So I think I made a mistake by the offer of extra Nectar Card points if you had a service and MOT done by your local Ford dealer.... Just been to collect my Puma after dropping off this morning at Evans Halshaw in Lincoln after looking at a few of the other local garages and deciding their price offer didn't seem bad by comparison. Agreed they'd MOT it first then let me know and not service if it failed unless it was a couple of 'minor' things.
Then the call 'sorry your car has failed with the lower arm bushes but it also needs some bulbs, the rear washer isn't working and the exhaust is blowing'. Me being more than a little suspicious asked for prices and was told varying things especially as the bulbs were all checked this morning before dropping off and as far as I was aware the rear washer doesn't come into the test... I was quoted approx £60 a side if the lower arm bushes would come out plus a couple of hours labour plus VAT but that 'normally the bushes don't come out so we have to fit new arms at £140+VAT each'. At this point I said don't do anything else I'll come and pick it up and get it done elsewhere - to which I was told there would be a retest fee.
Get to pick the car up to find that they then carried on and did the short service despite agreeing at booking in that if it failed not to service... so £53 for the MOT and £65 for the service which wouldn't have been to bad if didn't need the other things doing... Also no bulbs not working, just tried the rear screen wash and if you hold it for more than 3 seconds out comes water
So i'm probably already preaching to the converted but would say steer clear of Lincoln Evans Halshaw unless you can really rely on them to follow your instructions - especially as the general service was one of reluctance to speak or smile and the feeling we were interfering with their other work of the day.
On the way home took it to a local garage that does MOTs and says its a Ford specialist that I probably should have gone to initially (though MOT and service costs very similar) and now got it booked in for the bushes only as they said no problem to change and all in for £140 to 160 including VAT etc. On looking they've also said they'd probably only have reported the one side... but suppose might as well have it done now :roll:
Don't know whether to bother with paying for the 'retest' now or just get the other garage to do a complete test for ease while its in but also run the risk of them failing it on something else :?
Then the call 'sorry your car has failed with the lower arm bushes but it also needs some bulbs, the rear washer isn't working and the exhaust is blowing'. Me being more than a little suspicious asked for prices and was told varying things especially as the bulbs were all checked this morning before dropping off and as far as I was aware the rear washer doesn't come into the test... I was quoted approx £60 a side if the lower arm bushes would come out plus a couple of hours labour plus VAT but that 'normally the bushes don't come out so we have to fit new arms at £140+VAT each'. At this point I said don't do anything else I'll come and pick it up and get it done elsewhere - to which I was told there would be a retest fee.
Get to pick the car up to find that they then carried on and did the short service despite agreeing at booking in that if it failed not to service... so £53 for the MOT and £65 for the service which wouldn't have been to bad if didn't need the other things doing... Also no bulbs not working, just tried the rear screen wash and if you hold it for more than 3 seconds out comes water
So i'm probably already preaching to the converted but would say steer clear of Lincoln Evans Halshaw unless you can really rely on them to follow your instructions - especially as the general service was one of reluctance to speak or smile and the feeling we were interfering with their other work of the day.
On the way home took it to a local garage that does MOTs and says its a Ford specialist that I probably should have gone to initially (though MOT and service costs very similar) and now got it booked in for the bushes only as they said no problem to change and all in for £140 to 160 including VAT etc. On looking they've also said they'd probably only have reported the one side... but suppose might as well have it done now :roll:
Don't know whether to bother with paying for the 'retest' now or just get the other garage to do a complete test for ease while its in but also run the risk of them failing it on something else :?
k:
