Kwik-Fit GB

Was concerned based on previous review, but shouldn’t have been.
Everything was done on time and they checked the wheel alignment for good measure.
Halim and the team were friendly and efficient.

Been here twice now. First time for a service, second time for a MOT. My experience was OK. Did the job — no complaints.
This place is crammed into a tiny plot on the corner of a traffic hell of Camden Road /​Holloway road.
The first time servicing was fine. They did the job fairly quickly (just add 30 mins or 1 hour to the stated completion time to ensure it will be ready) and the MOT was done in about an hour and a half.
I see Gaby D didn’t have a good experience here but maybe in my case my expectations were lowered based on the fact that previously I took my car to the car dealership in North London (won’t mention the name and isn’t on Unilocal anyway) which was such an infuriating experience with ‘customer service’ reps wearing suits who were completely incompetent and a waste of time, that Kwik fit was like a breath of fresh air in comparison.

Having spent the better part of the day in tears thanks to the fantastic customer service offered by Kwik Fit, I feel it’s my duty to warn the rest of you about this awful garage.
I booked an MOT test with Kwik Fit after being lured by their £30 online-​booking offer and probably because their ad campaigns had seeped into my subconscious after years of seeing friendly men in blue on the TV, fixing cars, making people happy and even playing the piano! The reality is very different. Not only can Kwik Fit employees not play the piano, they are rude, unhelpful and trap you with conflicting information.
Before I booked the test, I called Customer Services to ask what would happen if it failed the MOT — would I have to pay for a re-​test?
«No madam, not if you leave your car at the same depot to be fixed within 10 days. The re-​test is free.»
What they didn’t tell me is that they only fix certain problems… and lo and behold, my windscreen wiper motor is not one of them. If I’d known that, I would’ve gone to another garage (who, despite having a higher MOT cost, would’ve fixed my car and re-​tested for free). So I called Customer Services again to explain my predicament, hoping they’d apologise for misleading me and thinking they’d try to remedy the situation as I am clearly a dissatisfied customer.
And pigs will fly. Instead, ‘S’ in West Lothian unleashed a 20 minute tirade against me, effectively saying I was a liar and that no Kwik Fit employee would tell me they could fix any problem. She was so rude and unfriendly I was actually shaking on the phone to her, angry that I was being told off for something that wasn’t my fault and even more enraged that I was going to have to shell out a shedload of cash for my car to be fixed elsewhere then re-​tested.
I was given no apology and when I asked to speak to a Manager she said no-​one else was there.
Me: «You’re the only woman working the Kwik Fit Customer Service lines today?»
S: «Yes. You can come to Scotland and check if you want.»
Sarcasm. A sure-​fire way of keeping customers. Nice one. Luckily, when I went to collect my car, I noticed an independent garage next door. I went in and explained what had happened and they assured me that not only would they fix my wiper motor by the next day, they would personally take my car to Kwik Fit for it’s free re-​test (which I am entitled to if I bring it back within 2 days) and collect it afterwards, so I wouldn’t have to go back there.
This is a shortened version of the whole tearful rigmarole, and I have had one other bad experience with Kwik Fit to add into the equation. But what I am certain of is that I would rather run naked down Holloway Road in mid-​December than ever set foot in a Kwik Fit garage again. ‘STEER’ WELL CLEAR!
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Update Jan 2011: Just wanted to add, the garage that saved the day is called Holocene (Tel: 020 7607 3600). It’s literally right next to Kwik Fit and they are absolutely brilliant. Excellent customer service and really quick. I called them out of the blue yesterday as my battery had gone dead because of cold weather; they came out this morning and jump started my car for free! Amazing! (especially considering The AA wanted £90 to do it — yer ‘avin a larf sonnie jim.)