Formula 1 Autocentre, Chesterfield

Took car in to F1 Autocentre in Bletchley for a part to be fitted, should have been 1 day, took 3 days. They did the cost net of VAT trick so the cost they quoted on phone was not the price paid i.e. plus 20% but by far much worst of all the car was damaged. Damage was not there when dropped off - you can't miss it, as it's like someone has used a cloth to wipe roof and scratched roof badly on drivers side - impossible to miss.

They did not accept any liability. Said they looked at all CCTV then admitted they didn't and it was of poor quality. Simply said they are not accepting liability quoting....

"there is nothing in or around our business or premises that could have caused the damage you are presenting on the roof of the car and that we don’t carry out a pre-drop off or delivery inspections of any cars left with us for work to be carried out before it is left with us. Therefore, I am not prepared to accept liability for the damage to the car, you have shown"

Can you image any garage that does NOT have in it items that could scratch a car including cloths with abrasive components to clean oil/grease of a car. How ridiculous does that sound as a reason! This car was also left with grease on it in other areas they hadn't cleaned.

As said, based on by experience, avoid at all costs.

It is now my mission to tell as many people as possible for as long as I can.

I went there to change this small pipe that was licking in the middle.

This pipet link the water bawl to the radiator.

They did not tell me the price, and when they checked the car, they broken the pipe intentionally from the water bawl

The pipe cost 38£ and they charge 144£ including labour

After a discussion they said it was up to me now, if I wanted change it.

Obviously was not possible to move the car as there was not water to refrigerated the radiator

Also when they have called me to collect the car, I went and the manager explained what he has done:

Change the pipe, connect the pipe ecc, , so I went to pay the invoice and the meantime the guy close the bonnet and put the car out of the garage.

When I came back at home, I opened the bonnet and the pipe was not connected, so there was not water in the bawl and I really risked burning the engine

I suppose, because of the complaint, they disconnected the pipe on purpose, while I was paying the invoice.

so I was lucky only because I did a double check

Please avoid them as they are DISONEST and DANGEROUS

In the header it states no names to be mentioned which is a good job as my review is on customer service. My partner and I visited f1 to book our car for m.o.t new tyres and new brakes (approximately £250 for brakes). We waited in the reception and continued to wait and waited a little more..... we were seen to enter the reception and my partner called out for service but 15mins later still nothing. Never have I had an issue with this garage but they appear to have gone down hill. If they don't want custome then they are going about it the right way because I was going to spend around £500 ish there but lack of service as made me think twice.

I have never written a review online before, however, in this case felt compelled to do so. If you were considering taking your vehicle to Formula One Autocentres, I would strongly suggest re-considering.

I took my car in for a service and for two new tyres, however, when picking up my vehicle I was told that my locking wheel nut key was broken which meant that they were unable to take my tyres off. I instantly took issue with this, as a) the key wasn't broken in the first instance and b) there were two locking wheel nuts missing from my left tyre when it was returned to me!

Despite this incriminating evidence, the man who sold me the service accused my of lying, and further told me that my car had gone into Formula One Autocentres like this. Needless to say, it hadn't.

Alongside this, I have had a continuous problem with my air-conditioning since the service ie. it doesn't work and rattles loudly; problems which miraculously began the day I got my car back.

All in all, this trip to Formula One Autocentres has cost me double what it should have, and left me pretty furious.

Horrendous service; rude, aggressive and dishonest. I went to a local, independent garage after this, who were fantastic in comparison - only highlighting how third-rate these guys really are. Use at your own risk!

Had my car in for a service today and used Formula 1 Chesterfield as I have done for my lasttwo services.

After leaving the car with them I got a call saying some other things needed attending too after their initial inspection. The guy reeled out the items and costs. Luckily for me I had a calculator working it all out as he gave me the bad news so I knew the sum total before he gave it me. It was £450. So it was not a great start to the day when the guy said "so it will be £550 including the service". Anyway we all make mistakes and we agreed on £450.

I picked the car up later in the day and once home decided to check a few things. Now I'm not saying iv'e been ripped off, I'll let you decide, but I'm sure new oil isn't black. Also break fluid level is exactly at the same level (just below min level) as a week ago. Yes I paid extra for break fluid flush and refill. But that could be coincidental I suppose and engine oil could blacken within ten miles, I ll let you decide. I shall be calling them in the morning to see what they think. I'm not saying dont use this garage, but I am saying check whats been done. But then again a lot of people don't or can't.

Booked to have 4 tyres fitted on daughters car she left car and returned later to be told front and back tracking was out and needed doing extra £44 which was funny has their was no uneaven wear on any of the tyres and why was the tracking checked when she wasn't asked or there also wheel was marked which manager wasn't bothered about young tyre fitter put right thou all in all very poor service and will be staying well away plenty more garages about to do business with

On my first visit I had 2x new front tyres,tracking adjusted and air re gassed, no problems all good with lifetime punture repair on the tyres which was the best quote from 3x garages

Next I needed 2x rear tyres so again got quotes and book my car with F1,however they removed the tyres & found they didn't keep my size in stock,strange as I told them what they were,they put my tyres back on & offered to get them,no good to me as that would be next weekend before I could get back,took it down the road, the same tyres much more expensive so the manager told me to take the F1 deal (in the meantime F1 had rung saying they needed my car back to check the tyre pressures?)went back to book the tyres & told they mis quoted & would be more ,cross I walked out back to the other garage,they told me that the wheel nuts were loose when they removed the NSR wheel! had tyres replaced but was very cross so rang the manager who said he would look into it & contact the other garage as he knew him

Worse still I rang today about a punture in my Life time punture front tyres,went down to be told"we dont sell those tyres anymore so the garantee is void" Err NO! had a long chat about how you carn't do that asked for the area managers no. & walked out in I will admit a very bad mood (the manager did offer to have a look after I asked for he no. I had lost it by then

Anyway I took it to another F1 in Mansfield & they meded it without question, I rang the area Manager who said the depot had contacted him,gave me a slightly different version backing his depot manager and saying I walked out & must be having a bad day! I pushed him on the punture & he said they had stopped offering that 2x years ago-they were only fitted 6 last year, I was v v cross but the attitude that i'm wrong is terrible customer service I will never return!!!