National Tyres and Autocare - Folkestone Reviews 131

Lied to me about my tyres being almost illegal to try and upsell a whole set. All tyres were completely legal and nowhere near needing to be replaced. Complete fabrication, Halfords style of selling unneeded repairs has rubbed off. I used a Halfords for an MOT a few years back and was told it needed over a thousand pounds of repairs to pass. Went to a different garage and the repairs were less than £100, this is the attitude that seems to have been taken on by national now which is a crying shame. Anyone who didn't know about tyres could easily have been duped into spending three times more than necessary. I won't be using again.

Can’t recommend this tyre centre highly enough, great price & amazingly helpful staff, especially Bonnie! I’d ordered the wrong size tyres they rectified it & had the correct size delivered asap. First class 10/10

Had a long standing issue with my brakes. After trying a number of garages, no one seemed capable of solving the problem. However Callum and his colleagues soon put it right, after some very good detective work. The charge was very reasonable and worth every penny. I will now book a full service here.
Everyone is very friendly and knows their job. Five stars!

When I have arrived at the branch they said (drumroll): they do not have my tyres (ordered via website day before, no problem with booking time slot and select branch by postcode, everything prepaid day before)! At the branch they seemed to be allright as the website allowed me to book this for me not them but they said they tried to contact me by phone before appointment time but I had no missed calls unfortunately. Wasted time and trust to this company as needed to book elswhere, waiting for refund, cancelling existing MOT related appointments and book new, also cancelling, rebooking personal appointments. For them is just to say "sorry" but for working, busy customer is too much waste of time, fuel to get there (17 miles one way) and booking new, rebooking, changing personal appontments with healthcare and childcare (to do it again elswere few days later once everything has been set to specific times and dates) etc.
I wouldn't recommend to anyone, sorry, but I have waisted time, money (17 miles one way as I wanted it next day, in two days I could have it anywhere, even in my town) and I had to make new appointments, book elswere (after refund, so I had to wait couple of days).
Totally unprofessional as I have booked and prepaid day before and system accepted size and type of tyres at specific postcode, promptly took my money so I assumed they have the tyres there.

Called and cancelled pre-booked MOT an hour before appointment and didn’t care less the inconvenience it caused. Totally unprofessional company, avoid!

Car was OK...no warning lights on dashboard. MOT done with advisories stating nail in rear tyre. Was told this would EVENTUALLY go flat. Came home noticed tyre pressure light was on now. Took it back and was told I needed TWO new tyres! Funny that ...nothing on the MOT which happened just days prior and I had only driven1.5 miles home. Paid for 2 new tyres ( I assumed 1 just MIGHT be due to the rear tyre.)..drove the car home and noticed tyre warning light was still on. Returned the next day to be advised that it was something to do with the electrics and that they couldn't deal with it and that I would have to take it to a specialist garage! Phoned CMC garage who said they would take a look. Discovered that the TPMS sensor had been damaged...nothing to do with the electronics at all! They fixed it for me. National tyres admitted liability and have set a refund in progress for the new sensor. However I have paid for 2 new tyres which weren't needed at the time ...seems to me they have sales targets to meet and I was targeted to help with this. I have written to their head office asking for a refund. If this isn't forthcoming I shall seek further legal advice as I feel that they have "taken me for a ride". This is very bad practice and will not lead to good or repeat customer service.MOT number is 4893 3706 9177.Tyre receipt number is
180/90086 61.

I haven't been to this tyre centre for 5 years. Last time I went the staff attitude and service was terrible.

Very different today; efficient, quick and job well done. In the past tyre centre have never even bothered to put the right pressure in for that car.

Every time customers came in they gave great advice too.

Well done.

Booked on line easy to do and good price. Time booking 11am arrived left car went into town within 20 minutes car was ready to collect!
Good service from Jordan & team At Folkestone Depot well done 👍

Love the booking on line. Great team, always helpful, do the job swiftly, fair price

Always have a great service from my local garage.

Easy online booking. Good selection of available tyres and fitting appointments.

Tryes wasn't available for my slotted time , a member phone me before I set off (good) and told me when he was expecting them . When tryers arrived they phoned me , I took me car in was taken straight in and fitted great job

I'm writing this on behalf of my 82 year old mum and it would be zero stars were that possible
Mum took her car here to have its MOT in February 2023. It passed without any advisories other than slight damage to a FRONT tyre
In May a tyre pressure light appeared on the dashboard and she took it back to have the tyres looked at. She had at that point only driven 345 miles since the MOT.
In addition to 2 new REAR tyres, she was informed over the phone that she needed an oil and filter service, new brake discs and pads for ALL 4 wheels, and replacement brake/parking bulbs for both rear brake lights. NONE OF THESE WERE PICKED UP WHEN THIS SAME GARAGE CONDUCTED THE MOT 3 MONTHS EARLIER.
As soon as brakes were mentioned, of course she agreed

When she told me and showed me the paperwork (attached) I visited the garage to complain. I was told that the brake pads were not in the advisory because only a visual inspection was required for an MOT and they were not worn to limit as per the manufacturers recommendation

So how was it that only 345 miles later the disks and pads for ALL four wheels needing replacing at once?
And why were the brake light bulbs missed?

Either the MOT was poorly conducted (unlikely due to regulations) or this garage have ripped off an old lady to the tune of nearly £1000.
National Tyres and Autocare Folkestone....which is it????

UPDATE. They have admitted that the brake pads and disks were advisory and not worn to limit so are now blaming my mother for agreeing to the work....like she knew any different.
Time for a Trading Standards intervention

Update 2
Reported this company to DVSA to investigate if the MOT was conducted properly. Also Trading Standards who suggest there is a case to answer under misleading and aggressive sales practice. On contacting Customer Service again to ask for information as to the formal complaints process I received this. So apparently the Regional Manager agrees it’s IO to conduct work that isn’t required and rip off vulnerable people in doing so. Note they point out that they are not obliged to take part in any remedial process…

“Further to your complaint logged.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us.

I can confirm that your case has followed our formal complaints handling procedure to date, of which I have outlined below for your reference.

All complaints are received and reviewed on an individual basis. The complaint is then referred over to the best placed team for resolve.

The local Centre will review each case with support from the Regional Support Manager;
Each case is assessed on its own merits and resolved as necessary;
The assessment includes a review of work carried out, and authorisation of repairs to rectify any issues caused by ourselves if required;
In the event the matter is not resolved, the Regional General Manager will review the case seeking guidance from the Customer Service team as necessary;
Should the matter remain unresolved, a case review is conducted to include representation from our Quality and Customer Service teams, to determine our final position.
Our Regional Manager for the Folkestone Autocentre has reviewed your case and advised we stand by the advice provided by our Centre Manager

Should you remain unsatisfied with the outcome of your case you have the option of referring your complaint to an Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") provider to deal with the same.

Halfords Autocentres is a member of an organisation which offers a dispute resolution service with the National Conciliation Service.

Full details can be found at www.nationalconciliationservice dot co dot Uk
Alternatively, you can refer the complaint to the EU Commission's Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Platform at www.odreuropedotcom

Please note that we are not obliged to participate in ADR”

Very helpful work carried out on time and very professionally.

Easy to use online booking.
Used this branch for my previous 2 MOT's.

I had a problem with my car battery and everything was clearly explained to me and the battery changed within minutes even if I didn't have an appointment! Professional and very polite staff. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommend.