Halfords Autocentres (formerly Nationwide Autocentres?)
Discussion
Just got a shock finding out my 11 reg company car will be serviced by "Halfords Autocentres", and not by the main dealer as I had hoped!!
What's everyone's experiences of the above company? I've heard many bad stories and personally I wouldn't take my own car there.
Even though it's a company car, I like my car to be serviced correctly and to stay reliable!!
Cheers.
What's everyone's experiences of the above company? I've heard many bad stories and personally I wouldn't take my own car there.
Even though it's a company car, I like my car to be serviced correctly and to stay reliable!!
Cheers.
Arval company car by chance?
lets just say they even managed to mess up the time i had to drop the car of for MOT, you will love this "yes you car is booked in to be dropped off at 9 for the MOT"
i get there, " oh its just the drop off, were not actually going to do it till about 1pm. do you want to wait".......
you can imagine my reply..
lets just say they even managed to mess up the time i had to drop the car of for MOT, you will love this "yes you car is booked in to be dropped off at 9 for the MOT"
i get there, " oh its just the drop off, were not actually going to do it till about 1pm. do you want to wait".......
you can imagine my reply..
gcpeters said:
lets just say they even managed to mess up the time i had to drop the car of for MOT, you will love this "yes you car is booked in to be dropped off at 9 for the MOT"
i get there, " oh its just the drop off, were not actually going to do it till about 1pm. do you want to wait".......
oh good it wasnt just me then!i get there, " oh its just the drop off, were not actually going to do it till about 1pm. do you want to wait".......
Booked it in, chose from the various time slots. Got their for 1.30pm, and was told oh your just dropping it off for the afternoon? We will call you when its done.... No mention of this up front when you book it in! I only went with them as they were offering 1/2 price MOT's. After giving them the car for 3 hours they then called to say the emissions machine was up the spout. Am I leaving it with them until Monday?! Again I don't think they were quite expecting the reaction they got.
When i bought my car it had 3 months months AA warranty on it, which was in conjunction with nationwide autocentres.
Had something done on it and then i took my car there for 2 more M.O.T's and had no problems.
Only thing i noticed is the last M.O.T i got it had ambers up saying deteriorated droplinks and some other things which i ignored, yet in the latest M.O.T the other week none of them re-emerged??
Had something done on it and then i took my car there for 2 more M.O.T's and had no problems.
Only thing i noticed is the last M.O.T i got it had ambers up saying deteriorated droplinks and some other things which i ignored, yet in the latest M.O.T the other week none of them re-emerged??
gcpeters said:
Arval company car by chance?
Nah, Leaseplan.Arval use them? My bro's car is with Arval, he'll be delighted when I tell him where his car will be going..
JonnyFive said:
IWhy can't you take it to a main dealer?
Probably cost. I'm going to ask my fleet manager why.Negative Creep said:
You know the staff there will be the ones who were employed by Nationwide but in different uniform right?
Thought this might be the case. Great!!!!!Edited by XDA on Tuesday 4th October 16:39
EDLT said:
It's a company car, why do you care? They would have to try pretty hard to knacker something so new.
Because I do 1000 miles a week so I need a reliable car. My cars my office.They could easily knacker it by using the wrong oil, not putting enough oil in or missing things off the service schedule...
EDLT said:
It's a company car, why do you care? They would have to try pretty hard to knacker something so new.
I think some people do actually care though. I was particularly careful with the ones I had, ended up buying the last one, and got a steal! (306 Rallye)(Our Co Car scheme is absolute drivel now, driven by whole live costs and bloody emissions gggrrrrr)
The leasing company my employers use insist on the cheapest servicing option regardless of the vehicle type or age.
Had a shocking experience where they sheered off a locking wheel nut, shrugged their shoulders and vehicle was taken to a main dealer to sort out.
Would have cost the lease company a shed load in the long run....
Had a shocking experience where they sheered off a locking wheel nut, shrugged their shoulders and vehicle was taken to a main dealer to sort out.
Would have cost the lease company a shed load in the long run....
XDA said:
EDLT said:
It's a company car, why do you care? They would have to try pretty hard to knacker something so new.
Because I do 1000 miles a week so I need a reliable car. My cars my office.They could easily knacker it by using the wrong oil, not putting enough oil in or missing things off the service schedule...
I'm not sure I'd want my car going there but I guess the service work at a main is done by a trainee and not their top guys.
I can't blame the big lease companies using independents as the main dealers are getting very expensive for simple servicing, I think BMW were quoting well over £100 an hour last time I looked, with any luck it will force the main dealers into being a little more realistic when it comes to pricing.
I can't blame the big lease companies using independents as the main dealers are getting very expensive for simple servicing, I think BMW were quoting well over £100 an hour last time I looked, with any luck it will force the main dealers into being a little more realistic when it comes to pricing.
I wouldn't worry - all they'll be doing is changing the consumables (oil and air filter etc) with after market pattern parts and replenishing the oil. For most cars in the first three years this is all you need to do. Cheapness is all your fleet manager cares about.
The only down side is when you get that odd whining noise in third gear which they won't be able to help you with.
Second had ex-fleet cars won't be so desirable though - gone are the days when they were dealer serviced no expenses spared!
The only down side is when you get that odd whining noise in third gear which they won't be able to help you with.
Second had ex-fleet cars won't be so desirable though - gone are the days when they were dealer serviced no expenses spared!
Cheers for all the input chaps. 
Checked with my fleet manager and he nearly had a fit when I mentioned "Halfords Autocentre"!
Seems to be some confusion with the service booking staff at the leasing company. My suspicious mind thinks they were after the cheapest option....
Just popped into the main dealers and booked it myself. I'll be booking it directly with the main dealer myself in future!
Edit - Some people will just think why the fuss, it's "only" a company car. Unlike the majority of company car drivers, I treat my company car as if it was my own. After all, I'm the one inconvenienced when it breaks down and I'm liable for all damage etc.
Checked with my fleet manager and he nearly had a fit when I mentioned "Halfords Autocentre"!
Seems to be some confusion with the service booking staff at the leasing company. My suspicious mind thinks they were after the cheapest option....
Just popped into the main dealers and booked it myself. I'll be booking it directly with the main dealer myself in future!
Edit - Some people will just think why the fuss, it's "only" a company car. Unlike the majority of company car drivers, I treat my company car as if it was my own. After all, I'm the one inconvenienced when it breaks down and I'm liable for all damage etc.
XDA said:
EDLT said:
And you think taking it to a main dealer guarantees that they will do it properly?
Yes. Maybe not perfect but better than nationwide/Halfords.VW trained tech V's Halfords/Nationwide "tech". It's a hard choice...
EDLT said:
They receive the same training and qualifications, only the VW tech might get some marque specific but it is dependent on the dealership (and won't cover anything as basic as servicing). Dealership techs often work to time, meaning that if a job is supposed to take 40 minutes and they do it in 30 then that 10 minutes that they have saved is added to their bonus. Can you see where there would be an opportunity to cut corners?
I see where you're coming from and agree. I know some main dealers arent great, seen plenty of it posted on here.However, would you rather your car went to a main dealer and not Halfords?
You only have to read the experiences above and what's on the Internet to know that Halfords should be avoided?
XDA said:
You only have to read the experiences above and what's on the Internet to know that Halfords should be avoided?
On that basis, so should virtually every main dealer.Don't worry though the "technician" at the main dealer will have about the same level of interest as the bloke at Halfords, and the lease company will veto anything that isn't life threatening on any repair.
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