote:

The centre of exhaust system fell off this morning so DH took it to Kwik Fit because it was closest to were he was and the garage we usually use (very trustworthy) is fully booked and we need the car for this weekend.

Anyway not only do we need a new bit for the exhaust but the catalytic converter has gone (??!!) so they duly ordered the part. "It will only take half an hour to arrive mate" they told DH. Part arrives 90 mins later (it came from Leeds to Scunthorpe - was it supposed to be coming in a lear jet??) and IT'S THE WRONG ONE!!!!!!!!!!! ARRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
AND

the supplier they ordered the part from did exactly the same thing yesterday!!!

So DH mills around town for 2 hours and goes back to Kwik Fit and it's still not ready. Finally they offer him a lift home and another hour and a half later they phone him. "There is a crack in the manifold the car is undrivable but we will fix it at cost" an extra £140 on top of the £280 rip off price anyway. So we still have no car it won't be ready til tomorrow now.

I am absolutely fuming and I am the person they are going to deal with tomorrow because DH absolutely hates complaining or making a fuss. Any pointers?? Advice?? Is a car undrivable with a cracked manifold or is that just a load of rubbish??

Kwik Fit are absolutely rubbish, my uncle was a Taxi Driver and he got four new tyres for his taxi so he paid up about 230 quid.

A few days later a mate of his who was sat in the taxi rank with him asked him why he bought re-treads as this wasnt allowed by the council on Taxis, my uncle replied they are new.

So he took the Car to the local Council M.O.T testing station and they agreed that they were re-treads, so he went back to Kwik Fit and they argued that they were not until Council documentation was shown.

He got compensation, new Tyres and the bad press closed that depot down.

Serves em right.

Wig

Nowt wrong with retreads, they pass British Standards. The council has no place IMO banning their use (something I would challenge them on in court if necessary). And since 2004 they have been mandatory type approved. Voluntarily since 1998 (but still compliant with British standards).

There is a lot wrong with selling them as though they were something else though and charging such an extortionate amount. 4 retreads for a taxi should come in at about 100 quid.

Easy enough to recognise them - just look on the tyre wall if it says REMOULD or RETREAD then it is.

Mr_Skint_2

Wig wrote:

Easy enough to recognise them - just look on the tyre wall if it says REMOULD or RETREAD then it is.

Not if they are not stamped with the marker that melts (stamped those words) retread and remould.

Thats why they were'nt noticeable at first and thats why they challenged my uncle and lost, rip off merchants deserve what they get.