Formula One Autocentres - Basildon Reviews Summary

Customer Service

Pros:

• "Recommended by my daughter and have never looked back, such a great car place... have had many M O T s here and a few repairs which have always been reasonable and carried out very professionally and within a good time frame."
• "They are always polite and helpful."
• "F1 are very professional and explain all the things to you."
• "Really good experience at Formula One Autocentres. Friendly staff, very reasonably priced service and felt they went above and beyond in getting my car in top condition."
• "Amazing service. Had what we thought was a slow puncture...Resolved the issue, wished us a Merry Christmas and did it free of charge."
• "The employees were happy to help and professional."
• "I appreciated the fact that I was spoken to without being patronised as I have often found to be the case being a woman."

Cons:

• "Avoid this garage at all cost, screen wash just water. Did not check spark plugs."
• "This company has definitely gone down the pan with regards to their staff and service."
• "They refused to put things right."
• "Avoid at any cost."
• "Do not be fooled by the cheap MOT’s these offer!!!"
• "Instead of apologies he couldn’t wait to get me off the phone."
• "I had bad experience at Formula One. Watch out woman on your own, they will try to rip you off."

Value for Money

Pros:

• "Good online price for top quality tyre but much more expensive if you buy in store. So it pays to prebook your tyre and fitting appointment."
• "Tyres arrived early and they phoned to offer an earlier fitting if I wanted that."
• "Car was repaired in no time at all, for a reasonable price."
• "It’s so refreshing to see such honesty - so many suppliers put profit before customer service."
• "Our bill including the labour came to a quarter of the other quote."
• "They were the cheapest online for the make and type tyres that I needed."
• "With the discount it was the best online price available."

Cons:

• "Prompt service, but i feel not very good value for money, £700+ for a service and brake overhaul?"
• "Do not use this garage... Even charged me £100 for a tyre worth less than half."
• "Very disappointed with the service we had booked a time to have two tyres replaced we waited hour and a half before our car was done."
• "Very unhappy with their service. Changed all 4 tyres with continental brand, around 70£/piece, paid for every single option they had to balance, ultra fine balance and everything they got in connection with, to be sure the tyres will last for as much as possible, even the MOT was done at the same time, the most important bit THE ALIGNMENT, they screw up big time."
• "They take no blame and charge another £360 to fit new exhaust."
• "In total came to just under £600 which sounds a lot to me."
• "They said one of my rear brake shoes were binding and needed replacing... they still want an additional £178.00 out of me just a con too bump up their Christmas party fund."

Professionalism

Pros:

• "Had a full service done on my car done a couple off hundred miles and on way home floor pan came loose and dragged on floor."
• "They get parts in same or next day from their suppliers for nearly everything."
• "At Basildon branch I always get very good service and everything that needs to be done on my car is completed in one day."
• "Polite, helpful friendly fitter who showed me and explained fully about the tracking results."
• "Most honest guys I have ever met, looked at my BMW 3 Series today, had it on the ramp in seconds! and advised accordingly, even showed what needed doing!"
• "Called in today as exhaust was blowing, checked it while i waited, gave me a fixed cost & said they could order the parts & fit as soon as they arrived."
• "Dan was absolutely amazing. So helpful and so determined to get my wheel off when I’d lost the locking nut and one of the bolts was cross threaded."

Cons:

• "Be careful with formula 1 basildon they try the hard sell and from what I have seen are very dodgy you have been warned!!!"
• "Absolutely shocking Formula One diagnosed my sons car as an alternator needed replacing wanted to charge it over £300 put a new alternator on to find out it wasn’t the alternator an earth wire had come off."
• "Booked 4 tyres to be changed on my truck for Thursday 15th June. When I arrived I was told there was a 2 hour wait."
• "Not all staff were masks allow waiting room to overcrowd no social distancing."
• "Upon questioning them they tell me once its on the certificate they can't amend it which is a complete lie."
• "Its absolute shambles of a place. AVOID."
• "Worst place ever. Ordered 4x Goodyear tyres + tracking. Spent good 5 hours there as their machine was acting up so they could not set the tracking right."

Integrity

Pros:

• "Amazing Service!"
• "They are honest reliable kind and got my niece back to London on a Sunday who was stranded after a night on the town for less than half the price three other companies were charging."
• "I hate going to mechanics because I've felt they always claim unnecessary work is needed. Took my car here for MOT, they were quick, didn't recommend unnecessary work and all the mechanics I spoke with were lovely and friendly."
• "Always so polite, fantastic service. And they give you a list of options and prices before carrying out the work."
• "The manager was brilliant and very helpful whilst I battled Peugeot and won, all during my cancer treatment."
• "Would defo recommend to a friend!"
• "I only come to F1 autocentre for my car, there is one close to home in Basildon and another close to work in Brentwood, they are honest and really helpful."

Cons:

• "We believe all they saw was a young naive girl who didn’t have a clue & they would have happily taken this money from her if mum & dad had not of stepped in!"
• "Poor service after buying 2 tyres online. Turned up and they decided to ruin the locking wheel nut...Rude and no apology."
• "Staff were not aware of basic MOT rules, passing judgement on tyre fitment, whilst ironically stocking dozens of sets of cheap Chinese tyres!"
• "Billed for 5ltr of screen wash… I actually filled this up about a week ago?"
• "No mention of how much retest fee is. Not good being held captive!"
• "I am not convinced the car was out of alignment and think it was money for old rope looking to take advantage of peoples lack of knowledge."
• "Cowboys. DO NOT USE. Cost £700 for MOT and to apply clamp to exhaust as emissions failed. Just over a week exhaust falls off."

Efficiency

Pros:

• "Car was repaired in no time at all, for a reasonable price."
• "Really efficient, fast and friendly."
• "I arrived at 8.30 Saturday morning and my truck was taken in straight away and I decided to wait for them to be done."
• "Went in around 5:20pm for a wheel alignment and they battled against the clock to get the job done before closing."
• "Very good service and friendly people."
• "Booked and paid for 4 new tyres online. Fast and efficient service and good value for money."
• "Booked air con clean and regas online. Easy and convenient. Was called the next day to confirm a time slot."