Kwik Fit Fake Repairs...
Discussion
Jaguar steve said:
Jeeezus wept. It's the Daily Mail FFS and you're all kicking off like it's to be taken seriously? Come on Chaps, get a grip.
As a ex mechanic I read that article with some interest and with the exception of the plugs that weren't changed which they've admitted was an oversight it's all a absolute load of tabloid sensationalist b
ks.
Yes wheels can fall off if a bearing fails catastrophically but nobody said that particular car was going to do so and anybody who continues to drive a car with the noise a badly worn bearing starts making hundreds or maybe thousands of miles before it fails completely really ought not be out on their own.
Nobody in their right mind would expect a car with a known damaged strut as well as needing several hundred quids worth of other work - what work exactly - to show accurate and repeatable alignment especially when checked on two different occasions on two different machines.
The "leaking" oil filter was not in stock at the time the customer took the car but was a couple of hours later so who's to say the issue wasn't forced by the customer insisting on taking the car before the job was finished?
And the weak screen wash. Dearie, dearie me... WTF is the poor sap doing the service supposed to do if the reservoir is almost full of plain water when he goes to fill it up - suck the contents out with a straw so he can put the right concentration in?
Smacks of a nasty vindictive set up to me. If you read it carefully you'll see the independent "expert" actually agreed with pretty much all the faults Quick Fit reported.
Now go and have a quiet word with yourselves, go on, off you go.
Spark plugs were not fitted during an expensive KF service, and an independent expert confirmed it on behalf if the DM. Looks like an open-and-shut case.As a ex mechanic I read that article with some interest and with the exception of the plugs that weren't changed which they've admitted was an oversight it's all a absolute load of tabloid sensationalist b
ks.Yes wheels can fall off if a bearing fails catastrophically but nobody said that particular car was going to do so and anybody who continues to drive a car with the noise a badly worn bearing starts making hundreds or maybe thousands of miles before it fails completely really ought not be out on their own.
Nobody in their right mind would expect a car with a known damaged strut as well as needing several hundred quids worth of other work - what work exactly - to show accurate and repeatable alignment especially when checked on two different occasions on two different machines.
The "leaking" oil filter was not in stock at the time the customer took the car but was a couple of hours later so who's to say the issue wasn't forced by the customer insisting on taking the car before the job was finished?
And the weak screen wash. Dearie, dearie me... WTF is the poor sap doing the service supposed to do if the reservoir is almost full of plain water when he goes to fill it up - suck the contents out with a straw so he can put the right concentration in?
Smacks of a nasty vindictive set up to me. If you read it carefully you'll see the independent "expert" actually agreed with pretty much all the faults Quick Fit reported.
Now go and have a quiet word with yourselves, go on, off you go.
The steady drumbeat of complaints about KF, over decades, is neverending. Here is another alleged experience from 2009, to add to the ones mentioned above from the 1980s through to 2016.
http://www.bristoleditor.co.uk/how-one-blog-post-i...
idontknow said:
Quite a few years ago I went to pick up a friend who had just dropped his car off for an exhaust.
As I pulled into their car park my friend overheard on mechanic turn to another and wager him that he could get new pads all round on my car without even trying...
Really, I have no trouble at all believing that happened.As I pulled into their car park my friend overheard on mechanic turn to another and wager him that he could get new pads all round on my car without even trying...
Yipper said:
Jaguar steve said:
Jeeezus wept. It's the Daily Mail FFS and you're all kicking off like it's to be taken seriously? Come on Chaps, get a grip.
As a ex mechanic I read that article with some interest and with the exception of the plugs that weren't changed which they've admitted was an oversight it's all a absolute load of tabloid sensationalist bks.
Yes wheels can fall off if a bearing fails catastrophically but nobody said that particular car was going to do so and anybody who continues to drive a car with the noise a badly worn bearing starts making hundreds or maybe thousands of miles before it fails completely really ought not be out on their own.
Nobody in their right mind would expect a car with a known damaged strut as well as needing several hundred quids worth of other work - what work exactly - to show accurate and repeatable alignment especially when checked on two different occasions on two different machines.
The "leaking" oil filter was not in stock at the time the customer took the car but was a couple of hours later so who's to say the issue wasn't forced by the customer insisting on taking the car before the job was finished?
And the weak screen wash. Dearie, dearie me... WTF is the poor sap doing the service supposed to do if the reservoir is almost full of plain water when he goes to fill it up - suck the contents out with a straw so he can put the right concentration in?
Smacks of a nasty vindictive set up to me. If you read it carefully you'll see the independent "expert" actually agreed with pretty much all the faults Quick Fit reported.
Now go and have a quiet word with yourselves, go on, off you go.
Spark plugs were not fitted during an expensive KF service, and an independent expert confirmed it on behalf if the DM. Looks like an open-and-shut case.As a ex mechanic I read that article with some interest and with the exception of the plugs that weren't changed which they've admitted was an oversight it's all a absolute load of tabloid sensationalist b
ks.Yes wheels can fall off if a bearing fails catastrophically but nobody said that particular car was going to do so and anybody who continues to drive a car with the noise a badly worn bearing starts making hundreds or maybe thousands of miles before it fails completely really ought not be out on their own.
Nobody in their right mind would expect a car with a known damaged strut as well as needing several hundred quids worth of other work - what work exactly - to show accurate and repeatable alignment especially when checked on two different occasions on two different machines.
The "leaking" oil filter was not in stock at the time the customer took the car but was a couple of hours later so who's to say the issue wasn't forced by the customer insisting on taking the car before the job was finished?
And the weak screen wash. Dearie, dearie me... WTF is the poor sap doing the service supposed to do if the reservoir is almost full of plain water when he goes to fill it up - suck the contents out with a straw so he can put the right concentration in?
Smacks of a nasty vindictive set up to me. If you read it carefully you'll see the independent "expert" actually agreed with pretty much all the faults Quick Fit reported.
Now go and have a quiet word with yourselves, go on, off you go.
The steady drumbeat of complaints about KF, over decades, is neverending. Here is another alleged experience from 2009, to add to the ones mentioned above from the 1980s through to 2016.
http://www.bristoleditor.co.uk/how-one-blog-post-i...
ked up more than once myself on detail like that whilst working at a main dealer.The rest of that article is the usual sanctimonious contradictory, fact free b
ks that The Mail all to often excels itself in publishing. I kinda hope Quick Fit lines up a good Barrister and takes them to the cleaners on this one. 
TR4man said:
For as long as I can remember KF has been tarnished by such shay practices.
Not just shady practices but poor quality work.For years I was forced to use them for tyres on company lease cars and it was rarely trouble free. Being able to avoid them was a big bonus in the decision to opt out.
I wouldn't believe a word printed in the DM, but kwik fit and most of these national chains are bloody terrible for selling stuff you don't need.
Don't really think it's an issue with the chains themselves - just modern business practice. They're all on bonuses for selling, so the less scrupulous will push those they think have no idea for more work.
I've had a couple of them try their luck over the years. Best one was a puncture repair that needed 6 trips to their workshop due to 'other issues'. Every single one was a load of nonsense.
In no particular order -
"tyre is on it's low wear indicator". It wasn't
"puncture is in the side wall" it wasn't.
"you must have run it when flat, there's internal damage." Asked to see it, and it miraculously vanished.
"you're front pads are very worn. We recommend they're replaced." I'd done them 4 weeks before.
"discs are shot, they need replaced." When asked why, he got very defensive and lurched into "we recommend" mode.
Final one was "play in the bushes", which I just laughed at.
Eventually got my punture repaired and left. Different branch of the same chain managed to sting my sister for two new front brake calipers 4 weeks later though - she only needed new pads.
Don't really think it's an issue with the chains themselves - just modern business practice. They're all on bonuses for selling, so the less scrupulous will push those they think have no idea for more work.
I've had a couple of them try their luck over the years. Best one was a puncture repair that needed 6 trips to their workshop due to 'other issues'. Every single one was a load of nonsense.
In no particular order -
"tyre is on it's low wear indicator". It wasn't
"puncture is in the side wall" it wasn't.
"you must have run it when flat, there's internal damage." Asked to see it, and it miraculously vanished.
"you're front pads are very worn. We recommend they're replaced." I'd done them 4 weeks before.
"discs are shot, they need replaced." When asked why, he got very defensive and lurched into "we recommend" mode.
Final one was "play in the bushes", which I just laughed at.
Eventually got my punture repaired and left. Different branch of the same chain managed to sting my sister for two new front brake calipers 4 weeks later though - she only needed new pads.
Nothing new and will always happen whilst they bonus staff on sales. I too have taken lease cars there under instruction and been told they have adjusted the tracking. They had not even had a spanner on when I asked for it on a ramp.
I suspect they work on a shear numbers game, there are more drivers everyday and the brand is the number one out there so if they upset a few who are in the know, then it is no big deal for them.
About 25 years ago when Tom Farmer owned it, the BBC did the same thing and I was at a meeting when he stood up to speak. He acknowledged the damage done but it was an isolated incident and they would get over it. They clearly did but nothing has or will change.
I suspect they work on a shear numbers game, there are more drivers everyday and the brand is the number one out there so if they upset a few who are in the know, then it is no big deal for them.
About 25 years ago when Tom Farmer owned it, the BBC did the same thing and I was at a meeting when he stood up to speak. He acknowledged the damage done but it was an isolated incident and they would get over it. They clearly did but nothing has or will change.
A few years back I took our snotter of a Fiesta in to my local Kwik Fit branch for a new back box as the OE one had parted company with the system, having rusted through near the joint. They fitted one and the fitter asked me to have a look under the car which was on the lift. Using a torch he pointed out a broken nearside front spring which had been undetectable when driving so I had them replace both front springs. They couldn't had done better but I suppose there are rotten apples in every barrel.
One thing I'm sure of, garages were indulging in dubious practices long before Kwik Fit came along - you can easily imagine a farrier saying, "Verily sire, all thy stead's shoes need replacing, not just those on the forelegs..."
One thing I'm sure of, garages were indulging in dubious practices long before Kwik Fit came along - you can easily imagine a farrier saying, "Verily sire, all thy stead's shoes need replacing, not just those on the forelegs..."
Shock horror, chain tries to drum up business. I dont care for KF but dealers are up to the same tricks.
Ive had 2 people come in really quite distressed over the "reports" they received from the local dealer after a recall item was inspected.
Said dealer is highlighting essential issues for immediate attention in red where items that were ok are green.
Sure, if theres an issue then advise the owner, but this list was for £4500 on a car worth less than £1500.
Add that the car had been MOT'd 3 months ago and the vast list suddenly seems more and more suspicious.
On was rear discs worn excessively with deep lip around the edge. No mention of thickness, just there was a big lip, £242 to replace. After looking at them I said if it were mine, Id be happy to stick another set of pads in there - discs were evenly worn with a 1.5mm lip.... Aux belt another one, £96 to replace, but the cambelt below it was £480 but no mention that the belt would be off, still charging the full labour amount.
Common was rear trailing arm bushes - both cars were said to need them, though neither had advisories on them the previous MOT, in fact neither car has any of the remedial work required as advisories.
Its no bloody wonder indies get a certain amount of work, if main stealers are scaring the st out of customers to try and get them to buy a new car when they can only afford the car theyre in.
Ive had 2 people come in really quite distressed over the "reports" they received from the local dealer after a recall item was inspected.
Said dealer is highlighting essential issues for immediate attention in red where items that were ok are green.
Sure, if theres an issue then advise the owner, but this list was for £4500 on a car worth less than £1500.
Add that the car had been MOT'd 3 months ago and the vast list suddenly seems more and more suspicious.
On was rear discs worn excessively with deep lip around the edge. No mention of thickness, just there was a big lip, £242 to replace. After looking at them I said if it were mine, Id be happy to stick another set of pads in there - discs were evenly worn with a 1.5mm lip.... Aux belt another one, £96 to replace, but the cambelt below it was £480 but no mention that the belt would be off, still charging the full labour amount.
Common was rear trailing arm bushes - both cars were said to need them, though neither had advisories on them the previous MOT, in fact neither car has any of the remedial work required as advisories.
Its no bloody wonder indies get a certain amount of work, if main stealers are scaring the s
t out of customers to try and get them to buy a new car when they can only afford the car theyre in.Jaguar steve said:
They've admitted to the plugs. Given the vindictive story about nothing nature of the article and to redress the balance I'll happily go with that one genuine example in the whole piece being a oversight rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive. Easily done in a busy garage environment - I know because I've fked up more than once myself on detail like that whilst working at a main dealer.
The rest of that article is the usual sanctimonious contradictory, fact free bks that The Mail all to often excels itself in publishing. I kinda hope Quick Fit lines up a good Barrister and takes them to the cleaners on this one.
This. And your previous post Steve. Agree. Funny how us, longterm in the trade see through this. Oh, it IS 1/2 term now.......ked up more than once myself on detail like that whilst working at a main dealer.The rest of that article is the usual sanctimonious contradictory, fact free b
ks that The Mail all to often excels itself in publishing. I kinda hope Quick Fit lines up a good Barrister and takes them to the cleaners on this one. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff