Complete rip-off merchants - how many more bad reviews can one place get?? (Nationwide Autocenters)

Member Name: MissTierney

Product:	Nationwide Autocenters
Date:	02/06/09 (280 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: I think they thought they could take advantage of me !

Disadvantages: Massively over-priced. Untrustworthy.

I used the Sutton Coldfield parade (WEST MIDLANDS) branch of Nationwide Autocentres last month for my MOT.

I received a £20 off voucher in the post, it was local, and my MOT was due, so i thought i would try this garage for the first time.
I dropped my car off and they said they'd call when it was ready.
I received a call a few hours later from the mechanic who quickly told me "its not good news"
My rear coil spring had snapped and therefore needed to be replaced which would cost me £395 and the brake pads would cost £95. I told them i couldn't afford to have the work done and straight away he was coming down in price. I didn't even ask, yet within about 30 seconds his quote for the spring had gone down to £340. I'm sure he thought i'd see it as him doing me a favour, but it only confirmed to me he could have very well mugged me of £55 (at least).

Maybe some would argue that bartering down is part of the experience you would/should expect. But i dont agree. I'd much rather give the work to an honest person who charges a fair price for a fair job.

Picking up my car later on, the mechanic asked if i had found somewhere cheaper. I said "no", (i was planning on getting a friend to give it a look over) to which he replied "You probably will you know"
What more confirmation of over-charging do you need?

I bought the parts (both rear springs and pads) for under £100 and had my friend fit them for free.
He's not a mechanic and it took him around 3 hours to fit it all. He thought it would probably have taken 2 hours for a trained mechanic to do.
I'm not sure what the mechanics' hourly rate is at Nationwide, but at a high-end hourly rate of £60ph, and with them most probably being able to get parts at a discount, the very most that this job should have cost is £220. Yet they were asking for £490 - More than double. A joke.

Take what you will from this report but i certainly won't be using them again.

Summary: Dont be tempted by the money off vouchers for MOT, they'll get it back and more!