Halfords Autocentres Reviews 

It's a shame all the Autocentres are reviewed on a combined basis.

My experience with the Autocentre in Bletchley, Milton Keynes was a very good one. My car was booked in here by Cinch - don't ask!!

Emma at Halfords was friendly, professional and very helpful when Cinch weren't!

All in all, my experience of this Halfords Autocentre has been a positive one.

Visited Halfords Congleton on a Monday ,gave car registration in and was quoted to replace break pads front and rear.Booked the car in for Thursday that week and took the day off work.
As arranged dropped the car off at 10 am to be to.d they could fit the break pads but wouldn’t be able to replace the sensors …was very disappointing but as I had booked the day off agreed to continue.
2 hours later got a call to say they had quoted incorrectly and the pads fitted without the sensors was now twice the cost.
I collected the car and didn’t have any confidence in using Halfords Congleton …they seemed totally unorganised …book elsewhere !

Horrible customer service—do better, Halfords.

I have been a loyal customer who always takes my Mercedes to the Foss Islands (and nearby) Halfords Autocentres, but my latest experience was shocking. I needed my auxiliary battery replaced and was encouraged to buy it online, with the promise it would be swapped the same day. Instead, they admitted at the end of the day that they didn't even have the battery in stock, and they had mistakenly replaced a completely different battery that was perfectly fine.

Mistakes happen, and I was patient enough to deal with the hassle of returning the incorrect battery and sorting out the labor credits. However, the customer service follow-up was an absolute nightmare.

The agent I spoke with, who identified himself as "Alpha Victor, started shouting at me after asking a million questions without answering any of mine. When I asked for clarification, he doubled down on the yelling, telling me that I didn't understand. He then muted the call, only to come back and finally give me the answer he clearly had all along.

To be yelled at by staff after Halfords messed up my car from start to finish is unacceptable and I don't know how you expect customers to keep coming back. You lost at least one today

On visiting Halfords GU11EG as a service engineer recently, I would like to thank Matt the manager for opening up the centre early and his hard work to give me access to all the equipment I needed. Also thanks to his team. The workshop was clean and tidy
Mitch C

DO NOT BOOK ONLINE. As I've just done. I took the day off to get my brakes fixed and booked online, 1 week before the appointment. When I arrived at the garage I was told me that they couldn't do the job because they didn't have the parts. No apology, apparently my fault. I was informed that when you book online, stock is not checked and parts aren't ordered. There is no mention of this on the Halfords website. The garage couldn't even process a refund, I spent 30 minutes on the phone, with customer services, to get my money back. I will not use Halfords Autocentres again.

Got booked for changing one bulb, came to my appointment and was told that only trained person on EVs can do that so needed to be rebooked. After arriving for my appointment I was told my car was actually not booked in and I need to rebook again.

So been asked to come to times to the garage without any result sacrificing my working hours

The person on the reception explained thta I should have booked with him to avoid any problems

I rejected his kind offer to book again

I just had a quote for a clutch replacement on my tiny SuzukiAlto from Halfords it was £957 even Gemini my phone AI assistant called it "an absolute rip off" . I tried 3 other garages and their highest quote was £575.

Took my car in which had just passed its MOT for 4 new tyres. Was informed that the garage had sheared a wheel bolt trying to remove wheel but "they can't fix this" so I was sent away with a sheared nut to go find a garage myself! Seriously, they made no suggestion of keeping the car in their garage so they could fix it, instead I was sent away with a dangerous defect. What sort of garage specialises in wheels and tyres but won't sort out a broken nut which they broke in the first place? They were very keen for me to return to them to have the 4th tyre fitted. No wonder. The other three wheels had been overtorqued and the wheels way overinflated over safe pressure. I took the fourth tyre and the car to another local garage who did a great job for me.

And Halfords? If you open a complaint they just ignore you and close the complaint without telling you. Will NEVER, EVER set foot inside a Halfords auto centre again.

I feel for them from a Customer Services point of view.
I had some quite extensive front suspension & brake work done on my car using Halfords in Bell Green Retail Park. As always I was greated on arrival with a smile and a good morning from Ibrahim who manages the reception area and is 1st point of contact with the customer. Whilst I cannot fault the work done on my car the system itself is very much flawed when you try to make telephone contact to get updates on the work being carried out. I really do sympathise with Ibrahim and the team there as they are just firefighting the system that gives them little or no support and this no doubt has a negative reflection on customer feedback and/or any future returning business. In my opinion an organisation as big as Halfords should have a more streamline Customer Services contact system, perhaps it's something that should be centralised? But it certainly needs looking at because if it wasn't for guys like Ibrahim on the front line keeping a cool head and representing the company flawlessly then I'm sure that the customer perception would be a whole lot lower. If it wasn't for him and his friendly team I certainly wouldn't be using them again out of pure frustration. Come on Halfords look into this and show that your Customer Services is up there with your competitors and of course show a duty of care to your frontline staff who are doing a fantastic job under very tough situations!!
Looking at other reviews it appears that my observations are shared Nationwide so I won't be holding my breath for any significant changes anytime soon!!

Halfords Dock Street Dundee
Lies!
Asked for exhaust to be checked as suspected there was hole somewhere in system. Was told:
1) Complete system needs replacement;
Lie 1
2) Front pipe needs part only manufacturer can supply;
Lie 2
3) £1500 for work was true cost
Lie 3

Advice: Never trust Halfords Dock Street in Dundee. They tell lies.

If I could give a zero, I would. Paid £75 for an air con regas 2 weeks ago. Dropped my car off and they rang and said there was a hole in the condenser and it would cost £500 to replace and regas. Shopped around and found an independent garage that could do the job for £320. Dropped my car off this morning and the garage has just called and said they can’t find anything wrong with the condenser. They’re in the process of regassing now for £63. Avoid Halfords at all costs

Outstanding service at Halfords Castleford!
I brought my Golf GTI in for a service and couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment I arrived, the staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming — they really made me feel at ease. The service was completed exactly on time, and the prices were very reasonable.
What really stood out was the complimentary health report on my car — a brilliant touch that gave me real peace of mind. Special mention to Casey, who was absolutely amazing and went above and beyond. Will definitely be returning and wouldn't hesitate to recommend Halfords Castleford to anyone!

RUBBISH CUSTOMER SERVICES
NO RESPONSE BUT AS YOU CAN SEE THEY DON’T CARE FROM THERE REVIEWS
SAVE YOUR MKNEY AND GO ELSEWHERE
NO RESPONSE AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS
SECOND CHNACE NEVER AGAIN
DON’T BE FOOLED BY COSTS WE WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO RECTIFY THERE MISTAKES AS THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED
TYRES ON THE DRIVE, THEY MAY AS WELL HAVE LEFT THEM ON THE DRIVE

I booked my car in for an MOT 2 weeks with what I thought a reputable reliable company. Before it ran out. I booked with Halfords Cherry Tree Road and wrote the date in my diary. I then received a text a few days later to say it had been changed. I rang them 3 times until they answered for them to say not sure why it had changed ?? Questions?? but re booked it for another date. I write the new date in my diary as usual. The new date was approaching and yet again I got a text saying the time had changed. Yet again I rang back eventually they answered unsure to why it had changed. They offered me an aft appt which was inconvenient. Which is why I have had to get my car serviced elsewhere. Thank you for inconvenience. I wont ever e recommending Halfords or the customer service.

Absolute disgrace of a service. Took my car in - they claimed it failed on a ball joint I'd already had them replace 12 months prior. Only after I challenged it did they admit it was actually the lower arm instead.
Paid for the work and tracking, drove it away and immediately got a flashing DTC light, plus the car pulls and slides all over the road. Took it back 3 times - all I got was a dismissive "we've tried" and zero fix.
Had to then suggest for a Hunter alignment at National Tyres to try sort their mess, although somewhat better issue is not resolved - I also had a loud crank on start up immediately after collecting the car and now it won't start at all. AA and my independent mechanic both confirmed they knocked and damaged the starter motor wiring while working on it. No faults existed before it went in.
Reported it, asked for an area manager - promised a call, chased 5 TIMES, nothing but shrugs and zero accountability. Left me stranded 7 days with a car far worse off than when it arrived. Incompetent, unaccountable, useless. Now going legal - avoid this place like the plague.

Oh and a phone call later saying come in we will diagnose and review to we couldn’t have done anything…
These guys need a wakeup call based on all the reviews - im taking legal action !!!

Would have given a zero if I could have, Went to the Bolton branch for a engine management light on dash , they had my van 6 weeks and didn't even look at it. In that time I have spent £1500.00 0n van hire. Returned and demanded my van back these are absolute cowboys who should be closed down. Avoid at all costs.

Booked a major service at the Kilmarnock branch, which is in East Ayrshire.
When I arrived to drop the car off, I asked at the desk if they would swap the front and back wheels round, as I had just had two new tyres fitted to the rear wheels. It states on the website that they are supposed to take the wheels off to check the brakes during a major service. The man on the desk shook his head and said "no we don't", this was the first alarm bell. He was then corrected by his manager John.
I gave them the key and left.
The garage called a few hours later to say a spring on the suspension was broken and needed replacing. I asked them to replace both springs and damper at the same time as they were old and it would be better in the long run. They said it would cost thousands and would be unnecessary. I said just to leave it and contacted a few other garages for quotes. All the other garages quoted between £620 and £960 for the work.
Halfords eventually quoted £760 and I let them do the work as the car being MOT'd at the same time.
I had to bring the car back three days later for this. The service wasn't finished until after 4pm.
When I picked the car up I was shocked at the state they'd left it in. They had not protected the seats and carpets from there dirty oily overalls and boots. There was dirt and oily grime on the drivers seat and mat. So bad it was as if they had deliberately wiped their boots on the mats and seats. It was so bad I had to have the car fully professionally valeted afterwards. The car is still not fully clean and stinks like a Halfords Autocenter.
I will be complaining to their customer service and demanding a refund and certainly would take my car back there again.
The lesson is don't just blindly book a service at a garage
Because it's convenient or looks good on the website. Take the time to go there and meet the people who you will be entrusting your car to before leaving it with them.
You wouldn't leave your kids with strangers you met online, so why leave them your 🚗
Also, it says they change the brake fluid not just top it up. However this was not mentioned on the invoice of work carried out.
Also they don't give a detailed report of the supposed 75 checks they are meant to do on a major service.
Kwik fit is better. Any garage worth taking your car to should detail every check made and the exact condition of each component.
They finally fitted new front suspension, however they didn't even fit a protection kit (gaiters and bump stops)
When I complained about this, they again said it wasn't necessary. I could have insisted they redo the work but it would have meant rebooking yet another appointment and I didn't have time. So as they assured me it wasn't needed and they come with a two year warranty, they will have to replace the suspension fee if it fails. I will have a new car next year anyway. However they should have given me the option of protecting my new suspension when quoting the job.
Far from satisfied, won't use again.

Its incidents like this that reminds me why i avoid halfords autocentre like the plague. My brake light wasnt working , the unit had also fallen off due to it being 27yrs old and in middle of heatwave . I walked down to halfords autocentre and the guy on the desk was joking about wimnjng free lunch with the previous customers if they do a survery. When it was my turn I explained about my brake light and he said its not something they do as it could be the electrics and I need to go to somewhere that does electrics. I suggested it might need new bulb but he sat back in his chair , shook his head and said they cant help but if it is a bulb then go to the halfords store.
I went home and thr next day as im not car savy , with the help of google i fixed it myself. Unlike this place the halfords store were really helpful when i asked for a new bulb. They also tested my old bulb and said bulb was dead. I fitted it myself and fitted the brake housing back on. I now have my 3rd rear brake light working for £4.99.
Thanks for turning me away as I saved myself money !

Booked a car for a battery change, and paid extra £50 to be fitted and asked them beforehand that they will reprogram/code the new battery once they put in. Chris @garage said yes we do provide the service so my husband took the car in and asked the same question after the new battery was fitted and was advised yes we have done it. Couple of days later we got someone else to check the car and found that Halfords had not coded the new battery as per recommendation to the car and had to pay extra money to do this, for this reason the car battery lifespan would deteriorate faster. I will never go back to Halfords Autocentre Watford and would not recommend anyone to go there.

Bolton.
Staff. Service. Cycling all are absolutely useless. The online booking systems, can’t book what you want and staff talk to you like you don’t know what you’re talking about. When you have Cycle service trained staff who can’t bleed a break. And staff who don’t no what a break rotor is pathetic. So unhappy with this place. Booked in twice. Drive to store and staff have cancelled my appointment. So poor. I’ll never use this poor shop ever again. Stick to your budget bikes.