Don't think I'll use KwikFit again

Wiljuchi

Hi Andy @ Kwik Fit,
Perhaps you could help me to... i've just had my car MOT'd at my local branch and I wish I had never stepped foot on the forecourt.

Your company failed my car for a few reasons.
1) they told me the sidelights that were bright white LED's weren't white enough even though it passed at my local garage last time with them. They changed them for some basic tungsten bulbs that are the colour of weak tea and far from white unlike the lights they took out telling me they weren't white enough!!!!!!

2) They told me the brakes were dangerous and were 33% out and dangerously offset with their power. I found this really odd as after leaving i drove at 40 mph and braked heavily in a perfectly straight line. The thing is you see is that the car had a full service and cam belt change a week before, within the service i had new pads front and rear, new discs on the front as well and the rear drum brake pistons were replaced... there is categorically nothing wrong with the brakes!!!! It was just a con from your mechanic.

3) The worse thing they flagged up was that apparently in the time i drove into the Kwik fit garage the car developed a huge leak from the steering rack and so much power steering fluid came out that it was dangerous.... odd considering that a while ago there was a leak from the steering fluid reservoir and the whole system was checked and pressure tested and offending items (1 small connector) were replaced... More worryingly is that suddenly after your mechanic looked at the car a very small hole that had appeared in the steering rack gator and a corresponding small hole in the seal at the end of the steering rack!

I put it to you that one of your garages on PURPOSE damaged my car so that they could charge for the repair, they also falsely claimed that other things were wrong when they weren't. The reason i know they have damaged the car is that a week ago the car was vigorously checked and had a substantial amount of work carried out it. As for me I am totally disgusted, and if the the steering rack is damaged beyond needing a new seal then I will be pursuing Kwik Fit for the damages through whatever means needed. I will also be pursuing a complaint against Kwik Fit through VOSA and pushing for the branch to be struck off the MOT register.

I do really look forward to hearing from you as my first experience of your company is that you employ total and utter cowboys who will try and rip off the general public through any means possible.

Kind regards
Julian

Angry_Fanboy

Wiljuchi wrote: »

...and if the the steering rack is damaged beyond needing a new seal then I will be pursuing Kwik Fit for the damages through whatever means needed. I will also be pursuing a complaint against Kwik Fit through VOSA and pushing for the branch to be struck off the MOT register.

I do really look forward to hearing from you as my first experience of your company is that you employ total and utter cowboys who will try and rip off the general public through any means possible.

Perhaps direct your new-found assertiveness at the garage when they present you with their findings rather than save it for an internet messageboard after the fact.

Or avoid Kwik-Fit altogether obviously.

Kwikfit_company_representative

Wiljuchi wrote: »

Hi Andy @ Kwik Fit,
Perhaps you could help me to... i've just had my car MOT'd at my local branch and I wish I had never stepped foot on the forecourt.

Your company failed my car for a few reasons.
1) they told me the sidelights that were bright white LED's weren't white enough even though it passed at my local garage last time with them. They changed them for some basic tungsten bulbs that are the colour of weak tea and far from white unlike the lights they took out telling me they weren't white enough!!!!!!

2) They told me the brakes were dangerous and were 33% out and dangerously offset with their power. I found this really odd as after leaving i drove at 40 mph and braked heavily in a perfectly straight line. The thing is you see is that the car had a full service and cam belt change a week before, within the service i had new pads front and rear, new discs on the front as well and the rear drum brake pistons were replaced... there is categorically nothing wrong with the brakes!!!! It was just a con from your mechanic.

3) The worse thing they flagged up was that apparently in the time i drove into the Kwik fit garage the car developed a huge leak from the steering rack and so much power steering fluid came out that it was dangerous.... odd considering that a while ago there was a leak from the steering fluid reservoir and the whole system was checked and pressure tested and offending items (1 small connector) were replaced... More worryingly is that suddenly after your mechanic looked at the car a very small hole that had appeared in the steering rack gator and a corresponding small hole in the seal at the end of the steering rack!

I put it to you that one of your garages on PURPOSE damaged my car so that they could charge for the repair, they also falsely claimed that other things were wrong when they weren't. The reason i know they have damaged the car is that a week ago the car was vigorously checked and had a substantial amount of work carried out it. As for me I am totally disgusted, and if the the steering rack is damaged beyond needing a new seal then I will be pursuing Kwik Fit for the damages through whatever means needed. I will also be pursuing a complaint against Kwik Fit through VOSA and pushing for the branch to be struck off the MOT register.

I do really look forward to hearing from you as my first experience of your company is that you employ total and utter cowboys who will try and rip off the general public through any means possible.

Kind regards
Julian

Hi Julian,

it's Andy from Kwik Fit here. We would like to investigate what happened, but given there are personal details involved, please could you email us directly?

You can send it to me at kwikfitwebcare @ kwik-fit.com.

Kind regards,
Andy

Wiljuchi

Angry_Fanboy wrote: »

Perhaps direct your new-found assertiveness at the garage when they present you with their findings rather than save it for an internet messageboard after the fact.

Or avoid Kwik-Fit altogether obviously.

Hi,
Actually i did, the guy just stood there and shrugged it off, wasn't interested at all.

Wiljuchi

Hi Andy @ Kwik Fit,
I emailed you yesterday, hope you got my contact details and will be in touch with me soon.

Kind regards
Julian

Wiljuchi

Hi Andy,
Thanks for your call last week and to your colleague James who called me back as well. Sadly I have yet to hear from the area manager who was supposed to call me back...

Kind regards
Julian

flagpole

stumbled across this thread. thought i'd post something i wrote for another forum:

Short rant:

Thought my brakes were probably a bit worn so i took it in for a free brake check.

K: you need new disks and pads on the front.
M: OK can you do it tomorrow
K: yes
M: excellent
K: £275
M: actually it's under lifetime warranty from Kwikfit
K: oh no you can't claim under the warranty
M: why's that then?
K: Because you don't need them
M: i needed them a minute ago. what's changed?
K: no you were 'advised', but you don't need them
M: yes advised i needed them
K: no you see it's amber, you only get them under warranty when it's red, dangerous.
M: I have to drive it till it's dangerous?
K: yes that's right.
M: that's like the official policy? Doesn't seem very safe.
K: well that's the rule.
M: MANAGER!!!

i think what happened was their computer only goes back 3 years and the warranty is a bit older than that so they didn't know that i could get them under warranty. hence they were happy to tell me i needed them.

Wiljuchi

Hi Andy,
I had a call from a mechanic at the Guildford branch, he couldn't help and said he'd get the manager or area manager to call me - still waiting....

Customer service is a bit lacking to say the least!

Kind regards
Julian

harvybcn

I took last week my car for Full Service + MOT. Although last year my car was rejected due to ABS light turned on, Kwik Fit called me to offer the service in another centre, Lewisham. My car was rejected again for MOT due to ABS and rear linkage bars having excessive play. I asked for a quote to fix these things and they told me about £800. For example: ABS £200 without specifying which part of the ABS was about to be repaired. Change of brake pads was quoted as £190+180. Linkage bars £60 each. They also recommended to change the complete set of tyres although they are in perfect conditions.

After the panic, I got a recommended garage and I paid for brand new parts:
£35 brake pads
£25 linkage bars
£22 screen wipers
£21 ABS rear sensor
£120 Mechanic Labour
£30 MOT
Total: £253
Kwik Fit Lewisham: £800

If Kwik Fit intended to banish me from their shop, for sure they succeeded. Indeed, I will make sure neither I or my friends go ever there.

Westmead_Fan

how on earth did they quote £800 on work to be done thats usually more than most cars are worth :eek: