AVOID THIS GARAGE. THEY TRIED TO RIP ME OFF.

Brought my car to them for new brake pads and to inspect the discs. They replaced four brake pads and polished the discs. They also checked a heating fault but couldn’t resolve it. Total time spent on the car: 1.75 hours (I was there). I had not discussed the cost in advance as I had had one prior, acceptable experience with this garage. The chap asked for £410. I questioned this immediately and asked about the parts cost. He started making up numbers, but I happened to see the invoice, which the garage had just paid to the motor factors: £60 cash for all brake parts. Therefore, the garage wanted to charge me £350 labour for a 1.75 hr job. (Sounds like a Ferrari main dealer, rather than a lock-up in Park Royal, right?) I noticed their advertised labour rate is £65 ph. After much haggling, I said I would pay £180 total in cash, which they accepted with a shrug. This behaviour really bothers me, as a less confident or vulnerable person may have paid £410 for a job worth £180.

02/05/2023