KwitFit Tyre Change - has this happened to you?

[chryslertom]

Just bought a Chrysler Grand Voyager and took my kids to Wembly to see Madagasgar Live and got a screw in the new rear tyre on the way home.

 

Checked and it was in the area that could not be repaired and the only place that was open was KwikFit near me who could get the tyre in same day to change the tyre so I went ahead.

 

link -> castletyres.co.uk/images/tyrerepair.jpg

 

They price matched Halfords which was nice, then damaged my alloy.

 

Since the tyre change I had to wait for the manager to return from holiday and saw him today. I've been offered a repair which means the alloy needs to be sent away to be repaired which takes 3 days.

 

The manager asks "do you have a spare?", my reply "no new cars don't have spares these days".

 

I can offer £35 reimbursement then.

 

Firstly I just bought the car (top spec chrysler grand voyager) and did not expect such lack of due care and attention when performing such a simple task that they advertise on TV.

 

The guy that changed the tyre was nice when he was doing it, explaining everything along the way, then when I checked the alloy for damage he tried to tell me it was like that already.

 

Then when speaking to the manager today he is and I quote "giving you the benefit of the doubt" like I am lying!!!!

 

You can see it is clearly damaged by incorrect use of the machinery as it has marked where it clamps the tyre off and a uniform hairline scratch around the alloy 3inches either side from the machine - see image below (not something that you would get if you kerb an alloy):

 

link -> imagebam.com/image/78e7fb244319664

 

Secondly I do not have a spare wheel (most cars do not these days), so would not be able to drive the car.

 

Thirdly I was advised by the manager that they can not guarantee a colour match so it would look a different colour as it is a flat silver colour - totally unacceptable.

 

All of which are totally unacceptable, so not only have I paid £140 for a new tyre, I now have a damaged alloy which when repaired will look a different colour and I won't be able to use my car for 3 days (as a consultant each day costs me £350 a day in earnings if I am not on the road).

 

To make matters worse I have a 37 week pregnant wife that is about to give birth any day now, and two children at school, so not having a car to drive and potentially bring my new baby home is not the kind of stress I need to be dealing with right now!

 

I have contacted their webcare via email for an alternative solution such as all alloys to be taken at the same time (there are no marks on the other alloys - being a new car) so that there is no colour difference, and a curtesy car provided (either by the place doing the alloys or supplied by kwik-fit).

 

Shame as there is a simple solution to never have a damaged alloy again that KwikFit could use that only costs £6 per machine. I bit of rubber that attaches to the mount head on the machine - simples!

 

link -> uni-max.co.uk/plastic-cover-for-tyre-changer-mount-head/d/

 

I will keep you posted on the reply (I am sure someone from KwikFit will reply on here anyway).

 

Fingers crossed happy resolution.

 

Tom