Kwik Fit charges mum £360 for £11.65 puncture repair

Customer exposes national fast fit over 'element of sexism' before going to an independent

Kwik Fit charges mum £360 for £11.65 puncture repair
Image: Google Street View.

A 32-year-old teacher has claimed that a Glasgow branch of Kwik Fit tried to overcharge for what turned out to be a simple puncture repair, all because she is a woman.

Susie Henderson took her Renault Clio to Kwik Fit after suffering a slow puncture to the off side, front tyre.

The mother-of-one claims that the garage rang her half an hour after dropping the car off to say that the puncture couldn’t be fixed and that all four tyres would have to be replaced at a cost of £360.

After rejecting the offer, Susie then took her Clio to an independent garage that charged £11.65 for a slow puncture repair.

SMS Stirling has confirmed to GW that it undertook the repair, saving the woman £100’s.

‘Disgusted’

Susie said: “I can’t fully express how disgusted I am with the Kwik Fit team.

“I think the mechanics in Kwik Fit saw that I was a woman and thought they could quote me whatever they liked.

“There definitely could have been an element of sexism to it.”

She explained that technicians at Kwik Fit told her that there was a tear in one of the rear tyres which couldn’t be fixed and that because the nearside, front tyre was a winter tyre – but was actually an all-season tyre – all four would need to be replaced.

However, the independent garage checked all four tyres and charged her only £11.65 for the puncture repair, after no tear was found and told Susie that there was a few thousand miles left of wear.

bigstock-Customer-feeling-worried-about-898965051Related: Fast fit loses business to independent over ‘dodgy’ bill

“I work hard for my money and don’t like to be conned by a nationwide company who should be honest with their customers,” Susie added.

“They should be ashamed of themselves.

“I will never go to Kwik Fit again.”

A Kwik Fit spokesperson has said: “All our advice is given with the safety of the motorist uppermost in mind, whether they are male or female, young or old.

“A senior manager from our company has spoken with Ms Henderson and arranged to meet with her where a further re-inspection of her tyres will take place in order to assess if she was given the correct advice by our staff.”

Has a customer of yours been exploited by a national fast fit garage? Leave your comments and share you stories below or email [email protected].

53 Comments

  1. Wow so they are at it again? Well no surprise there. That’s why independents have to work so hard and be as honest as we can.

    Reply
  2. Wow so they are at it again? Well no surprise there. That’s why independents have to work so hard and be as honest as we can.

    Reply
  3. A few years back I had a very concerned young lady customer in. She had just been to a local fast -fit chain outlet for a tyre and they told her she urgently needed rear shock absorbers. When she said that she would rather go to her own garage they told her that she would be taking her life in her hands to drive the 8 miles to me. I am not exagerrating, that is what they told her. The problem? The shock absorber shrouds had some surface corrosion on them. That was it. No leaks, no loss of damping effect, no wear in the mounting bushes, the shrouds hadn’t even rusted through, no problem whatsoever.

    Reply
    • I worked for these for years the story’s I could tell ya

      Reply
  4. A few years back I had a very concerned young lady customer in. She had just been to a local fast -fit chain outlet for a tyre and they told her she urgently needed rear shock absorbers. When she said that she would rather go to her own garage they told her that she would be taking her life in her hands to drive the 8 miles to me. I am not exagerrating, that is what they told her. The problem? The shock absorber shrouds had some surface corrosion on them. That was it. No leaks, no loss of damping effect, no wear in the mounting bushes, the shrouds hadn’t even rusted through, no problem whatsoever.

    Reply
    • I worked for these for years the story’s I could tell ya

      Reply
  5. Please, they’re not mechanics, it gives the rest of us a bad name!

    Reply
    • I have just left kwik fit as I was on a training course all about transparency with customers, what a load of crap, unrealistic targets, really rubbish salary, you could go over target by 2k and still get moaned at for not selling enough tyre savers. You are told not to sell them then get moaned at to sell them, worse master of my life.

      Reply
  6. Please, they’re not mechanics, it gives the rest of us a bad name!

    Reply
    • I have just left kwik fit as I was on a training course all about transparency with customers, what a load of crap, unrealistic targets, really rubbish salary, you could go over target by 2k and still get moaned at for not selling enough tyre savers. You are told not to sell them then get moaned at to sell them, worse master of my life.

      Reply
  7. Main dealers are just as bad if not worse! We get customers all the time coming in saying dealers have told them their car is dangerous when there is nothing wrong with it!

    Reply
  8. Main dealers are just as bad if not worse! We get customers all the time coming in saying dealers have told them their car is dangerous when there is nothing wrong with it!

    Reply
  9. A local kwik fit told a friend of mine he needed a set of rear discs, set of rear pads, set of rear calipers and a pair of handbrake cables, after he complained of a sticking brake on one side. He brought it to me and all it needed was one rear cable at £18. Everything else was fine, didn’t even need pads as he noticed early enough before anything else got damaged. I even verniered the rear discs just to prove they were nowhere near minimum thickness and not scored or rusty.

    Reply
  10. A local kwik fit told a friend of mine he needed a set of rear discs, set of rear pads, set of rear calipers and a pair of handbrake cables, after he complained of a sticking brake on one side. He brought it to me and all it needed was one rear cable at £18. Everything else was fine, didn’t even need pads as he noticed early enough before anything else got damaged. I even verniered the rear discs just to prove they were nowhere near minimum thickness and not scored or rusty.

    Reply
  11. I was ripped off by kwikfit insurance last month, it has gone up from £30 month to £105 a month.

    Reply
  12. I was ripped off by kwikfit insurance last month, it has gone up from £30 month to £105 a month.

    Reply
  13. A customer of mine was told by kwik fit after their car failed on a broken spring that it was illegal for them to drive the car away from them.

    Reply
    • That’s actually true as now the person is aware that the vehicle is defective and you are not legally allowed to knowingly drive a defective vehicle.

      Reply
  14. A customer of mine was told by kwik fit after their car failed on a broken spring that it was illegal for them to drive the car away from them.

    Reply
    • That’s actually true as now the person is aware that the vehicle is defective and you are not legally allowed to knowingly drive a defective vehicle.

      Reply
  15. I worked for kwik fit autocentres for over three years. In this time I was told by centre management to try and push sales as much as I could so the centre could hit targets and then a bonus was paid. The fault with the bonus system is that you are made to lie so you can achieve a bonus which is not right as I witnessed many people have work done that never needed attention in the first place. I agree when they see an old person or a woman they try what I call scare tactics, to frighten them so repairs can be sold at a much higher price. I was sacked as I didn’t believe that ripping people off was not right. I now work for myself and have many women coming in for work as I believe if you are honest they will return when work is needed.
    Scrap your bonus and start paying your staff a proper wage !!!!

    Reply
  16. I worked for kwik fit autocentres for over three years. In this time I was told by centre management to try and push sales as much as I could so the centre could hit targets and then a bonus was paid. The fault with the bonus system is that you are made to lie so you can achieve a bonus which is not right as I witnessed many people have work done that never needed attention in the first place. I agree when they see an old person or a woman they try what I call scare tactics, to frighten them so repairs can be sold at a much higher price. I was sacked as I didn’t believe that ripping people off was not right. I now work for myself and have many women coming in for work as I believe if you are honest they will return when work is needed.
    Scrap your bonus and start paying your staff a proper wage !!!!

    Reply
  17. We have recently carried out MOT tests on two vehicles Kwik Fit had failed on emissions, quoting over £600 for one and over £800 for the other for exhausts and catalysts, both passed comfortably.

    Reply
  18. We have recently carried out MOT tests on two vehicles Kwik Fit had failed on emissions, quoting over £600 for one and over £800 for the other for exhausts and catalysts, both passed comfortably.

    Reply
  19. I worked for a Halfords autocentre worst decision of my life again had targets ridiculous ones my manager was trying to get me to unplug exhaust sensors off cars to make some upsale.

    Reply
  20. I worked for a Halfords autocentre worst decision of my life again had targets ridiculous ones my manager was trying to get me to unplug exhaust sensors off cars to make some upsale.

    Reply
  21. To be honest. I’m working for Kwik Fit and remember every Kwik Fit is different. If you doing stuff just to make money this is going to happen, but in my centre we are looking after every customer taking him to the work shop and showing them the good part, worn part and finally the customer part. Lying is poor and just showing how desperate they are to make money for their OPS managers… If you don’t buy into that stuff from OPS and you trying to work like that KF garage is your own garage. You don’t have to lie and sell unnecessary jobs. KF is just a LOGO on a garage but it is your decision and effort how people think about you…
    Peace

    Reply
  22. To be honest. I’m working for Kwik Fit and remember every Kwik Fit is different. If you doing stuff just to make money this is going to happen, but in my centre we are looking after every customer taking him to the work shop and showing them the good part, worn part and finally the customer part. Lying is poor and just showing how desperate they are to make money for their OPS managers… If you don’t buy into that stuff from OPS and you trying to work like that KF garage is your own garage. You don’t have to lie and sell unnecessary jobs. KF is just a LOGO on a garage but it is your decision and effort how people think about you…
    Peace

    Reply
  23. I went to QuikFit in Kingston when I had a punctured tyre. Another one was pretty worn too so I asked for a quote for two basic range tyres. I had seen how much they were on the QuikFit website. When I went to the branch, instead of quoting me the price online (£104) he quoted me £280! Then suggested I get all done as they were all illegal! Went straight to an independent, told me I needed only two, and put them on within half an hour. £75! Will never be using this QuikFit crooks again!

    Reply
  24. I went to QuikFit in Kingston when I had a punctured tyre. Another one was pretty worn too so I asked for a quote for two basic range tyres. I had seen how much they were on the QuikFit website. When I went to the branch, instead of quoting me the price online (£104) he quoted me £280! Then suggested I get all done as they were all illegal! Went straight to an independent, told me I needed only two, and put them on within half an hour. £75! Will never be using this QuikFit crooks again!

    Reply
  25. I worked for kwikfit for 5 years this is nothing compaired to what i have seen its all abouts targets …. Worst company ever to use

    Reply
  26. I worked for kwikfit for 5 years this is nothing compaired to what i have seen its all abouts targets …. Worst company ever to use

    Reply
  27. Where are the trading standards inspectors?

    Reply
  28. Where are the trading standards inspectors?

    Reply
  29. Kwik fit don’t discriminate based on gender, they rip everybody off regardless! 😉

    Reply
  30. Kwik fit don’t discriminate based on gender, they rip everybody off regardless! 😉

    Reply
  31. The old saying goes “can’t get thicker than a kwik-fit fitter”.

    Reply
  32. The old saying goes “can’t get thicker than a kwik-fit fitter”.

    Reply
  33. I had a spring go on my car and went to KF who wanted £187 for two springs fitted that was with managers discount, I fitted them myself cost £18.50.

    Reply
  34. I had a spring go on my car and went to KF who wanted £187 for two springs fitted that was with managers discount, I fitted them myself cost £18.50.

    Reply
  35. Years ago they attempted to rip off my mother by telling her she needed new brakes on her car. They had just been replaced at a reputable garage a month previous. They are nothing more than petty con artists.

    Reply
  36. Years ago they attempted to rip off my mother by telling her she needed new brakes on her car. They had just been replaced at a reputable garage a month previous. They are nothing more than petty con artists.

    Reply
  37. All I can say is if the public went and stuck to using independent family businesses they would get a better service, save money and only pay for what they need to have done but for some reason they get sucked in by their clever marketing techniques as kwik fit, Halfords etc. Do I mean they offer brakes for life, come on that is the worst one I have ever seen so you honestly believe that after paying for a set of brake pads and maybe discs as long as you use Halfords they will offer a life time guarantee well I would like to see a set of brake pads and discs that last forever please and while your there please get me some! The public needs to see through these marketing ploys and stop thinking that you are getting something for nothing, the world is not made like, that nothing is for nothing and it never will be!

    Reply
  38. All I can say is if the public went and stuck to using independent family businesses they would get a better service, save money and only pay for what they need to have done but for some reason they get sucked in by their clever marketing techniques as kwik fit, Halfords etc. Do I mean they offer brakes for life, come on that is the worst one I have ever seen so you honestly believe that after paying for a set of brake pads and maybe discs as long as you use Halfords they will offer a life time guarantee well I would like to see a set of brake pads and discs that last forever please and while your there please get me some! The public needs to see through these marketing ploys and stop thinking that you are getting something for nothing, the world is not made like, that nothing is for nothing and it never will be!

    Reply
  39. It’s basically down to peoples perception of what they are getting. Fast fits, you drive in and you get a nice waiting room tv/drinks machine etc. Often a glib reception, many of the Facebook generation fall for this facade and are accordingly trounced.
    We all have horror stories about fast fits, but most of them are still operating. Different size front brake disks fitted, wrong size front brake disks fitted, people told they need a complete new exhaust fitted when only actually requiring a clamp, then there’s the old ‘your shock absorbers are leaking’.

    One Friday afternoon we fitted a set of brake pads to a regular customer’s Ford Fiesta while he waited. On the following Monday he had a puncture and called in a local fast fit for repair who duly installed in waiting room he was approached by a “technician” to be told he needed two front tyres/shock absorbers were leaking and by the way your front brake pads are on the wear limit. It rung alarm bells because he was there when we fitted the pads, which apparently had worn out in twenty miles!!!

    He declined and had one tyre fitted, we will never know if the tyre could have been repaired. If they had not been so greedy he would maybe have paid for unnecessary work, most independent mechanics could fill a decent book with similar tales but these places are mostly still operating.

    Reply
  40. It’s basically down to peoples perception of what they are getting. Fast fits, you drive in and you get a nice waiting room tv/drinks machine etc. Often a glib reception, many of the Facebook generation fall for this facade and are accordingly trounced.
    We all have horror stories about fast fits, but most of them are still operating. Different size front brake disks fitted, wrong size front brake disks fitted, people told they need a complete new exhaust fitted when only actually requiring a clamp, then there’s the old ‘your shock absorbers are leaking’.

    One Friday afternoon we fitted a set of brake pads to a regular customer’s Ford Fiesta while he waited. On the following Monday he had a puncture and called in a local fast fit for repair who duly installed in waiting room he was approached by a “technician” to be told he needed two front tyres/shock absorbers were leaking and by the way your front brake pads are on the wear limit. It rung alarm bells because he was there when we fitted the pads, which apparently had worn out in twenty miles!!!

    He declined and had one tyre fitted, we will never know if the tyre could have been repaired. If they had not been so greedy he would maybe have paid for unnecessary work, most independent mechanics could fill a decent book with similar tales but these places are mostly still operating.

    Reply
  41. Wish I had read this before I put my Volvo in for rear disc pads. Ended up with having new discs, could not get discs off so had to go to another branch only to be told hand break had to be fixed as well. Total cost was £195 but all I wanted was rear disc pads replaced. Thinking back I know I was scammed. So be warned keep away.

    Reply
    • Volvo use a disk and drum. The hand brake drum is inside the disk. If the disk was stuck it probably damaged the hand brake shoes.
      You were probably over charged but it sounds feasible you needed the work doing.

      Reply
  42. Wish I had read this before I put my Volvo in for rear disc pads. Ended up with having new discs, could not get discs off so had to go to another branch only to be told hand break had to be fixed as well. Total cost was £195 but all I wanted was rear disc pads replaced. Thinking back I know I was scammed. So be warned keep away.

    Reply
    • Volvo use a disk and drum. The hand brake drum is inside the disk. If the disk was stuck it probably damaged the hand brake shoes.
      You were probably over charged but it sounds feasible you needed the work doing.

      Reply
  43. Went to Kwit fit this morning with a slow puncture that was told it couldn’t be repaired and would need to get new tyres but luckly while calling a friend to tell him i would be late he advised me to go to his local garage instead. Conclusion . kwit fit £180 2 tyres and work. Local garage 20£ tip included . kiwkfit avoid like the plague! Thief’s!

    Reply
  44. Good to read such a blog. I also went through such incident like this. I recently had a fantastic experience at a local garage. When I got a puncture, they not only repaired it promptly but also gave me a detailed breakdown of the cost. The honesty and fair pricing were a breath of fresh air. It’s reassuring to know that there are still great, customer-centric mechanics out there, which makes me hopeful that stories like the one in this post can become a rarity.

    Reply
  45. Oh, poor Susie! Kwik Fit tried to charge her a crazy £360 for a simple puncture. She found a local garage that fixed it for just £11.65. Feels like Kwik Fit saw her and saw an opportunity to overcharge. Trust in big companies shattered. Hope Kwik Fit realizes, apologizes, and treats everyone fairly. 🤞💔

    Reply

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