Kwik Fit

[kate.l.n]

Hi,

I had a new exhaust installed by kwik fit in May of last year.

They used the wrong clamps and did a terrible job.

I went back three times and had welding done but the exhaust was never truly fixed.

 

I then moved and visited a different quick fit and once again they did some more welding (after telling me what a terrible job had been done).

The problem was still not fixed.

 

I then wrote a letter of complaint which resulted in them re fitting a new exhaust.

 

However they could not get the old exhaust off due to the terrible job that had been done

and after forcefully removing it they then had to drill new holes into the main frame of my car.

 

However they did not have the correct drill bit and therefore I had to go back to have the bolts repeatedly tightened.

 

In addition to this the exhaust was still not working properly and I had to go back repeatedly as bits kept cracking.

 

I then phoned the area manager and he assured me that he would ask my local branch to fix it permanently.

I feel I should add that throughout this,

the staff were extremely rude and repeatedly lied to my face

– at one point even refusing to do any further work and stating that it was not there problem.

 

After turning me away I went to another mechanic and he assured me that it was under warranty and was a simple £4 part,

not the manifold as the kwik fit employee had stated.

 

So, by this stage I had been back at least 11 times and the problem was still not resolved.

 

A non kwik fit mechanic told me that the exhaust was not sitting right, due to poor installation,

and that was why parts kept cracking.

 

They also informed me that the repeatedly replaced parts are as cheap as they come and that is partly why they keep cracking.

 

In addition to this is my mot test at kwik fit which I recently had fail but only for the front suspension and the exhaust emissions.

I fixed the suspension and then took my car to another mechanic (not kwik fit as they didnt know how to fix it)

who fixed the exhaust issue and therefore said that they would pass the mot if I booked it in with them.

 

However, they then found a number of problems that were not only an mot failure

but that made it dangerous for me to continue driving my car.

 

This included a crack in my steering rack gaitor and my head lights not working due to a falty switch.

I am dumb struck by the lack of ability and knowledge that the kwik fit employees have and the amount of unnecessary time,

effort and stress that they have cost me.

 

With my repeated trips back to kwik fit and the additional petrol costs due to an inefficient exhaust,

the lies and rudeness of the staff, and the stress and time this mess has cost me i asked for a refund and i was told i would get one.

 

I then received a £25 voucher for kwik fit (doesnt even cover the MOT and i never want to use kwik fit again)

and a rude letter telling me that my case has now been resolved.

 

I have been repeated told by kiwk fit staff that this situation is appalling and yet they repeatedly laugh in my face.

 

I am at my wits end and am hoping that you can help me to get some compensation from what i believe is a terrible company!

Thank you. Kate

[freakyleaky]

Hi Kate and welcome to the CAG.

 

I have moved your thread to the best forum for your problem.

The regulars will be along soon to advise.

[Yukiko]

Hi there, sorry to hear you're having all these issues.

 

I've had a mixed review of fast fit centres in general.

 

I doubt there's anything wrong with your CV joins (Steering rack joints and seals) but it doesn't hurt to take it somewhere else and get it looked at. £50 job, tops.

 

Headlight switch can be replaced pretty easily too most of the time, so no worries there.

 

If they've cut, welded and drilled into your car, I'd be furious. The damage that can cause is unbelievable. Modifying the car in such a way leaves it open to rust, especially with winter coming up and I'd be sending a stern letter outlining this to the area manager. Absolutely useless...

 

Have you had your vehicle checked over by an independant mechanic?

 

Regards.

[heliosuk]

The damage that can cause is unbelievable. Modifying the car in such a way leaves it open to rust, especially with winter coming up and I'd be sending a stern letter outlining this to the area manager. Absolutely useless...

 

 

Regards.

 

And your an expert on this it seems. Sounds to me as though it has the wrong system on it.

[Yukiko]

And your an expert on this it seems. Sounds to me as though it has the wrong system on it.

 

Anything that exposes untreated metal to moisture (Which we're seeing a lot of recently) and damage to the factory applied underseal that cars come with from the factory will accelerate the rate of corrosion to that not even seen by BL in the late 70's.

 

It's damage that they should not have done.

[heliosuk]

Cars have not come with "underseal" for some 15 years plus now, they use an e coat dip system as are the subframes attached. If an exhaust system needs this amount of re work then it is either the wrong system or manufactured well outside of the dimensions specified. Further, despite your quote about BL in the 70's, actual steel used in body construction is quite resiliant to corrosion even without the e coat protection. I am though interested in your statement "that we are seeing a lot of recently".

 

The OP's system seems to be wrong. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that the car is wrong compared to the spares listing, you just don't know the life.

 

Reaction such as yours does not help get to the root cause of the issue which then enables people to make a balanced judgement, such as your post about tyres. and then get the proper advice which in this case wouold be asking the question about age and mileage of car and known history. You cannot fix something that is fundamentally wrong from the start and this is not known.

[KwikFit Official Customer]

Hi Kate,

 

We were concerned to read your comments about your experience with your exhaust and your experience with Kwik Fit on the whole.

 

 

If possible, we would like to discuss this further with you - please could you contact me at kwikfitwebcare at kwik-fit dot com

 

Kind regards,

Andy

[Kim Fairbanks]

KwikFit Customer Service team I'm so upset with you and the way you treat your customers. I've tried emailing, writing letters and phoning to be completely ignored! Not even a reply. I've sent evidence that did work to our car that was done wrong, not needed and took our money. I even have a statement from a mechanic from a well respected garage services who has stated you did the work wrong etc. I've sent all of this to you and yet I hear nothing. I also have a tread on this forum to which I was given advice but you ignored those letters also.

 

It's outrageous you can treat people like this! Why should I have to pay and go through the upset of all of this to get my hard earned money back when you took it from me for work that didn't need doing and was done wrong?!

 

I want a reply finally with a solution, don't push me in to taking legal action.

 

Kim Fairbanks

[freakyleaky]

Hi Kim.

I can't say I'm surprised to hear about the lack of action here. QF seem to have a policy of Ignore and ignore some more when it comes to complaints.

I will attempt to contact the customer services team and alert them to this thread.

[Kim Fairbanks]

Thank you for the reply and for doing that, I really appreciate it. I really don't like 'kicking off' about things as I always think there must be a easier way to sort things out but I'm just beyond frustrated and upset. Once again thanks for taking the time to reply! x

[Kim Fairbanks]

Almost another week gone by and still NO email or response at all from Kwik Fit......Kwik Fit really do ignore and keep on ignoring, I'm shocked they have any customers after everything I've read and experienced.

[freakyleaky]

I will try and get the reps attention again. I have sent messages but will keep on sending until something is done.

Would you be ok if the thread title was changed to better reflect the trouble you're having? It would make it easier for others with similar problems to find it too.

[Kim Fairbanks]

Of course no problem! Am I OK to change the title? Sorry if I'm asking a silly question, still working out the website Thanks again for your help, really appreciate it. They really don't seem to want to talk to me!!

[freakyleaky]

I will change the thread title for you. Any suggestions to better reflect your issues? Keep it clean

 

EDIT:- i have just realised this isn't your thread! Your thread title is fine I think.

Edited November 8, 2012 by freakyleaky

[Kim Fairbanks]

Mmmmm OK I'll be adult about it for you!! 'Extreme difficulty with Kwik Fit customer services and unnecessary work carried out'? xxx

[freakyleaky]

Did you see my edit on last post?

[Kim Fairbanks]

Yes that's fine, I wasn't sure about my suggestion anyway! Thanks for your help and here's hopping they might be bothered to contact me soon, I really wanted to try and sort this out like adults rather than through the small claims court. xx

[Systemerror]

I sympathise with your frustration.

 

I took my car to Kwik fit for an MOT after having it serviced with pre mot checks at my local well respected garage who said it would pass. Kwik fit were doing a special offer for customers insured through them so I thought I might as well use it.

 

They failed my car because the indicator bulbs were not orange enough.

 

Fair enough - So I agreed for them to change the bulbs which came to something like £20.

 

Kwik fit managed to break one front headlight and headlight mount and one rear light cluster in the process and then bodged them back into place. It was only when all the bulbs blew a few days later that I discoverd thier handy work.

 

The repairs came to around £200 and Kwik Fit denied all knowledge.

 

I for one will never use them again and I tell everyone about this when I get the opportunity.

 

Thanks.

[Kim Fairbanks]

That's terrible! My frustration has also been made worse by the fact that we took our car for it's MOT Monday just gone and the only thing it failed on was some of the work Kwik Fit did that didn't need doing! So not only did they do work that didn't need doing they did it wrong meaning our car failed the MOT.

 

We were also really upset to learn that they charged us for VW parts but the garage who did our MOT told us the parts used were cheap parts not made by VW.

 

Honestly I'm so upset about it all, mainly because I just wanted to sort it out with them but 6 emails, 4 letters and 2 telephone calls later I've still had no response from them at all. I've been totally ignored and I don't understand how they get away with it especially when everyone is so tight for money. Me and my partner are getting married plus moving this month so the money they took off us we really need back.

 

I'm the same as you I tell everyone not to use them although most people seem to agree and have a story of their own!! It's scary how many people have had awful experiences. x

[Kim Fairbanks]

So a little update, we finally got a call to which the area manager for Kwik Fit tried to feed my other half some rubbish to which my other half replied we have evidence etc you did it wrong etc. The area manager said that the work was carried out fine to regulations which is totally wrong and the work wasn't needed anyway. He lied or the mechanics at the Poole branch lied about what we had agreed.

 

The manager then called customer services then rang us back and told us 'we believe we carried out the work to proper quality control procedure so if you want to go to small claims its up to you. Good luck'. Disgusting! So small claims it is. x

[afcwben]

I cant believe anyone would want to go to Kwik fit they sound like a complete shower

[Schizoid]

This weekend I have submitted a complaint about some work 'in progress' at Kwik Fit Erith branch and the price quoted.

I'm hoping to be able to report a swift response and a satisfactory outcome, would be good to be able to post some positive experiences with Kwik Fit after reading all those on here that are less than positive.

 

Short summary: quoted a price, accepted the quote, part ordered and arrived same day, car dismantled, wrong part, can't get correct pattern part, can get expensive option from Audi and car is now in pieces, can't be put back, illegal to drive as is so stuck with the increased price.

 

Iain.

[maroondevo52]

Let us know how you get on Iain, I had a tyre replaced by them yesterday, price quoted £74 they gave me a discount of £24 so cost £50 I had no complaints.