Unnecessary work.
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Posts
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Needed four new tyres for my car so looked round all the internet suppliers and local fitters. Found that a National Chain in Wrexham was the cheapest for the tyres I wanted.
The tyres were fitted and the service I received was fine. But whilst the wheels were off a young man approached me with,” Your rear disks and pads are worn and we recommend replacement. Would you like us to do that for you today?”
“Err…No thanks just put the tyres on please.”
Now, I fitted the discs and pads myself 19,000 miles ago and the disks are about 20% worn and the pads 50%.
They never seem to change do they. Anyone taking their car to these places, always get a second opinion from an independent mechanic before authorising any work.
Unfortunately most garages are the same. It is very seldom I take my car in for a service without incurring some additional expense for additional work which was unplanned. Years ago it was possible do do a lot of the work yourself, but now-days it is a mystery to most of us how a car works and we are dependent on our garage, and it is more often easier for convenience to let them get on with the job. There is no guarantee if you take your car to an independent mechanic that they will also not find work to be done.
I do however take my car for its MOT to a garage that does nothing but MOT’s, and therefore they do not have any financial incentive to find a fault with your car.
I had exactly the same happen to myself, my wife’s car had only done 16000 miles but, was 5 years old, when we had two new tyres on the front the chap who fitted them advised us that the discs and brake pads had excessive wear, when I told him that the car had recently passed an mot and the low mileage he said that they would be alright for just a few thousand miles. I would say that the majority of people would just say go ahead and do the work and they only need one or two of these people a day to keep their tills topped up.
I’m guessing that you’re referring to KwikFit Andy ?
When we took our car to be serviced at the main dealer, they always added a charge for windscreen washer. We always filled it up before it went! After questioning this charge they removed it, but it made me wonder what else they were charging for that they hadn’t done.
I always found main dealers to be worse at this overcharging than independent garages.If any garage says you need extra work just thank them get them to do the original job then ask someone to check it out after. 90% of the time it won’t need doing. Brakes and wheel discs are a common one because people panic and think their car is dangerous. As said above mots are best at the likes of council sites where they don’t do repairs.
@Mrs Crewe 20016 wrote:
When we took our car to be serviced at the main dealer, they always added a charge for windscreen washer. We always filled it up before it went! After questioning this charge they removed it, but it made me wonder what else they were charging for that they hadn’t done.
I always found main dealers to be worse at this overcharging than independent garages.Yep, had exactly the same experience & they also removed it when questioned. I wonder if it was the same main dealer? It was a few years ago & I still own the vehicle but no longer take it there for anything.
My wife sent her car into a small local garage for an MOT, they rang to inform her that although the car had passed it was probably going to need a new flux capacitor. After speaking to me she went to collect the car and told them she knew it was a joke and the car will be fine as long as she stays under 88 MPH! :)
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