Car repair rip offs

Beware the "free" brake or tracking check!
I know of two cases where the tracking was "out" according the garages, and reset. Which explained why the tyres showed undue wear within a couple of weeks. Resetting the tracking returned the fixings to the original dirt marks, and no more undue tyre wear!
When we had a Renault, having a new tyre fitted by K F, the wheel came back covered in balance weights, and lacking the inner tube. (Tubeless tyre visible instead of the original)
Returned car, told them that model cannot have tubeless tyres, and required a special adaptor for balancing. Tube replaced, wheel balanced using the adaptor. Very few balance weights needed! Lost the business for two cars, at least!

Well I must be the lucky one. I had a nail in my tyre which caused a flat tyre. Took it to our local well known KF who mended the tyre checked all the other tyres, made sure all had the correct pressure etc. When I asked "how much do I owe you" was told nothing!! have this one on us! To say I was absolutely stunned and delighted was an understatement. So ladies not all garages are out to con us.

Further to my message 24 Oct. Technology permitting only allowing a dealership garage, a month later I finally got my four-year old vw car seen, to stop the wind screen wipers working while the motor is running. Arriving at the garage they inspected the outside for marks and with a flash of a torch, and told me that, the back brake pads needed to be changed and should they do the job. I declined as my car has not been used since it’s MOT because of lockdown. Who do you believe? I will get them check with the local garage.
Regarding the problem I went for, new technology is costing me 600 euros because everything has to be changed! Vw, although there is a forum on the web dealing with this problem, will not except any responsibility.

Beware, with MOTs any fault is a matter of judgement I know garages that will pass almost anything, others that will fail a car just to generate repair work. Particularly with older cars an MOT is not a guarantee it is safe

A few years ago I took my car into a local garage for an MOT. It failed with a list of things needing fixing. Called into my daughter’s just after picking it up and her mechanic boyfriend said it failing was rubbish. He immediately took the car into a different garage and it sailed through. Another case of trying to fleece a lady driver!

That's blooming terrible ...I work for a small Tyre co(And brakes) in Essex which is extremely busy ..we have customers in and out all day long.The shop has a very good reputation so much so it is mentioned on a Facebook discussion page frequently. The Customer services is second to none .I was employed because they wanted an older lady which I do feel puts ladies at ease when coming in.When will other shops learn that being truthful re needing only a puncture repair(fir example) will bring customers back time and time again...

I have written above about my problems with main dealers, but I must say that I haven't had problems with tyres and exhausts as they tend to have standard rates and you can ring round in advance to check on prices. Exhaust replacers - and actually, how often does an exhaust need replacing these days - usually do brakes and similar and will tell you they need work, but my response is always that I will get my garage to check them for me.

Thanks Chapeau
This thread has saddened me.
I hate to think of poor helpless souls being taken for a ride.
I have been an AA member since I bought my first car and have never regretted it.
They don't usually do the repairs but can often diagnose the problem . I'm sure we've saved a lot of money and anxiety over the years.
My go to garage man was recommended. He and his daughter pick up the car and bring it back fixed.
My present car, an 8yr old Toyota, hasn't needed much attention.

Well I’ve just, OK an hour and a half ago, picked my 10year old mini up after its MOT and annual service. I also have a Trevor, AKA Langor Bridge garage and they are fantastic. It was due a big service but as I’ve only done 3k since last year he did a ‘sensible’ one instead and replaced a bit of the exhaust.
Why do I always feel so proud when he tells me that my mini is the best he’s ever had in.?.

Is this in London? I think you should name & shame to protect others from this.

Main dealers? More like 'main stealers'

This is the exact reason only my husband takes my car to the garage.

I’ve never had a problem with tyre centers, you decide which tyres you want if you like the price they fit them free.

But it can get complicated, if you ask them to recommend suitable tyres that makes them liable, if you have an accident they may have a liability. Increasingly now there are mobile tyre fitters you choose tyres, they fit at your home.

Indepentants are often good if you get to know them but beyond tyres, brakes and routine servicing they are limited what they can do. You are going to have to use main dealers for warranty and some technical work, thankfully most brands are more reliable than they used to be but that is not consolation if you gave one that does breakdown.

Years ago I worked as a receptionist for one of the main big dealers. Their mechanical work was very shoddy indeed , we were constantly getting complaints and they charged a fortune.

"Very Simply Topping Up the Brake Fluid" by Simon Armitage (Poet Laureate)

Yes, love, that’s why the warning light comes on. Don’t
panic. Fetch some universal brake-fluid
and a five-eights screwdriver from your toolkit
then prop the bonnet open. Go on, it won’t

eat you. Now, without slicing through the fan-belt
try and slide the sharp end of the screwdriver
under the lid and push the spade connector
through its bed, go on, that’s it. Now you’re all right

to unscrew, no, clockwise, you see it’s Russian
love, back to front, that’s it. You see, it’s empty.
Now, gently with your hand and I mean gently,
try and create a bit of space by pushing

the float-chamber sideways so there’s room to pour,
gently does it, that’s it. Try not to spill it, it’s
corrosive: rusts, you know, and fill it till it’s
level with the notch on the clutch reservoir.

Lovely. There’s some Swarfega in the office
if you want a wash and some soft roll above
the cistern for, you know. Oh don’t mind him, love,
he doesn’t bite. Come here and sit down Prince. Prince!

Now, where’s that bloody alternator? Managed?
Oh any time, love. I’ll not charge you for that
because it’s nothing of a job. If you want
us again we’re in the book. Tell your husband.

It's not the chain with initials KF is it? They were featured on Watchdog, I think, years ago. It's astonishing that they are still in business, their questionable practices are legendary.

Riggie

I agree with shopping round. There is a huge difference in the price of car parts - the actual car manufacturers branded parts versus off brand. And it does sound like like there was time to shop around in this situation (rather than limping to the nearest garage)

It's also worth looking at the forums on line, an ESP light fault on my VW was going to cost about £400 but I found it was an acknowledged fault and VW were fixing it for free.

I've never felt comfortable dealing with the tyre and exhaust specialist, I go to a local garage who will deal with all problems great and small and I never feel ripped off.
When I had a noise under the car that sounded like I had those old-fashioned wedding cans trapped he told me You've got a pebble trapped in the disc, didn't believe it could make such a noise though, but when he whipped the wheel off there it was, smaller than my little finger nail. The charge? Call it a tenner! I can't help feeling that it would have been a much bigger job in the hands of the 'specialists'.

Aepgirl Sun 25-Oct-20 18:54:50
I would never go to one of these tyre and exhaust centres. They are renowned for finding extra work and charging more.

There was a TV program many years ago, it might have been "That's Life," or if not something similar, where a car had a few faults created, something simple like a lead that had come off a spark plug. All the faults were the sort that someone with just the basic knowledge could trace and fix.

The results were shocking, all but one, and that was the one man band, overcharged, invented faults and even tried to persuade the car owner to trade their "clapped out" car for a new model. The one man band fixed the fault and charged just one hour's labour.

I always use my local garage for everything, I found him when I had a Bmw and was sick of being treated like a halfwit by the local dealer. He was a Bmw specialist and worth his weight in gold so when I sold the Bmw I still went to him and recommend him to everyone I know, He's an absolute star.

I would never go to one of these tyre and exhaust centres. They are renowned for finding extra work and charging more. Always go to a local car repair garage.

This is normal practice, in fact dealers instruct their engineers to do this under the guise of safety due diligence. Basically if they think the part may wear out before the next service they will recommend you change it.

Refusing puts the liability back on you. Any unofficial (unpaid) second opinion counts for nothing!, so be careful!.

Yes had this so much over the years it's not getting any better. I feel for you Chewbacca. It really shoud not be happening in this day and age. Shocking behaviour but sadly no surprise.

Contact said company HQ and ask them to explain.. Bet you get a freebie for your trouble

There's a localized internet based group called Nextdoor, really useful for asking about services like this, and sharing good and bad experiences - taking care not to say anything that might not be possible to prove....