National Tyres and Autocare - a Halfords company Leppings Lane, Sheffield S6 1LR

"Ripped off. Car failed the MOT based on a worn break disc. Contacted and advised £279. We said they can proceed. When we picked the car up the invoice was £508. They didn't think they needed to say the full price, just the price per disc. In future, make sure you ask for the full price because they won't tell you. *Edit... The report states the other break disc they decided to change was an advisory. So they made the decision to change it and charge us anyway."

"I had a leaking valve stem on my front passenger tyre replaced at a different garage, but as they didn't have a new valve stem that was compatible with the tyre pressure sensor they recommended National Tyres to me as a garage who would have a compatible sensor, and ability to recode the sensor to the car. My first attempt to contact this garage on December 19 ended in failure as I sat listening to my call ringing for 2m15s with nobody answering. Fortunately on my second attempt to contact them later in the day they answered and I arranged to take my car in on December 22 for them to look at the problem. On December 22 I arrived at the garage at the arranged time, only to find they didn't have the correct valve stem available meaning the problem couldn't be fixed. The mechanic at the reception desk took a look at the old valve stem and tyre pressure monitor and told me they would order in one compatible with my Ford Fiesta and would phone me to arrange fitting it once it had arrived. Immediately after leaving on December 22 I received an email from National / Halfords stating a booking had been created for me to 'Check the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS)*' at 8:30am on December 23. I was confused by this as I had just been told they didn't have the part available and assumed it must have been their method for adding the job onto their booking system, and I was not available on that day or time to take my car in anyway. Due to the Christmas holiday period I didn't try to get in touch with the garage until January as I assumed that holiday closures / mail strikes etc might have delayed the arrival of the compatible valve stem. I phoned back up on January 4 2023, however as previously my call was not answered after ringing for a minute. I left it again for a few days to see if National would phone me as promised when I visited on December 22, but they did not contact me, so I called again on January 10. This time the call was answered, but I was told the staff member I was speaking to wasn't an expert on valve stems and that I should call back the following day when his manager would be available. I followed this advice and tried calling again today (January 11th), only to yet again find my call unanswered. I've now given up trying to chase this garage to complete the work I need doing on my car - their communication over the issue has been terrible and they are far too difficult to get in touch with over the phone. I'm only not giving them 1 star as when I did bring my car in on December 22 the staff I spoke to were polite and friendly (however they didn't follow up and call me as they promised they would do)."

"I had originally gone to a branch on Fitzwilliam Gate bit this looked derelict. I was confused as to why it was still coming up in results when 'googled'. I did an internet search and found this other branch on Leppings Lane, so I called to book a tyre replacement (one tyre) and was given a 5pm 'appointment'. I arrived at 4.50 and was told there were two cars 'in front' of me. Fine. I figured the guy was refering to tyre replacements also. This appears to not have been the case. I was there over an hour! I also paid more than expected for a budget tyre - £58.99 - though I recalled being quoted £53.99. I had seen one on their web site for £42.99, but was told this was for online orders only. The average I had seen at other companies was under £55. After waiting over an hour I just didn't have it in me to question it. I just wanted to leave! Edit: I asked the guy at Leppings Lane about Fitzwilliam Gate and was told that it 'should be open'. He said he was there recently. You wouldn't think so with the state it's in. It doesn't actually look like a place you would want to use."

"Had the car tracked here twice in the past. Always done either on the spot or within the hour. Fast service, always drives spot on after, staff are polite. Couldn't have used the usual garage because of the entrance so this place was ideal as it's level in and out, ideal for low vehicles."

"Similar experience to Joe N, booked car in for MOT at earliest date I could get start of last week. Cancelled me on the day 2 hours before test with no real explanation just dunno system overbooked us. Pushed and got a new appointment the following Monday for lunchtime, car dropped off but when returned MOT not done. Finally done later in the afternoon, but now without car as it failed, they can't fit it in for days. Car had done ~2000 miles since last MOT and ~3000 since last service at this location, no warning about brakes being close to replacement but now need doing. Location seems in meltdown, was full of unhappy customers and issues with bookings or stock to do work. Seems something has gone badly wrong since it became part of the Halfords Group. And before the owner comments, complaint already raised via your process, but surprise surprise not even the auto response your process states will be sent."