My car is insured through Kwik fit and as a bonus they offer a free MOT. I wouldn't normally use their services for anything car related..had a few brushes with them in the past..useless. But as it was free I thought I would try them out. It was booked in for 1pm. I came back at 2pm and they had barely started. So I had the joy of sitting in the reception and over the next hour or so I witnessed the bloke behind the counter pretty much abuse all of the customers in his own unique way. He was overjoyed to tell me that my car had failed..
On 2 points..the brakes were 27% 'unbalanced'
and the windscreen didn't work...
I managed to work out that he meant the washers were not functioning. Well I checked them on the way , I had to due to the amount of crap coming off the road. I told him they were working before...'are you saying that we have done something to them?' he snapped back..this guy was heading for a slap...
'The brakes are not working properly because you need new pads and discs'..I pointed out that these were renewed less than 4 months earlier , and the discs were ultra expensive grooved buggers. I walked to the car and demonstrated that the washers did indeed work..called the bloke a choice name and drove off...a waste of 2 hours...
I had the car MOT'd a few days later and it passed...

I'd be writing to head office if I were you. With quick fit it's all down to who you get.

Copy the letter to
(i) the garage in question and
(ii) trading standards
that will give him something to be in a bad mood about.

there all a bunch of arseholes who dont have a clue, sorry about the language but its a fact, id rather have my car checked by a child.

(you cant get thicker than a kwik fit fitter)

Aye bloody KF. I honestly cant believe these people are still doing business... As you pointed out a freebie MOT, but as you have just demonstrated this was just yet another con. Ive heard so much negative things about them. This is of no help to yourself. I could rant on&on about them, but I will do everyone a favour & stop now.....

This is a really popular con. It is one of the easiest jobs to do and they can make an enormous margin on the discs and pads. They should be reported to trading standards. If they can't make a correct diagnosis they aren't fit to do car servicing.

The most outrageous example was a Toyota garage prescribing discs and pads all round for a friend's year old Land cruiser at a cost of nearly £1000!

Yes I might take this further , I saw at least 3 customers being treated shabbily by this oaf , all female. MAkes me wonder about the car insurance side of things now..errr

Which Kwik Fit was this Dilster?

Read this:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/contactus/complaintsprocedure/complaintsprocedure.htm

IF YOU NEED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOU KWIK-FIT SERVICE, PLEASE CALL:
01506 856 789 – THIS NUMBER IS THE HEAD OFFICE ADMIN TEAM (NOT CUSTOMER SERVICE – 0870 6060654)

Now get complaining.

More on what a "great" company they are from "satisified" customers... Ahem:

http://www.blagger.com/db4/company_id/87/companyname/Kwik-Fit.html


http://www.bigmouthstrikesagain.com/archives/961

In fact just googling "Kwik-fit complaint" bought up a squillion different links!

Dad-of-two Ryan Carbin was furious when mechanics returned his car and days later its wheel fell off.

The IT worker from Cheltenham took his car to the Kwik Fit garage in Tewkesbury Road on November 13 to have the wheel bearing fixed.

But when Ryan, of Cornwall Avenue, drove his car 10 days later, the wheel came away from the vehicle.

He said: "I pulled up and the wheel came away, it was held on by just a tiny rod.

"That day I only took the car because it was raining and my wife was supposed to take it to go on the M5 to Gloucester. It was lucky that it happened while I was in it otherwise it could have been more serious."

The 37-year-old said he has used the Kwik Fit garage a couple of times before for new tyres but this was the first time he had taken his car in for mechanical work.

He said: "I was so shocked when it happened but when I took it into Kwik Fit they didn't seem bothered.

"If that has happened to me, how many other times has this happened?"

On the receipt, Ryan said it stated the work had been quality checked by a supervisor.

"I was told when I went in that they don't check the work on the whole wheel, just the wheel nuts," he said.

"All they care about is that they have done the work, but there could have been a nasty accident on the motorway or my kids could have been in the car," he added. "I just wanted to warn people about it."

Ryan has now put a complaint in to Trading Standards. He said: "I finally got through to head office at Kwik Fit and all they could do was offer an apology and £50 of Kwik Fit vouchers."

Last night, a Kwik Fit spokesman said: "Kwik Fit carried out a detailed investigation into this regrettable incident and has taken appropriate measures with those involved to ensure it doesn't happen again. Kwik Fit has apologised to Mr Carbin, with whom it immediately settled the matter."

Kwik fit in Reading - Rose Kiln Lane
Thanks for that link Charlie

No probs mate, have you checked this out ( a link on my link, if that makes any sense?)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_4022113

Cheers , I may well use that form

Just as a bit of balance to the "all kwik fit are rubbish" line.
Stafford kwikfit are top notch and even have a guy (ginge) who worked on fiats for many years and knows as much as anyone about coupes.

I'm with kwik fit insurance unfortunately I had the free MOT thing but i dismissed it as i knew it would be a waste of time and they would probably fail the car just so they can make some £££

I've tried cancelling with them but they wanted to charge a STUPID amount of money to cancel that i just couldnt afford too.

I'd never go back with them again! Give it till summer when i change cars and i'll go get insurance through work!

Will be much cheaper if they get it right!!

You have to know how to exploit KF...never turn down their free checks. But do what I do and stand over them as they do it and get them to point out whats wrong. That way you get a good look yourself without having to do all the jacking up etc yourself. Then thank them, and go on your merry way straight to your Fav auto parts supplier and get the parts you've decided need changed and DIY.

Mind you cant fault the guy who helped with alligning my headlight. 3 visits, no charge and passed mot.