Car Went into Uncle Arnolds for Service and MOT

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CraigF

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Popped along this morning to Uncle Arnold Clarks to get my car serviced and MOT'ed.
I have the service and warranty plan so no problem.. Yeh like hell theres not.

Got a call from the girl - Your car needs a Front NS Coil, water pump, mid section exhaust, and a bulb.

Me - Thats cool the pump and Coil are covered under the warranty thingy.

Her - Ermm, that expired 2 days ago.

Me -What !! why the hell would you give me a date to come in thats 2 days past my warranty? (oh yes.. so you can charge me hundreds).

Her - But thats not all sir - Your tyre has a puncture in the wall and we cant fix it. Also your rear brake pads are 70% worn and need replaced.

Me - What Puncture? All my tyres were fine this morning.


Heres the thing though.

Said Coil and Waterpump were supposed to have been replaced last year at another AC Branch.
Now i now these things can go anytime but the exact same two things going wrong in consecutive years!!

So whats the damage?

£110 for Coil.
£75 for Pump.
£140 for exhaust.
£80 for Pads.
£80 for Tyre.

So that adds up to "What a ****ing Ripoff".
I can honestly say its the last time i will ever buy a car from there.
 
Bummer :(

I'm just working out what photographic goodies I could have bought for that amount.
 
Bachs said:
Bummer :(

I'm just working out what photographic goodies I could have bought for that amount.
Click to expand...

Oh me too m8.
A Canon 300mm F4 is now well and truly out the bloody window.
 
CraigF said:
Popped along this morning to Uncle Arnold Clarks to get my car serviced and MOT'ed.
I have the service and warranty plan so no problem.. Yeh like hell theres not.

Got a call from the girl - Your car needs a Front NS Coil, water pump, mid section exhaust, and a bulb.

Me - Thats cool the pump and Coil are covered under the warranty thingy.

Her - Ermm, that expired 2 days ago.

Me -What !! why the hell would you give me a date to come in thats 2 days past my warranty? (oh yes.. so you can charge me hundreds).

Her - But thats not all sir - Your tyre has a puncture in the wall and we cant fix it. Also your rear brake pads are 70% worn and need replaced.

Me - What Puncture? All my tyres were fine this morning.


Heres the thing though.

Said Coil and Waterpump were supposed to have been replaced last year at another AC Branch.
Now i now these things can go anytime but the exact same two things going wrong in consecutive years!!

So whats the damage?

£110 for Coil.
£75 for Pump.
£140 for exhaust.
£80 for Pads.
£80 for Tyre.

So that adds up to "What a ****ing Ripoff".
I can honestly say its the last time i will ever buy a car from there.
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They are terrible there, really are! I took my car there before and it mysteriously developed a disliking to keeping air in one of its tyres! They also scratched all the alloy trying to get it off! :(

I feel for you big time! Bloody Arnold! :(
 
By all means buy your car there, just get it serviced elsewhere.
 
I bought my car from a NetworkQ dealer with full warranty......

The rear wiper motor fell off......



"Sorry Mr Gubby, the warranty only covers broken stuff, the wiper motor falling off isn't covered as it wasn't broken"


:bang::bang::bang:
 
I don't know how some people sleep at night, other than on a bed of nice, crisp tenners.
 
CraigF said:
What Puncture? All my tyres were fine this morning.
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Yes I've had that on more than one occasion when I've taken my car in for a service at a Ford garage (Kwik-Fit). And the nail is always in a part of the tyre that can't apparently be repaired, so they want to charge me £60+ for a new tyre. However, National Tyres about 200 yards down the road, fix them - no problem.
 
Do what I do - stand there and watch the guy conduct the MOT. Take the day off work if you have to ;)
 
It get worse.
I was a bit concerned about the prices being quoted.

This is a Peach
Phoned 3 local places for a quote on the exhaust out of curiosity.
All were between £55 and £59 fitted.
Phoned AC back and asked for the Gate Price on the Exhaust.
Turn out the part of the exhaust is £53 but they are charging £87 to fit it claiming its an hour and a half job.
These people are just extracting the Urine.
 
I cant afford a car new enough to warrant having a warranty.

If I could though, I would make damn sure I knew when the warranty expired and get my car in the week before !

To be absolutely truthfull, even if I could afford a new car, I still wouldn't buy one. More trouble than they're worth !

BB..
 
you dont have to get the work done there, say no thanks i will colelct it and take it else where for a better price.
 
The price for the pads will probably be the same. Got quoted £500(!!) for discs and pads (front & rear) on mine by the dealer. Did them myself in the end for £160 for the parts and an hour one saturday morning.
 
I won't use Kwik-fit now after they once tried to tell me 2 of my tires were worn very low on the inside edges when I had it in for an oil change

KF - Couldnt see it until it was on the ramp, need replaced very soon
ME - oh right, which 2?
KF - Rears, they are really low, outsides are fine but insides are bad.
ME - well I hope they're not. YOU replaced them last month!!!!!!
KF - erm.... yours is the silver focus isn't it???
ME - No mine is the green xsara you've just been working on.

KF - (head down and walk away quickly)


Never darkened their doors since, I use national now. Never had an issue and their work has always been top notch.
 
70% worn on reads is not cause for replacement - although it is worth thinking about it. However £80 for rear pads is a bloody joke, front ones maybe but rears are usually much less.

Personally mate, I would say walk away and never darken their door again. Go to a small reputable garage and have them do as much work as they can then get the puncture repaired somewhere else too.
 
70% worn on reads is not cause for replacement - although it is worth thinking about it.
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How can you make that call? You can't, you've not even seen the pads.
If the 30% remaining breaches the limit it is a failable item.

Incidentally, depending on the car, rears are often much more problematic that fronts.
 
CraigF said:
Popped along this morning to Uncle Arnold Clarks to get my car serviced and MOT'ed.
I have the service and warranty plan so no problem.. Yeh like hell theres not.

Got a call from the girl - Your car needs a Front NS Coil, water pump, mid section exhaust, and a bulb.

Me - Thats cool the pump and Coil are covered under the warranty thingy.

Her - Ermm, that expired 2 days ago.

Me -What !! why the hell would you give me a date to come in thats 2 days past my warranty? (oh yes.. so you can charge me hundreds).

Her - But thats not all sir - Your tyre has a puncture in the wall and we cant fix it. Also your rear brake pads are 70% worn and need replaced.

Me - What Puncture? All my tyres were fine this morning.


Heres the thing though.

Said Coil and Waterpump were supposed to have been replaced last year at another AC Branch.
Now i now these things can go anytime but the exact same two things going wrong in consecutive years!!

So whats the damage?

£110 for Coil.
£75 for Pump.
£140 for exhaust.
£80 for Pads.
£80 for Tyre.

So that adds up to "What a ****ing Ripoff".
I can honestly say its the last time i will ever buy a car from there.
Click to expand...

Vauxhall by any chance?
 
That dealer chain doesn't seem to have a very good rep.

front suspension coils seem to go on pretty much anything. Dont know if we should blame the accountants or the russians
 
who? said:
That dealer chain doesn't seem to have a very good rep.
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Unfortunately they now have the BMW and Lexus franchises too, although neither company would allow them to use the Clarks brand on their showrooms, which speaks volumes for their reputation :shake:
 
not read it all but I do hope you havent told them to do the work and went elsewhere? changes are most of the "problems" aren't problems and wont need fixing anyway

take it elsewhere for a second opinion
 
Carl V said:
Yes I've had that on more than one occasion when I've taken my car in for a service at a Ford garage (Kwik-Fit). And the nail is always in a part of the tyre that can't apparently be repaired, so they want to charge me £60+ for a new tyre. However, National Tyres about 200 yards down the road, fix them - no problem.
Click to expand...
Which was it? It can't be both.
If a nail is toward the outside edge of a tyre tread it may have damaged the tyre wall. I'd rather not take the chance personally.
 
Borats Baby said:
I cant afford a car new enough to warrant having a warranty.

If I could though, I would make damn sure I knew when the warranty expired and get my car in the week before !

To be absolutely truthfull, even if I could afford a new car, I still wouldn't buy one. More trouble than they're worth !

BB..
Click to expand...
You can have just as much trouble with new or second hand. It's just whether you're fortunate enough to get a good one or not. I'd much rather have a new car with a warranty than a second hand one with no warranty. Unless of course the car is that cheap you scrap it and get another instead.
 
nilagin said:
Which was it? It can't be both.
If a nail is toward the outside edge of a tyre tread it may have damaged the tyre wall. I'd rather not take the chance personally.
Click to expand...


Ford bought Kwik-Fit from Tom Farmer, don't know if they still own it though....
 
MarkWoodhall22 said:
They are terrible there, really are! I took my car there before and it mysteriously developed a disliking to keeping air in one of its tyres! They also scratched all the alloy trying to get it off! :(
Click to expand...
I hope you got a new alloy wheel out of them or at least had the wheel refurbished at their expense.

mrgubby said:
I bought my car from a NetworkQ dealer with full warranty......

The rear wiper motor fell off......



"Sorry Mr Gubby, the warranty only covers broken stuff, the wiper motor falling off isn't covered as it wasn't broken"


:bang::bang::bang:
Click to expand...
Shouldn't matter they should still fix it. That is what warranties are for. If not the warranty was mis sold and they should still be held liable.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Ford bought Kwik-Fit from Tom Farmer, don't know if they still own it though....
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Sold it about three years ago if not more.
Just checked, they sold Kwik Fit in 2002.
I hate Kwik Fit, I was stuck needing a couple of tyres at Easter 2005. Kwik Fit was the only place open and I ended up paying more for a couple of the "budget" tyres than I normally pay for Dunlops.
 
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delears rips people off more than back street garages.

last year I need work done on my astra, went to Vauxhall and those wanted £450 plus VAT.

A garage had just opened round the corner (which claimed to be vauxhall specialist) so I tried them and them wanted £250 all in.

I got the work the done at this new garage and the work was top notch and I have been using the garage ever since and have got really friendly with the 3 chaps that own it and it turns out that those used to work at the garage who wanted me to pay 450+vat and the guys thought i was lying at 1st
 
Were Lucky our sons a mechanic Motor Car Daaler , so it dont cost anything, bar fee for MOT £25 :lol: he fixes it and we knock it off his board so it does cost but cheap he gets parts trade His Garage and showroom Clicky Linky
 
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nilagin said:
Which was it? It can't be both.
If a nail is toward the outside edge of a tyre tread it may have damaged the tyre wall. I'd rather not take the chance personally.
Click to expand...

The Ford showroom is now called Evans Halshaw, it used to be Quicks. But the Kwik-fit garage is on its premises next door to the showroom. I couldn't say whether Evans actually owns it though.

The last time they spotted a nail, they told me they could only repair it if it was in the middle more or less. But the nail was still on the thread itself.
 
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Carl V said:
The Ford showroom is now called Evans Halshaw, it used to be Quicks. But the Kwik-fit garage is on its premises next door to the showroom. I couldn't say whether Evans actually owns it though.
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Are you sure it's not Rapid Fit, that is Ford's.
 
I'm fortunate my local Ford dealer is very good. Always been fair and never charged for unnecessary work. They've even knocked money off the bill before now as they hadn't advised me of needing a cam belt replaced when my water pump had leaked.
Dagenham Motors that used to be in front of the Dagenham car plant had a terrible reputation though. But then again, I found their Rapid Fit part of the business very good.
 
Posted by munkie View Post
my dealers ripped me off more than my back street garage

simple solution, dont use it.

you are more than likely to find that dealers dont rip you off, but more like multi car franchises do .eg reg vardy. these companys aint dealerships they are classed as vehicle outlets, there is a difference...
 
nilagin said:
. I'd much rather have a new car with a warranty than a second hand one with no warranty.
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This is what they want you to think,they sell peace of mind with new cars and 3 year warranties.
i've never owned a new car in my 30 years of driving because of the huge cost of depreciation, that £250+ people spend every month is an awful lot of repairs.
 
Merovingian said:
How can you make that call? You can't, you've not even seen the pads.
If the 30% remaining breaches the limit it is a failable item.
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You are right, I have not seen the pads. I am basing my statement on what was written, as we generally have to do in forums - so let me clarify. I read that as the garage stating that a brake pad that has worn 70% off it's total original thickness needs replacing.

An MOT test in the UK requires a minimum of 1.5mm of brake pad remaining - unless the pads were unservicable for another reason then I seriously doubt they need changing - starting thickness of just 5mm? Pretty unlikely.

Incidentally, depending on the car, rears are often much more problematic that fronts.
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Interested on more info on that bit
 
RichardtheSane said:
You are right, I have not seen the pads. I am basing my statement on what was written, as we generally have to do in forums -
Has someone disputed that then? I'm questioning the justification of your statement not it was/wasn't based on another comment.

so let me clarify. I read that as the garage stating that a brake pad that has worn 70% off it's total original thickness needs replacing.
Why do feel you need to clarify? The op stated that clearly in his first post. It's undisputed.:thinking:

An MOT test in the UK requires a minimum of 1.5mm of brake pad remaining - unless the pads were unservicable for another reason then I seriously doubt they need changing - starting thickness of just 5mm? Pretty unlikely
Why doubt? Can you show NO rear pads start with 5mm? You can't because I've seen them many, many times.
But that's actually almost irrelevant. No tester can infer the original thickness of a pad unless he knows that original measurement or knows how much has worn away. So very unlikely. To talk of 70% is nonsense and perhaps dumbed down for the customer. What he means is that it's on the limit.

Interested on more info on that bit
Exactly what info are you expecting?
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Stating wear on brake pads as a percentage is pretty standard, easier for customer to understand. Not backing anything AC have said here, merely pointing out that if they are manufacturer pads, being looked at by a manufacturer technician, its a fair assumption that he knows how thick the originals were and can make a pretty accurate guestimate on percentage of wear. At 70% sensible advice would be exactly that, an advisory. Many people would opt to replace anyway simply to avoid having to revisit inbetween services in my experience.

Rears can indeed be more tricky than fronts in terms of time taken to replace, depending on vehicle and handbrake mechanism attachment. I can only comment on one manufacturer and some models book time for fronts and rears is the same, others, rears are a little longer.

Main garage prices - no I am not going to defend those either to any real extent, but do bear in mind, a big garage on a prime site, with technicians that HAVE to undergo manufacturer training [which they pay for], etc, will naturally have higher overheads than the guy in the arches who may be an equally good mechanic but can afford to charge less. It is your choice, that is the point of choice, you do not have to go to the big boys.


**closes the door quietly on her way out** ;)
 
Yv said:
Main garage prices - no I am not going to defend those either to any real extent, but do bear in mind, a big garage on a prime site, with technicians that HAVE to undergo manufacturer training [which they pay for], etc, will naturally have higher overheads than the guy in the arches who may be an equally good mechanic but can afford to charge less. It is your choice, that is the point of choice, you do not have to go to the big boys.


**closes the door quietly on her way out** ;)
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Many, many moons ago I recall a Skoda 105 (remember those? :lol:) being towed round to the local main agents by Halfords after their mechanics had spent several hours trying to fit a new starter motor for a customer.

In the end they had taken the engine out, when in reality all they needed to do was lift the rear seat, unscrew a plate and undo the three (iirc) mounting bolts, remove and replace...

Sometimes you're paying for someone knowing how to do the job ;)
 
Got a couple of Fords, one had 3 years free servicing as part of the deal, on the second FREE service I had a phone call, you want 2 new tyres, wipers are ready, front brake pads are ready and a new rear fog light bulb, they gave me a price, ££££££ I collected the vehicle without having any of the extra work done and took it straight to my local Hi-Q who have always looked after/serviced my vehicles when they are no longer tied to a warranty, tyres had a good 3/4k miles on, wipers changed at a third price, front pads would take me past the next service, and the bulb they wanted £9:95 for was fitted for £1:00 :thumbsdown:
 
Yv said:
Stating wear on brake pads as a percentage is pretty standard, easier for customer to understand. Not backing anything AC have said here, merely pointing out that if they are manufacturer pads, being looked at by a manufacturer technician, its a fair assumption that he knows how thick the originals were and can make a pretty accurate guestimate on percentage of wear. At 70% sensible advice would be exactly that, an advisory. Many people would opt to replace anyway simply to avoid having to revisit inbetween services in my experience.

Rears can indeed be more tricky than fronts in terms of time taken to replace, depending on vehicle and handbrake mechanism attachment. I can only comment on one manufacturer and some models book time for fronts and rears is the same, others, rears are a little longer.

Main garage prices - no I am not going to defend those either to any real extent, but do bear in mind, a big garage on a prime site, with technicians that HAVE to undergo manufacturer training [which they pay for], etc, will naturally have higher overheads than the guy in the arches who may be an equally good mechanic but can afford to charge less. It is your choice, that is the point of choice, you do not have to go to the big boys.


**closes the door quietly on her way out** ;)
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Thanksyou Yv for a clear and concise answer, and also for the information on what could have been meant by the rears being more problematic.

I too suspect that the pads were an advisory not a fail, however I know many large chains that do MOT testing have a habit of indicating everything, even advisorys need doing for a pass.

Merovingian, politeness costs nothing.
 
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