kwik fit ripping me off?

[WhiteBear]

ok im a female and should really asked either my dad or bro to take my car in for a service rather than me.

i took my car in today for a service, and they called me to say there are some works that may need doing such as
2 tyres (£52.50 each - What The Funicular?? dad got one 2 months ago for £30)

front dics : £116
front pads: £69.50

rear dics: £106.60
rear pads: £58.50

so in total including service would cost me £651.53.

I was shocked with that price i said OK just do the servicing forget about the replacements!!! I am so sure they are trying to rip me off cos im a female. so i spoke to my colleagues and they said go for a second opinion cos theyre trying to rip u off, shouldnt cost that much. My bro said the same, he asked me take the car home and he'll have a look at it!

oh get this, the garage broke the sparks? so had to replace it, but not til thursday as the need to order it lol.

so what do you guys think???

[AlBags]

What car and model exactly is it? And the age?

Tyres quoted are premium brand, I expect. Your dad probably picked a Steel budget radial.
Discs and pads full retail dealer prices. Easy to fit, could do on the drive on a saturday afternoon. Too dear there.
Broke the spark plugs?! Fiesta? or Zetec engine. That's likely carelessness using the tool .. or wrong tool.

Did they speak Japanese like the advert on TV? No, I don't expect so.
I think they are trying to rip anyone off.

[WhiteBear]

albags, its a NIssan Almera 1.5, 53 reg, and only done 42,000 miles!!! and no he didnt speak japanese but he spoke very lazy english.

[derekpara]

I use KwikFit a lot and have always found them fair and very thorough, having watched them closely while they work. If there are any faults they always show you first before asking if you want the work done. Trouble is that most garages will recommend replacement of discs pads and tyres even if there is plenty of wear left, but perhaps not enough to see you through to the next service date.

I would check like for like prices with other garages before assuming they are trying to rip you off - they may not be. Good luck.

[dothawkes31]

you can get pads online for £7.99 and they clip on, you've been ripped off

[dothawkes31]

Put your Reg in here and it lists your parts:
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/Car-Parts

[AlBags]

Or check with your local Motor Factors ... for discs and pads, front and rear. Discs for Japanese cars (even aftermarket) are a lot pricier than pads. I'd say you would pay about £150-160 for all at factors. It's best to check they are all worn down first, though.
Don't you know any mechanics that need some work that will change for you on your dad's drive at w/e?

[WhiteBear]

thanks dothawkes31 that was very useful, its amost 1/3 cheaper on the site as quoted at the garage.

oh albag, my bro and dad are taking a look at it this weekend :-)

[AlBags]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...M?hash=item3efbc118bc

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk...M?hash=item414c406b6e

If you DO need all discs and pads, ring that number .. give him details and the VIN number and ask how much for all discs and pads posted.

Dot is correct ... Euro Car parts have been going since before the web began. They used to be mail order in Exchange and Mart! You may not get all from them tho.

[AlBags]

OK ... catch you later : )

[saxy_jag]

They charged me £300 for a brake pad job on my Rover. Went into my usual place for MOT two months later and it failed on brakes - majorly! Half the bits hadn't been put back properly and the car could have failed at any moment. Thing was, that far down the line, there was no way we could prove what they had (or rather, hadn't) done. The MOT place did say that there was no way the damage could have been caused by normal wear and tear in the twelve months since they'd last seen it. Even towing the caravan with it wouldn't have done that much damage, he said.

Needless to say I won't touch them now.

My son swears by this scheme: http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/ . I've yet to try it, but he's found a very good garage where he lives.

[WhiteBear]

albags many thanks for that, you have been very helpful great advice too :) xx

[askyourgran]

Mr Ask always has a mechanic from the garage to come at Weekends or evenings to fit pads and brakes etc in our driveway. He takes the car to the garage for a service, but the mechanic does the other things on the side cheaper. It's better to get a regular service if you can, £650 is a lot all in one go.

[AlBags]

Problem is .. .a lot of them are young .. or kids, who get trained and left to their own decices. Some are good .. some are bad.
So they are inconsistent.
Good at speaking foreign languages tho .. and art .. if the ads are to be believed! : )

[AlBags]

*devices

[AlBags]

No worries WBx

[WhiteBear]

saxy, you should have gone back to the garage they should have a guarantee??

i had my MOT check 7 months ago and passed everything all from the same company but different place lol.

[R1Geezer]

do not touch with a bargepole, well known rip off merchants. If they change anything without your permission then you can ask them to put the old ones back if they can't do not pay. Just pay for he service. End of, total shower of sh1te, can't understand how they are still in business, well known throughout the motoring world. Sorry you found out like this.

[WhiteBear]

thanks R1Geezer

now how do i proof they hadnt changed to anything dodgy?? i did tll the guy dont do any works on it, im just paying for the service, he was like, ok. lol

[R1Geezer]

You don't have to, you asked them to do a service, end of story. Did you actually say "fix any faults" ? If not they must restore all the changed parts, insist you did not ask them to change brakes, tyres etc. Thank them for their observations. Just stand your ground, call plod if they won't let you drive away . It may well be that other work needs doing, that is not their business, that is your business. They will carp on about safety etc but just stick to your guns, insist they put your old brakes and tyes back on or forfit the new ones. Classic Kwik fit trick, especially to a woman.