Formula One Autocentres - Bedford Reviews Summary

Customer Service

Pros:

• "I called these guys this morning for help Reece answered the phone and couldn't have been more accommodating!"
• "The tyres were fitted by a very helpful technician who had introduced himself as Glen."
• "Another man was at reception, Adam, he was as nice and professional as the person that morning."
• "The guys at Formula one had time to fit my car in urgently as I was in a bind."
• "Really good customer service."
• "The guys here were fantastic, rectifying a mistake from another garage! Full service and MOT also completed in great time."
• "Friendly, helpful staff. Waiting room was warm, comfortable and very hospitable; providing television, newspapers and hot drinks so it was a pleasant wait for the car to be finished."

Cons:

• "He was incredibly rude, and very thick, no customer service skills whatsoever, I had to explain that customers pay his wages and he hung up."
• "Slow, dismissive, uncommunicative. No customer service from any of the staff."
• "Firstly he hardly acknowledged me and when he did it was only to grunt."
• "Rude, Unprofessional, Dishonest."
• "They were very unhelpful and a little rude."
• "The customer service is very impersonal! They are so busy that they don’t even answer your hello."
• "Incredibly unhelpful and rude staff member."

Pricing and Charges

Pros:

• "Best price I could find anywhere for the tyres I wanted."
• "Good price, better than Costco."
• "Very good price for two Avon tyres."
• "Price was competitive- better than leading online sellers."
• "Good place to go for tyres and quoting good prices."

Cons:

• "Complete scam. I’d urge everybody to avoid these people. My friends, family and I have all been quoted stupid prices."
• "Avoid this place, crazy overpriced parts considering they buy in the cheapest they can get but charge you over premium prices for below standard parts."
• "I have been charged £254.92 + £50.98 VAT for brake and silencer parts that I can buy locally for £137.46 (inc VAT)."
• "I was charged £58 more than I was quoted over the phone for the work that needed carrying out."
• "Walked in expecting a bill of £88.00 and walked out with a bill for £650.00."
• "We signed up for what was described as a full service for £165... Total charge of £408!"
• "MOT cost me £650 to fix some electrics."

Efficiency and Timeliness

Pros:

• "The car is always done by the end of the day."
• "They also sorted out the new tyre pressure link to car very quickly."
• "Within half an hour of arriving the back tyres had been transferred to the front and I had 2 new tyres on the back (at my request) and the car was ready."
• "Had booked in for MOT on line. On arrival was seen very promptly. Told how long it would take. Received call to say all done much sooner than expected."

Cons:

• "Went there recently for 2 Tyres and was sat in the waiting room for 1hr and 50mins with my son."
• "Awful - Paid online for MOT & Tyres, and neither were done after 2hrs 40mins."
• "Been here a few times but every time I have had to wait around for my car to be done."
• "Took 3 hours to do a tyre change."
• "Arrived on time, one car in the bay, about 8 fitters doing nothing except for two of them who were dancing, needed two tyres and oil and filter change, they said it would take two hours."
• "A job that should have only taken 1 hour took 2 hours."
• "Left waiting in the waiting room for over 50 mins so went to check as other cars seemed to be going in before mine."

Professionalism and Honesty

Pros:

• "Even when they made a mistake with my last car, they openingly admitted it (for a air con refresh)."
• "They are clear and transparent if any extra work needs doing, the car is always done by the end of the day, prices are good."
• "Did MOT within hour timeframe they advised and additional work required was explained clearly by clearly knowledgable staff in a non patriotic way with prices."
• "Every step from the wheel removal, tyre repair and refit were explained carefully and I was made to feel welcome."

Cons:

• "Utterly useless and utterly untrustworthy (to the point of dangerous) people working at this garage. I will never go there again and will discourage everyone I know from going there!!!!"
• "Complete scam. I’d urge everybody to avoid these people. My friends, family and I have all been quoted stupid prices."
• "Do not use this depot at all costs. I mistakenly took my car here for front tyres. Tracking wasn't done properly."
• "If I could rate zero stars I would! Don’t use these guys folks."
• "They failed, of course, to inform me that the deadline for the MOT had been extended by the Government, exposing me pointlessly to the risk of getting infected by COVID19."
• "From this experience I can conclude that Formula 1 Autocentre Bedford is either incompetent, deceitful, or both."
• "Absolutely shocking that they've made all up these faults to try swindle you me into getting needless repairs to squeeze more cash out of me."