“I am incredibly disappointed with the service my husband and I received at Newark Halfords Auto Centre today. Both of our cars were booked in for MOTs—my husband’s in the morning and mine in the afternoon—and the experience was frustrating and unacceptable on multiple levels.
Firstly, my husband’s car failed its MOT due to an engine light, but your team claimed they could not diagnose the issue and advised us to visit another garage for the diagnosis. This is shocking—we paid for an MOT service, yet your team lacks the capability to investigate the reasons for a failure, forcing us to pay another garage to do what should be part of your service.
Secondly, your team claimed his coolant tank was leaking and needed replacing. This is completely unacceptable as last week, my husband had brought his car to this very garage for the coolant issue, only to be told there were no staff available to fix it. He then took the car to another garage to resolve the problem. For your team to now claim there is still an issue feels like either incompetence or, worse, deliberate dishonesty.
My own MOT experience this afternoon was even more appalling. I arrived a few minutes late due to traffic (your staff claimed it was 9 minutes, but my phone said 6). I was greeted by Brandon, who was rude, unprofessional, and deceitful. He refused to carry out the MOT, claiming it "legally has to be done on time." He sat laid back in his chair, spinning on it with a smirk on his face. He later admitted that the MOT tester had already gone home, even though we had seen the tester just as we arrived. It became clear that the MOT tester wanted to leave early, and rather than being honest, Brandon made excuses to turn me away.
What makes this even worse is that earlier in the day, we received a call asking if we could bring the car in earlier. We explained this wasn’t possible because my husband was at work and couldn’t take me home afterwards. Had we known that the tester would leave early, we wouldn’t have booked in the first place.
This is a far cry from the excellent service we’ve received from Halfords in the past, where we were always greeted by polite and helpful staff. Today’s experience was the opposite—Brandon was scruffy, rude, and dishonest.
To top it off, my husband has since taken his car to a diagnostic garage, where the issue Halfords quoted at £300 is being resolved for just £60. The other garage cannot understand how Halfords came up with such an inflated price.
This experience has completely eroded my trust in Halfords. From poor service and misdiagnosed issues to rude and deceitful staff, I am extremely disappointed. We will not be returning, and I will be warning others to avoid this garage.”
“Would not recommend Halfords for servicing.
My recent full service was not done correctly, the oil level was only just above the minimum so after a few miles my oil light came on!!
Also the service included new spark plugs, but they failed to fit them as the vehicle had done a low mileage?!
They did not reduce the price or give me the new plugs”
“Booked for an MOT, the guys were very helpful!. I will definitely use this Garage again. I feel like my car is in safe hands. Many thanks and merry Christmas”
“Online ordered an oil filter for 1 week without notification for collection, it is just like a scam without any staff would help
Halford simply cancel my order by itself without my confirmation. What a scam, dishonest company, daylight robbery”
“Pokesdown Bournemouth store. I booked in for 4 new tyres at 11am and arrived 10 minutes prior as requested. The fitting was not completed until 1.15pm. For 4 tyres. Before I drove the car away I was told the tyre pressures would be reset as I drove. However, the low pressure warning came on almost immediately so I drive to the nearest petrol station to find that the tyres had been inflated to 22psi. The correct pressures should be 38psi front and 32psi rear. Diabolical. I am now sceptical that the balancing which was included as standard has been done at all or that the wheel nuts have been tightened to the correct torque. I won’t be returning.”
“AVOID DARLINGTON STORE!!!!!
AVOID THIS STORE!!!!!
It is recommended to exercise caution when considering shopping at this particular store. The recent experience involving the purchase of an Apple car player as a Christmas gift for my daughter at the Darlington branch in March 2024 has been quite disappointing. The car player purchased was found to be incompatible with the vehicle, resulting in multiple instances of the car experiencing voltage faults. This issue has also caused the stop-start function to cease working, which is a requirement for passing the MOT test. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the matter with the branch manager, Andrew, there has been a lack of response.
During one of the visits to address the recurring issue, my daughter's car was issued a parking ticket for £60 while under repair by Mark at the Darlington branch. After reaching out to Gillian, who identified herself as the acting manager, she acknowledged that the parking fine was issued in error due to a mistake on the part of the fitter for not registering my daughters car. Gillian assured my daughter the parking ticket would be dealt with and not to worry. However, my daughter received a notice from the parking company today demanding payment of now £100 within 7 days to avoid potential legal action. I drove my daughter to the shop and was directed to the acting manager Michelle. She declined to address the issue, stating that her responsibilities primarily involved working with bikes and we would need to speak with Andrew the store manager. Michelle refused to look at the parking notices stating it was has nothing to do with her.
Upon contacting the head office and speaking with Themba from store support, he communicated that they he was unable to address the situation directly and would need to involve the store manager. It is concerning that Halfords has allowed such a lapse in customer service, which has not only caused financial distress, inconvenience but also puts my daughter's credit rating and future at risk.
How can a store manager and several acting managers demonstrate such disregard for a customer who has made a purchase and leave a young lady my daughter feeling concerned about potential legal action, her furture and enforcement measures that are not of her doing.
Halfords would you care to explain?”
“(BRAINTREE) DON'T be mistaken about free heath check or free break check, basically on arrival they will say they have include the £20 fuel flush and if you decide you don't want it they don't bother with your vehicle basically.. nothing is free, also under new management. won't be using them again. You have been Warned!!!”
“Halfords “fit at home” to replace a battery. I give then 1 star..
Booked and paid for a slot..8am to noon…received ‘order summary’ via email which then stated ‘all day’ fitting…not 10 till noon..!
Concerned that I may have to wait in all day, I emailed Halfords to query this timing but didn’t get a reply..phoned but could never get through to a customer service agent..VERY POOR.
Thankfully, the Halfords man did arrive during the booked slot.
However, before he would start work he insisted that he had to do a ‘survey’ before he could start the job.. i had to supply my cars mileage and he then began to take photos of my car, tyres etc…why is this necessary? The battery is guaranteeed for 5 years and not limited to mileage.
I can only assume that they are gathering information to sell on my info and to pester me with future emails in attempt to sell further Halfords products..ie servicing, tyres, mot.
This is an underhanded practice and an invasion of privacy. Needless to say that Halfords have now lost my trust and future business…and is not to be recommended.”
“Excellent experience from booking to collection.
Friendly staff who explained everything in detail.
Ease of picking up with car facing outward as I told them I hate reversing out of a space.
Fair price.
Would recommend and use again”
“The Autocentre on Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne. The guys there, efficient, polite, professional. They did exactly as asked and at a fair price.
Life is tough for everyone in recent years, so when you deal with a company that does things just right, makes you seek out ways to give positive feedback.”
“The staff at this location in wilnecote were outstanding. Paul was incredibly customer focused and knowledgeable helping me with my motoring need. I would and have highly recommended this service”
“During the Christmas period Halfords were offering percentage off gifts …so being “canny” i arrange for my wife’s car to be MOT in June …well this exercise was accepted over the inter web an i save a pretty penny ….well all things changed when the good lady decided to down size our car situation from two to one ….and her car was the one to go ….nothing lost tho went to local Halfords Auto centre an requested refund …no bother all refunded …great service …plus great service to her car at previous visits..”
“Where’s my Mercedes badge oh yeah! It’s was stolen from one of your automotive shops! Called to ask where it had gone and got the response oh yeah we saw that!”
“I recently had a Major service in Southend Halfords Autocentre which is included replacing cabin filter and Brake fluid renewal.
Unfortunately I was extremely disappointed to discover that these essential task were not completed during my service appointment.
How I found out is when I bought my car to Mercedes dealer for brakes pads and brake Discs replace and they carried out a safety check and they discovered that the service has not been done and they asked me to book in for service. But I told them that I just had a service done by Halfords auto center in Southend.
So they carrying out a check and found out that cabin filter not charge and brake fluid has not been replaced.
The cabin filter and brake fluid still very black in colour. Despite clearly requesting a Major service and paying for a comprehensive maintenance package, the oversight by the car service center was unacceptable Not only did this inconvenience me, but this also raised concerns about the thoroughness of their work and level of attention to detail.
Moreover, the failure to charge the brakes fluid and cabin filter could potentially lead to performance issues and safety risk for my vehicle. I was disappointed by the lack of attention to such critical components of my car’s maintenance, while I appreciated the effort of the staff at Southend Halfords Auto Centre, I was Not Satisfied with how the issue was handled when I bought it to their attention. Their response lacked urgency and left much to be desired in terms of customer service.
I n the future, I hope that Southend Halfords Auto Center takes steps to improve their processes and ensure that all Major service are completed throughly and accurately.”
“They guy working there probably had his period he was swearing infront of me when a job came to him, stupid clown you been paid 9-5 if you don’t want to do get the hell out and go somewhere when there are people seeking for
This kind of job!”
“Halfords 75-81 Sumner Rd, Croydon CR0 3LN i want to thank you Mr Williams who has restored my faith in Halfords by sorting out my cars tyres by keeping me informed about the progress, total professionalism and respected as a customer very good service.”
