Been hoodwinked by KwikFit - A cautionary tale - RESOLVED

[42man]

Having used KwikFit for the last 20 odd years I was a little too trusting today....I needed 2 new front tyres, looked up the price and it said this (and indeed I have just checked again and it is saying the same price below !!). Not only that but another very local tyre company were quoting the same price (online price from the other company WASN'T an internet offer either.... Fine I thought.....

 

This is what KwikFit were stating on their web site

 

Make Model Tyre Size Price Quantity Total Continental Premium Contact 2

215/55H18 £140.00

£280.00 Standard Valve £4.75 2 £9.50 Wheel Balancing £6.75 2 £13.50 Environmental Tyre Disposal £1.50 2 £3.00 Total £306.00

When arriving there the chap said i'll check your alignment too and it would take about an hour, I said ok fine.....

 

I got back and he said it had all been done, it came to paying in the office, and he started showing me diagrams of my wheel alignment (which didn't mean a lot to me to be honest).

 

He tapped the screen a few times and I could have sworn he said £409.....I paid and only AFTER I paid did he print off the receipt, slipped it in a nice KwikFit enevelope, and as I was in a rush to get back on my 4 hour journey into the snow I didn't check the bill...I get home a couple of hours ago and the receipt shows this

 

Tyres 2 (exactly as named above) - £191 each x 2 = £382:00

WHEEL BALANCE x 2 @ £6.75 = £13:50

ECO TYRE DISPOSAL x 2 = £3:00

NITROGEN INFLATION x 2 @ £1:50 = £3:00

VALVE x 2 @ £4.75 = £9:50

CHECK & FRONT ADJUST = £39;95

REAR TOE ADJUST = £19:95

REAR CAMBER ADJUST = £19;95

 

TOTAL COST £490.85 an increase of way over 50% and not only have they 'inflated' (excuse the pun) the price of the tyres by £38 EACH they have the nerve to also add on all the extras too....

 

Needless to say I am more than a little peeved about this, I have never been ripped off like this before, especially so as you build up a certain amount of trust with a company like this after a number of years....

 

I will not be using this company again and will go to a local supplier, all I can say is get them to quote whilst you are there, if they ask about anything you aren't sure of then ask them how much it will cost.......otherwise stay well clear and support a smaller business.

[scousepie]

I don't use any Big Garages or Large Tyre outlets: designed to rip people off... I have a company car and the lease company use Kwick Quid.. sorry Kwick Fit. they sure do rip off the lease company with unnecessary work.

 

I use small garages with good reps for work on the wife's car. Good Luck.

[Sidewinder]

Agree with that - our fleet provider uses Kwik Fit for tyres and it doesn't matter how minimal the damage - it HAS to be a new tyre!

[Kiki1]

Did you pay by credit card ?

[42man]

I paid by visa debit card

[42man]

I've just sent a message on their website....we'll see what they say

[leestudd32]

I always use a local branch of ETB and they are always pretty good, if it wasn't urgently needed I'll be trying an online place next time, like black circles which always seem pretty cheap.

[42man]

If I don't get a response then it will be incredibly easy to work out the email addresses of their top management - firstname.lastname@kwik-fit.com

[ploddertom]

I thought we had a Kwik Fit Rep here - obviously not kwik enough!

[KwikFit Official Customer]

I've just sent a message on their website....we'll see what they say

 

Hi there,

 

it's Andy from Kwik Fit here. I just wanted to confirm that we have received your complaint.

Our CS team is now investigating it and will be in touch directly.

 

Kind regards,

Andy

[42man]

Cheers Andy, I'll look forward to getting your reply...much obliged

[scousepie]

Well Andy is on the case, we have every confidence in you !! LOL:|

 

 

oh and Andy isn't a real person he is a virtual person so to speak...!!

[maroondevo52]

This should be good

[Conniff]

Hello, it's almost two weeks, any news ?

[42man]

Had a call from KwikFit on Thursday, They are sending me a refund for the cost difference of the tyres and the added 'bits', not too concerned about the alignment aspect as it needed doing, BUT they didn't tell me what the price of alignment would be before carrying it out, and I didn't realise that it was an extra cost. So bill is reduced from £490 to £400 which I am happy to accept.

[maroondevo52]

Told you it'd be good

[Conniff]

£400 !! You could have bought new ones for that

[Surfer01]

I had 4 x General Grabbers fitted onto my Jeep and it cost less than £400 including balancing etc.

[42man]

What sort of Jeep have you got Surfer ?

[ScarletPimpernel]

What sort of Jeep have you got Surfer ?

 

I'd be interested to know too, as another Jeep owner.

[42man]

I remember thinking how cheap 4x4 tyres are/were....I replaced 4 (BFGoodrch A-T tyres) on my Jeep for £56 each !! (about 15 years ago)

[Surfer01]

What sort of Jeep have you got Surfer ?

 

We have got a '55 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Very pleased with it and gets over 24mpg towing a caravan and up to 32mpg on a long trip. A lot less obviously if I give it gas which is often.

[42man]

And that is the forfeit for me not being able to get cheaper tyres as my current car does 55-60MPG and has 18" alloy wheels, although I have owned a Cherokee and a Wrangler in the past...

[Surfer01]

I remember thinking how cheap 4x4 tyres are/were....I replaced 4 (BFGoodrch A-T tyres) on my Jeep for £56 each !! (about 15 years ago)

Now the same tyres would set you back at least £200 each, however they are excellent.

[42man]

I think you can get them for as cheap as £130 each