Halfords Autocentre Colchester Reviews Summary

Customer Service

Pros:

• "I was touched by the honesty, as I had gone in asking for a new battery and they could have easily upsold me."
• "Very helpful and efficient. Sometimes get the feeling MoT stations only carry out tests to generate more business; didn't get that here."
• "The staff is very friendly and helpful but the main reason for the 5* review is the fact that I was called back as they have charged me the wrong part."
• "Every time I come to the garage, Trish has been in reception. She always presents herself very professionally, she's very knowledgeable and she's extremely accommodating."
• "I was treated with respect, the communication was great, and the guy on the desk was fantastic."
• "Upon arrival at Halfords auto centre in Colchester I was greeted by Kieron who was very polite and helpful."
• "Staff were courteous, helpful, polite and explained everything in laymans terms."

Cons:

• "This place is terrible. I went there for an MOT because they had an offer on. This means they will try to make the money up in another way."
• "Utter joke. Booked my car in to have someone look at it to see if it needed work. Tried to charge me a £49.99 diagnostics fee. I refused."
• "The most unprofessional and incompetent garage I’ve seen after going in for an MOT."
• "Absolutely dire service, went in for two replacement front tyres."
• "Rude, aggressive, start work without permission and told me three different times to collect all of which he said the car was in bits."
• "Many staff are embarrassingly lazy, unskilled, and smugly rude."
• "The customer service in the Branch was absolutely awful."

Efficiency and Timeliness

Pros:

• "MOT failed on car unfortunately but got my car booked in the next day for the repairs, very friendly staff, and good prices."
• "I got my MOT at Halfords for the first time this year as my usual garage couldn’t fit me in, and the whole process was seamless."
• "Professional service for a major service for my car. It needed a little work doing, but was done quickly with great communication with me throughout."
• "Complete front calliper and rear brake drum inspection carried out with professionalism efficiency and courtesy."
• "They were helpful, kind & professional. They also managed to get the car fixed very quickly. I would definitely recommend."
• "The issue was diagnosed and parts ordered within ten minutes."
• "I received a brilliant service from the team at Halfords Brook St."

Cons:

• "At the end job has been done to a good standard but I collected car 3hours late."
• "It took Halfords 9 hours to service my car."
• "They told me that my car was booked in for a 1030 diagnosis, I phoned them 4 times and they still hadn’t checked the car at 1345."
• "Had the car as soon as they were open, it doesn't take 9 hours for mot and basic service."
• "Worst experience ever. Got an appointment for a simple oil change and filter at 14:45, while booking the appointment they said that it requires maximum of 30 to 45 minutes, when I reached there and after waiting for 20 minutes for the customer service it was again a worst and the women simply said that I need to leave the car for at least a couple of hours and that too not sure."
• "Booked van in for 8am, I phoned at 12.30 they hadn't looked at it, they phoned me back at 3pm to say they couldn't fix it and I should try a main dealer."
• "Booked my car in for a 9am appointment. Work was supposed to take 3/4 hours max. It didn’t get put on the ramp until 2pm."

Transparency and Honesty

Pros:

• "I think they need they need to make this clear on their website as it doesn't mention that at all."
• "All Covid guidelines were followed and I felt safe at all times."
• "So friendly and explained everything that needed to be done in language I could understand."
• "Staff are friendly and informative. I was talked through the repairs extensively and was shown the old parts that came off the car and why they needed repairing."
• "I was kept informed of all that needed doing and was warned how much it would cost."
• "The team at Halfords Autocentre were excellent, they were extremely accommodating."
• "Staff were friendly and efficient."

Cons:

• "I regret that I bought the motoring club subscription, I thought that Halfords was an honest company but I will never go again."
• "Still yet to be refunded for my inaccurate MOT that was done in March."
• "They take zero responsibility for their faulty service and tell you to 'GO AWAY!'"
• "When I went back to the garage to explain the manager Scott did not care."
• "Worst ever experience I had in my life time, they took my money and destroyed my car engine."
• "If you don't know anything about cars, they will grab the opportunity to take money from you! They will lie to make money."
• "AVOID AT ALL COSTS - INACCURATE MOT TESTING"