Halfords MOT rip off

[Monsieur]

The french have got it right at MOT time - all MOT stations are government-run and don't do repairs.
No incentive to 'fail' the car and then charge a fortune to fix it.

As for Halfords - I'd get them to fix my chain on my bicycle but wouldn't let them anywhere near my car

 

[biggs682]

as an ex mechanic i would never trust a main dealer or Halfords unless i had to , we use a back street lad been there years always been good . but sooner or later it will be main dealers only due to complexity of things

 

[Sandra6]

I know I shouldn't , but, can I just point out Halfords and Halfords Auto centre are not one and the same.
If you're not happy with the bill don't pay it.
Halfords only charge a couple of quid (plus the cost of the bottle ) for topping up anti-freeze.

 

[Gary E]

As for Halfords - I'd get them to fix my chain on my bicycle but wouldn't let them anywhere near my car

Really? - you're a brave man

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

I often see signs for cheap MOT's outside main stealerships. Always avoid like the plague and take my car to an independant MOT tester whom is genuine but also does not do repairs himself. It's worth paying double the price for the test to avoid getting fleeced.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Just another reason why I would never contemplate going to Halfords for anything.

Why is it when businesses are closing down all over the place that it always seems to be the good ones (Woolworths etc) that go under while crap ones like Halfords seem to survive? (rhetorical question - not trying to start up a long (and boring) thread about business, I'll leave that to the discussions thread).

Because Tesco, Asda et all haven't started selling bikes or MOTs yet. (I know they sell cheap BSO's but you get my drift)

 

[Black Sheep]

I've been stung by chain garages before, having taken advantage of service/MOT offers and they've 'found' expensive work to do. In comparison my favourite independent garage will do the job if it's necessary and flag the rest as advisory. He's done little bits gratis and is a thoroughly nice and honest bloke.

And often, if you take an MOT fail from one of the above to an independent MOT only place, it'll pass with no issues!
Did they do the work without being asked? If so, they acted without instruction to do so and thus can't expect to get paid as no contract was in place to cary out the work.

 

[ELL]

I don't see that it's all halfords fault. If they did the work and didn't tell him then simply don't pay, if you don't agree to it they can't charge for it. If he did agree to it or told them to do all that needs to be done and didn't get a price then I don't see why you are complaining about the price.

I agree its a lot but to charge but thats why you should get a price first.

 

[stephec]

Really? - you're a brave man

Beat me to it!

 

[Black Country Ste]

And often, if you take an MOT fail from one of the above to an independent MOT only place, it'll pass with no issues!
Did they do the work without being asked? If so, they acted without instruction to do so and thus can't expect to get paid as no contract was in place to cary out the work.

I honestly can't remember. Reckon I've had my last three MOTs done by the indie so we're talking 2009. That's a long time to remember something when I often can't remember the details of a conversation I had five minutes ago...

But certainly when I've had it done by an indie it'll fail on daft things and he'll sort it out. Last year some bigger work was necessary and he went ahead with it. Which I don't mind. There's a mutual trust and I'm happy for him to do the work just as he knows he'll get paid even if he needs to wait few days.

 

[Moodyman]

I find it hard to accept that Halfords would make up a bill without first telling the customer or getting their consent. And if the customer was aware he could have said no.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..halfords..hmm...

I took my old mtb there to get new shifters and fix a busted drive chain spoke...they were abole to get the parts cheaper than the LBS...anyway the guy calls me to tell me there is no broken spoke...erm...take a closer look i tell him...he did...no more calls. If they cant even find a broken spoke what hope is there...