Have I been ripped of?

clueless1

My partner took his car to KwikFit because his brake warning lights were on. When he took the car in, he forgot to mention about the warning lights and just asked them to look at his brakes. They replaced the two front disc and pads for £190 and the receipt confirms that the car had a full brake inspection. My partner picked up the car at the close of business and needed the car for his evening job. The car still had the warning lights on when he drove away from the store. I told him that he should have asked about the warning lights but he was afraid to because he forgot to mention about it when he took the car in. That was two weeks ago, We only just had time to take the car back today and now they are saying that the two back pads needs to be replaced for £70. When I asked why this was not mentioned when we took the car in the first time around for the brake inspection, they muttered something about it didnt need it two weeks ago
Is it too late to complain because we left it for two weeks or who can we complain to?
Sorry about the long story.
UPDATE.......
We have just been to pick up the car and paid for the second job. I complained to the manager and was fobbed off with the fact that even a millimetre can trigger the warning lights. I insisted that the lights never went off after the first job and threatened to take this to the trading standards.
It was after this threat that when we went to pay, he asked for the receipt back from the first job. This made me even more suspicious because the first receipt was for the front brakes on the first job and this receipt would be for this job on the back brakes. Two different jobs so why do you need that receipt? When I questioned him about this, he said that he could not issue me a receipt unless we give him back the first receipt. After a lot of fuss and more customers listening in, a receipt magically appeared even though he said it wasnt possible.
We left it at this and now considering what to do.

Inactive

Sounds about right for KwikFit, find a small independant garage with a good reputation.

I wouldn't trust KwikFit with my brakes.:rolleyes:

msmicawber

Not sure, clueless, but I would have expected a decent mechanic/garage to have said 'when we carried out the brake inspection we noticed your back brake pads are very close to needing replacement'. Unless, of course, they were relying on the electronic computer thing rather than a visual inspection. However, if that were the case, I'd have expected the brake warning message to have been cleared down by the computer after the front discs & pads were replaced. I'd be suspicious as well.

msmicawber

Sorry, you also asked who to complain to. I'd suggest KwikFit in the first instance but if you don't get satisfaction, I'm not sure who next. Are you a member of RAC or AA or Gem or any of the motoring organisations? If so, I'd ask them for advice.

anewman

Kwikfit sound clueless (sorry about the pun). Go somewhere else and don't bother with them again. Kwikfit are just interested in the money. They did the discs and pads as they're the most accessible and easiest to replace and make money on.

What concerns me a little is you had a brake warning light and left it two weeks. Red warning lights ordinarily mean urgent attention needed and stop driving.

TangledMemories_2

I hate to tell you this, but Kwikfit are not mechanics. They are "retail fitters". Most large companies like Kwikfit and ATS now employ people as glorified salesmen with dirty hands.
My other half works for another local garage chain and the amount of screwups he's fixed where Kwikfit have misdiagnosed is unbelievable.

If you want me to have a word with my OH about this for you and see what he thinks/recommends...just PM me!

oldagetraveller

Inactive wrote: »

I wouldn't trust KwikFit

I've edited your post to a more realistic statemant Inactive. Hope you don't mind.;)

peediedj

i once took my car to budget autocentre as brakes were binding,they repalced front brakes and charged me £200,1 week later brakes were still binding so i took it back and they said it back brakes and tried to charge me another £200,i wrote to the managing director of budget who sent me a voucher to use in budget for £100 as compensation

Inactive

oldagetraveller wrote: »

I've edited your post to a more realistic statemant Inactive. Hope you don't mind.;)

Fair comment...;)

onejontwo

If you had a complete brake check and everything was found to be ok, then it's extremely unlikely that you burned your rear brakes out in this short space of time unless you were taking part in a 2 week rally in the mountains!!!!
If there was a fault on your braking system say a sticking caliper, then this should have been picked up on the initial brake check!
I would strongly urge you to get in touch with the manager and state that the second charge was unfair as it should have been picked up first time around.
Also let him know that if you are not satisfied with the outcome you will contact the Head office of Kwikfit.
Good luck and persevere!!!!

bigheadxx

I would send a very detailed letter to Head Office and state that if you hear nothing from them within seven days you will contact Trading Standards. When I did this I got a call the next day from the regional manager who went through my issues and then agreed to send me some "goodwill" vouchers.