Halfords Service Centre - has anyone used them? Options

[Sherlock]

The car needs an MOT and service and I was wondering about using the Halfords Autocentre (formerly the Nationwide Autocentre) on Hambridge Road but there are some seriously dire reviews of Halfords Acentres on the web. Has anyone tried using ours and if so how did you get on?

[Timbo]

Don't take your car anywhere near Halfords. Ever.
I use Millers personally. Around £50 an hour labour, and a good job, not one of those botched jobs, I wouldn't trust Halfords Autocentre to do an oil change let alone major mechanical work.

[Sherlock]

Thanks for getting back to me Timbo. It's difficult to know what to make of the web reviews - there will always be people who have negative experiences with any supplier and it's impossible to know whether posts are made by competitors. Same applies here, of course!

I guess you haven't actually used them - has anyone else out there?

[Timbo]

I agree Sherlock. But these reviews are enough to put anyone off..
Use Good Garage Scheme to find somewhere.

[Blake]

I agree 100 per cent Halfords are total amateurs.

Chris Fiddler has never let me down.

[Jayjay]

I agree 100 per cent Halfords are total amateurs.

Chris Fiddler has never let me down.

Second that. He has always done a good job on my cars.

[Roger T]

He also has a humorous name, that made me giggle.

[andy1979uk]

He also has a humorous name, that made me giggle.

I always use Bryan Ford in Thatcham, always does a very thorough job.

[gel]

Newbury Instant Motors down near NWN's offices are sound too, in Faraday Rd.

[Grumpy]

Just a little tip, check your rear number plate lights before you take it for MOT.

I was charged an extra £15.00 by one local company to change this light bulb.

[Baffers100]

I really wouldn't bother with Halfords. If the guys in the service centres are anything like the kids in Halfords, they're just monkeys with slightly bigger than average pram wheels on their motor.

Newbury Instant Motors are really cheap on labour costs, though my other half and I would always find both of our cars would come back with failed bulbs (when 5 minutes before leaving it parked outside the garage they were working), so I wondered if this was a revenue scam.

I wouldn't touch Millers either. My parents had an awful experience there whcih lost them around £5k as they're a bunch of tyre kickers.

Headley Bodyshop (next to the Halfords service centre) are good, and although they're a body shop they do offer service and MOTs. I go to these guys for tyres (from blackcircle.com) and have never had any probs, so would feel happy getting my car serviced there.

Like you say though, there will always be somebody with a bad review.

[Biker1]

Newbury Instant Motors down near NWN's offices are sound too, in Faraday Rd.

Do you mean Newbury Motors?
If so I agree, excellent!

[Timbo]

I really wouldn't bother with Halfords. If the guys in the service centres are anything like the kids in Halfords, they're just monkeys with slightly bigger than average pram wheels on their motor.

Newbury Instant Motors are really cheap on labour costs, though my other half and I would always find both of our cars would come back with failed bulbs (when 5 minutes before leaving it parked outside the garage they were working), so I wondered if this was a revenue scam.

I wouldn't touch Millers either. My parents had an awful experience there whcih lost them around £5k as they're a bunch of tyre kickers.

Headley Bodyshop (next to the Halfords service centre) are good, and although they're a body shop they do offer service and MOTs. I go to these guys for tyres (from blackcircle.com) and have never had any probs, so would feel happy getting my car serviced there.

Like you say though, there will always be somebody with a bad review.

What happened at Millers? I found them on a recommendation on Good Garage Scheme and use them frequently now.

[Newbelly]

I used Taylors a couple of times (when they were next to Speen petrol station) and they were good. I have also used Kwik Fit for an MOT and service and was pleasantly surprised - they have some good deals on prices. I know some of their branches have had a bad press, but my experience was good at Newbury.

[dannyboy]

It's difficult to know what to make of the web reviews - there will always be people who have negative experiences with any supplier and it's impossible to know whether posts are made by competitors. Same applies here, of course!

which is why threads like this are pointless.

[GMR]

The car needs an MOT and service and I was wondering about using the Halfords Autocentre (formerly the Nationwide Autocentre) on Hambridge Road but there are some seriously dire reviews of Halfords Acentres on the web. Has anyone tried using ours and if so how did you get on?

My daughter has used it a few times in the past and she seemed quite happy.

[Berkshirelad]

Halfrauds have a reputation for finding "necessary" work during an MoT that nets them more income.

[badger]

Nationwide Auto were rubbish before, I had several problems with a service. Finding faults that weren't there sort of thing. If Halfords have taken over the operation and the same staff are in place, i can't think it will be much different. I'm also more inclined to support local traders at the moment rather than big companies.

[Biker1]

It's difficult to know what to make of the web reviews - there will always be people who have negative experiences with any supplier and it's impossible to know whether posts are made by competitors. Same applies here, of course!

which is why threads like this are pointless.

Do you not take any notice of on-line reviews then?

[dannyboy]

Do you not take any notice of on-line reviews then?

You have to take them in context & read between the lines.

Often, ( a bit like that awful 4 in a bed ) places get chastised for the most trivial of things, and for things outside the places / service being reviewed's control.