Servicing Stop has a rating of 1.1 stars from 268 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. Reviewers complaining about Servicing Stop most frequently mention full service, local garage, and phone call problems. Servicing Stop ranks 386th among Auto Repair sites.
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I put 5 star to warn people who think the 5 stars maybe genuine. There not. Everyone gets ripped off, just look at the reviews. While its being serviced you get a call from a London number telling you that you must have the brake fluid changed the engine flushed to clear the carbon build up? Oil has to be a 'special' oil etc etc. They want hundreds of pounds more with an underlying threat that you won't get your car back if it isn't done. Meanwhile the garage servicing the car have absolutely no idea what is going on. It's daylight robbery and should be stopped.
Having been pressured into paying for work to be done to my car after failing the MOT and service I booked with servicing plop, (I was told it was too dangerous to move from the forecourt), I paid £1700. Turns out that the majority of work I was charged for did not take place. An independent mechanic checked it over for me and took photos. I paid this much basically for 2 tyres! I've reported them to trading standards and will take them to court for theft if my refund is not processed within 7 days
Booked service and MOT and paid online. No contact on day of pick up, 3 phone calls and no one spoke at 11.30, tried all the e-mail and telephone numbers supplied - no joy. Contacted by someone at 1.30, no apology but offering a date the following week, I cancelled and asked for a refund - still waiting. I must learn to read reviews first and if it seems to good to be true it usually is!
Full service paid for today checklist ticked on each box. Work not checked or carried out. Reason for booking in today was 1 head lamp out and 1 wiper blade hanging off. Despite ticking checklist my car was returned with both faults still there. £340 paid for work I will need verified as done tomorrow and Refund expected for charging me a full service check when clearly not done. Trading standards will be informed. Dangerous faults not checked or repaired reference number *******. Rogue traders!
The driver arrived 45' late to collect the car. In the early afternoon, they asked for £240 of extra on top of the £100 agreed for the job, which I rejected (but had to pay £24.99 extra + VAT for the "higher grade engine oil", otherwise they would not have released the car...). They even tried to trick me into a prepaid next year's service upon checkout when I was invited to pay the extra amount for the oil. And then the garage (subcontractor) called me at 17:50 to tell me that they would not be available to bring the car back since they had been advised too late by Servicing Stop to release the car and all drivers were already gone. Epic fail. One thing is certain: I'll stop using their service... Sorry Servicing Stop. How is it even possible that companies like that are still in business in 2021? It's not the first time I'm disappointed by what seemed at first to be a great option. We should always read reviews... hopefully this one will help. Avoid this service.
This company are known scammers, garages do not wish to be associated with them.
I paid £94 online for a MOT and service, collect and drop off. After a mix up with dates they collected my car but refused to return it until I'd paid £135.59 extra for a engine flush, brake fluid and oil change. They basically held my car ransom even after I paid. Luckily I found the garage holding my car and they personally returned it which am very grateful for. They informed me that a the oil change was part of the service, a flush had not been requested and that they had told SS they were unable to complete the brake fluid so this work was not completed.
Since heard so many bad things about this company, please please save yourself the worry and stress. I had to report my car as stolen and heard nothing back from SS at all. Just glad the garage were helpful unlike some unlucky customers I got off lightly
What a joke just paid over £780.85 for service and mot, Front break pads replacing which did not need doing and a light bulb changing. I had already paid £103 up front for a deal 40% off Mot and Service and 25% if I paid up front. Giving a grand total of £ £883.85.
I had the work done because I thought he said it would be an extra 60 something pounds.
When I tried to pay, it was an extra £780.85.They put £20 vat on every item regardless of cost. Please be careful. Its all about money, not what actually needs done on your car.
They had sent me a text message. I texted back to ask them to call me as it was too much money.
I then emailed, no reply. I then went onto there messaging service. They said could not get hold of garage and an advisor would call me shortly. No-one called.
Frantic with worry I finally paid, because I needed my car back.
Have wrote a formal complaint on email.
Date of experience: 20 December
Tip for consumers:
Its all about the money not the car....you just want an mot and service...not all the other things like an engine flush fir £99 plus £20 vat
Products used:
Mot and service
Beware, their quote online does not include hidden charges and when you try to pay, the hidden charges are then listed. They do not provide Customer Service by phone but only via email and online chat which is not for purpose. List of work they suggested does not required to be done because the MOT done a month ago did not pick up such defects and cost of repair is sky high. So, void this company as they not fit for purpose.
Just now
NEW
Car was picked up and dropped off on time which is what the one star is for as it was down hill from there on. I received a call from a London number a little while later and Dean read out a list of extra things that needed doing totalling £870. I queried why some things were so expensive eg new front brake pads £280 when I had been quoted £112 by National Tyres, but didn't really get a straight answer. Was made to feel that I would not get my car back until the work was done and paid for. To add insult to injury, after my car was returned I received a phone call from the London number( I live in Bedfordshire) trying to get me to sign up to their premium scheme(scam) which for £15 a month my next service would be much cheaper. He said had I been a member today I would only have paid roughly half of what I did. I told him that I was not interested as I felt that some of the costs today were extortionate and that some of the jobs didn't even need doing. He ended the call saying he would call me again Monday in case I had changed my mind about the premium plan. I told him not to bother but he insisted he is going to call. Won't be answering my phone! Won't be using the company ever again. I feel stupid for not having read any reviews before I used them.
Do not use this company! Wish I had read other reviews first. The quoted price will be the best around but then they will charge extra for required spec oil and any other extras they can get out of you eg brake fluid etc. These extras then cost double the price you can have them done at a dealership! Threatened with putting this down as a part service then! This is how they make their money, lesson learnt here, hope others read this review before being sucked in. To finish off car was returned really late in the day and was no way of contacting them for any information. Avoid!
Very dodgy business practices - advertised low prices quickly multiplies with disgustingly over priced extras that the garage hasn't even suggested need doing. (the garage told me so) Have spent over 3 months trying to get my complaint escalated - they don't follow their own complaints process listed on their website and they're not affiliated with ADRgroup for escalated complaints (I contacted ADRgroup) as they also state on their website.
A few of us have started a facebook group to compile our very similar experiences and see how we bring this further together. Search for 'Servicing Stop LTD - Scam - Help".
These crooks are robbing unsuspecting people blind and they need investigated and stopped. They've also been paying people for reviews which is against trustpilot policy which trustpilot is now investigating. They offered me a discount to give one.
Tip for consumers:
AVOID!!
This company took my money. My car was never collected. I've had no response from either texts or emails requesting the return of my money. Nothing! Scammers. Avoid at all costs. Reading reviews on Facebook I feel I got off lightly compared to some poor people
They only got one star because 0 isn't an option. Vehicle collected late causing delays to my working day. Massively overpriced repairs. (In fairness this is the second time I have been forced to use them and on both occasions bills have been several hundred pounds more than for every other service) Still waiting for vehicle to be returned. Been waiting hours for a response/ A shambolic rip off.
Products used:
Full service
Absolute con. They trick the garage into thinking they'll be loads of work that can be upsold. They pay the garages a lot less than their normal hourly rate, then have the cheek to take a 17% admin fee. I'm suprised any of their "network of garages" are still in business. Their idea of a main service is an Oil change and 77 point check. That's a minor service at best. Please steer clear of these type of companies. Please go direct to your local garages, get recommendations by word of mouth. You are far less likely to get ripped off by a garage "having" to find other work just to make ends meet because another company is forcing them to.
Absolutely dreadful service!
I am writing this stranded on the wrong side of town because my car was picked up this morning for MOT and it hasn't been returned to me.
I honestly don't know what to do!
I cannot rate the service as they never even collected my car on the agreed date despite them sending numerous emails and texts promising to. Could not get through to customer service line so cancelled and made alternative arrangements. Still no contact from them two days later so I tried again. Thought I would beat the system by picking the option for premium customers, took 45 minutes to answer. Was promised a refund in the next five days but it took them seven to even process it then another five to come through. DO NOT USE. Only getting one star because I cannot give zero.
They hook you in by offering what looks like a cheap service. They take the car away and then come up with a list of other things that your car 'needs' doing. I just wanted a standard service as I'm going on a long car journey this weekend, my car wasn't even in for an MOT.
Then the prices they quote for the 'work' are absolutely ridiculous, £129 plus VAT to change the brake fluid for instance.
I agreed for the cost to be spread over 6 months and am thinking of contacting my bank to get the rest of the payments stopped. This is just a scam.
An intoxicated driver collect my jaguar for full service. Garage called and said it needed suspention parts? Two days after an mot I think not. Then when car was returned no water in washer bottle having emailed servicing stop customer service 3 times and no response turns out after a check at another Garage and the dash cam they forgot to turn of my car was not serviced never to be trusted.
Paid upfront for service and cancelled immediately after reading the negative reviews which have been correct in my experience. Cancelled on 17th September, now the 5th October and still haven't received a refund. They keep sending me the same copy/pasted response that the money will be back in my account in 7 days and I can't get through to them apart from that. If you're thinking of using them I would advise you not to take the risk.
Will take advantage if you are a female and influence you to agree to unnecessary work, then overcharge you. They are also untrustworthy and dishonest.
Do not under any circumstances use these people. Just go direct to a garage, as they are a third party company, who distribute jobs to garages in your area. In order for them to make a profit, they add unnecessary repairs to charge you extra, so it is financially worth their time sending the job out. I am speaking from a recent experience this month.
Tip for consumers:
What do you think would have been helpful to know?
They rip you off, and take advantage of females.
Products used:
Shoes, jackets, belts, cosmetics, etc.
If I could give a minus star rating these would get it. Do yourself a favour and just use a local garage. The low cost advertised services are soon bumped up monumentally once they have your car hostage. You canntot speak to the actual garage and be prepared for at least an hour on hold to speak with your 'service advisor'. If you do one thing today, AVOID this service.
Products used:
full service and mot
Avoid at all costs I was warned by a close individual to the company serving stop would phone and say you need this and that.
I payed 126 from 146 pay early and we take 20 pound off.
On the phone she said you won't pay anything else.
I then receive a phone call with a bill if pollen filter and other bits were to be done and it came in at £436. I told them to f*** off and return my car.
Will never use them again make sure you pass this message around.
Although the adviser was pleasant, they talked over me whilst I was talking and protesting the high price for the work carried out on my vehicle and did not really know much about the work that had been completed on my car. Their site never gave me a detailed breakdown of the work done either, it kept saying not available at present try again later. Do not use Servicing Stop! It's a terrible company. Also Dragons den should be ashamed giving money to these scammers. The guy that turned up to pick up my car never came in the given time slot and the neighbours told me his car did not have an MOT! Was it his car or one of their customer's cars! NEVER USE Servicingstop!
What looks like a great deal and a fantastic saving is an illusion. Once they have taken your payment at there discount for paying up front and your car is off to the garage for its full service you get a call. You are then told you must pay for a pollen filter to be fitted the oil to be changed and they also throw in that your brake fluid needs flushed and replaced at a grand total of £315. What a con. Please do yourself a favor and don't go anywhere near them.
Booked and paid last year for an MOT & Service, around £125 in total. Great. Got the phone call later saying various other work needed doing, the car was 3 years old and in very good condition, total came to over £500 on top of the fee's I'd already paid. They get very ratty when you challenge them over the phone too. They did the work before letting me know as well! The cheek! And unnecessarily too. Avoid, it's a total con.
I think there should be some legal action taken against them, go through the review you can clearly see they are scamming people. I had a terrible experience with Colchester garage, the guy is extremely rude and lies to your face. They picked up my car then he called and said I will have to pay £1300 or else they won't give me my car back. He said we will not drop it back when I insisted that the company policy says otherwise he still denied. Then he forced me to get things done for the car which were not required to get MOT but he constantly lied and threatened that he will not give me my car back. I have never met such scammers in my life. They should not be allowed to scam people like this. I am not sure what to do now but I have sent an email to their complaint section. Never go for them especially the Colchester one
We are the fastest growing, and one of the largest car-service companies in the UK. Founded in 2009, our goal has been to radically improve the user experience for drivers, by making car servicing both affordable and convenient. Winners of Dragons Den in 2009. At present, the company has more than 1500 garages within our network, a figure which will have risen significantly by the end of the year. Read more on our website: www.servicingstop.co.uk
Servicing Stop was founded in 2008, by brothers Oly Richmond and Toby Richmond. Their business plan took advantage of a 2003 change of law by the European Commision called the Block Exemption Regulation. This meant that vehicle services of different brands of car could now be carried out by independent garages as well as garages contracted to the branded dealerships and manufacturers.
In 2009, Servicing Stop featured on the BBC television programme Dragons Den where the company directors attempted to secure additional investment into the company. Despite receiving offers from three of the Dragons (Peter Jones, James Caan and Deborah Meaden), the brothers ultimately decided to continue the development of the business independently.