Formula One Autocentres - ST Albans Reviews 

You’d think with claims of being “family owned” on their website, they’d take pride in their service. My experience has been quite the opposite.

I was quoted £700 worth of repair work following an MOT carried out there. Turns out, none of that work was actually required. They claimed there were serious shock absorber leaks. However there was nothing wrong with them. At all. The absorbers were subsequently checked and verified as fine by the official vehicle dealership. The dealership did identify and repair an MOT failing issue which was never picked up by Formula One.

Formula One continue to challenge my version of events, rather than offer the type of service I’d expect from a “family” business. This is despite evidence provided from the dealership to substantiate my complaint.

I can’t possibly recommend this business. In the meantime, I’m off to the ombudsman and small claims court.

Turned up on time for mot and 4 new tyres to be told no mot due to sickness was told should have been rung and told, was not contacted at all. As I am self employed I was hoping to carry on working when van finished what I had to do was then try and find a mot station. So a job that should have taken at the most 3hrs took all day costing me money. One good thing the tyres were done. This was at Hatfild branch

Appalling service. I have given Formula One St. Albans the benefit of the doubt after they have experienced a shocking couple of years with turnover of Managers, Covid etc etc and as they had worked hard on my husband's car and my previous car. For the last two years I have booked MOTs with them and then had to call them at 4pm to find out they hadn't even looked at the car. On one occasion I rang them again the next day to find out it had failed. Appalling customer service that was blamed on staff shortages.
However, using a discount code from an email I booked my MOT for today back in March 2021. I received the confirmation but then had to change the date for the MOT as the car and MOT expiry date changed. They were helpful here (well, not the online office team who actually managed to wipe the booking off the system). This MOT was added back to the system by the manager at St. Albans.
I dropped the car in last night for its MOT today and by 3pm and with three children I wondered how it was going. No phone call or update from them. Again, they haven't even bothered to look at the car! They have just one MOT engineer and he is off. Didn't bother to let me know or help me rearrange. They suggested another local garage may help!
I am now getting a refund and will not use them again. Good mechanics but poorly managed and understaffed garage and non-existent customer service skills.
Edited to update. It is now the 12th of November. Despite apologies and providing all the information required of me I am still waiting for the refund of the MOT THEY failed to supply. This was promised to me within 7 working days from the 12th of OCTOBER. Has not helped my opinion of them in the slightest. 0 from me.