Formula One Autocentres - Southend Reviews 103

Called up with a tyre valve issue, within 30 minutes of the call my car was in and fixed. Very helpful and great service!
Many thanks

The Southend on Sea branch offered me a free wheel alignment check when I had two new tyres fitted, and sure enough they reported that the wheels were out of alignment, they showed me the result on the alignment console, both front wheels out of alignment three degrees to the left.
I allowed them to fix the issue and when I got in the car to drive away I immediately discovered that the steering wheel was no longer aligned properly, it was turned annoyingly to the left when I drove straight ahead. I went straight back and they checked it again only this time I stood and watched, I was already suspicious that I knew what the problem was. I made sure they aligned and clamped the steering wheel exactly central before they began the check and as I’d expected, both front wheels were out of alignment, this time by three degrees to the right. They hadn’t aligned the steering wheel correctly the first time and made adjustments that were totally unnecessary (An accident or a deliberate scam..?? Read the other reviews here and you decide..!!). They corrected their mistake but refused to refund the £42 they’d charged me saying that the wheels did need an adjustment. You’ve been warned, if you’ve read this and still decide to use them then more fool you.

Friendly and efficient service received from the Team at Southend Centre. Would recommend.

Rang my local branch which is in Sutton Road Southend on Sea this morning asking about a puncture repair. They said to bring the car in as soon as I could and they’d take a look. Took it straight in and the puncture was found and repaired by the one of the team right away. Great service and always courteous and helpful here .

Booked a Full Service and MOT. A suspension arm bushing been identified as worn and failed MOT. Additional £300 been charged and no failed parts available when asked, no picture, nothing. I'd expected more transparency for such a pricey part.
Car also left messy, wheel nut lock in the seat, broken mirror decoration, seats and steering wheel changed.
I've been better cared, just saying.

Im a regular customer to this branch in southend and the aftercare is second to none.
They look after their customers and resolve any problem wether it's before or after some work has been done.
Flynn, Dave and the manager Perry are so professional and deliver exceptional customer service.
Highly recommended

Went to the centre in Southend-on-Sea because my tyre pressure warning light was on, and having filled over the weekend I know something was up. I have recently had all 4 tyres replaced and was really worried it would be another expense. Turns out it was a screw in the centre of the tyre. The team there sorted it immediately and fixed it while I waited. Even better they did not charge me! Thank you Team Southend!!!!

Never ever considered using formula one, before having bad experience with them,so decided to view trust pilot reviews,OMG! thought I was just unlucky.
Some many complaints to this company,the good ones all seem to be people who just new trye fitted or small jobs carried out fair comments. When it's a problem more complicated they just can't handle it.
All the negative review (They all can't be wrong?)

Absolutely appalling service from start to finish at the Formula One Autocentre in Southend-on-Sea. I am beyond angry, feel completely ripped off, and I'm warning everyone to stay away from this garage. They don't just waste your time; their incompetence will cost you money and they'll damage your car in the process.

My car failed its MOT, and against my better judgement, I let them do the repairs. That was a huge mistake that led to a nightmare spanning SIX SEPARATE VISITS.

Here’s the ridiculous saga:

Booked in for repairs and the retest. Turned up, only to be told the MOT tester was on holiday. Why book me in then?
Came back on the agreed Friday for the retest. Told the tester was "too busy."
Came back again the next day for a "guaranteed" slot. Told it was now "too late" and I'd need a completely new MOT.
The manager agreed to waive the MOT fee as "goodwill." The car then FAILED this new MOT. The reason? The repair work their mechanic had just done had DAMAGED THE OTHER BRAKE CALIPER. Their incompetence made my car unsafe.
Wasted hours on a Sunday while they failed to fix the damage they had caused.
Finally, on the sixth visit, they fixed the caliper and it passed.
After all that, they had the nerve to present me with a bill for nearly £200. I had to have a heated argument with the manager, reminding him he'd promised the MOT would be free and he'd "take the hit" on labour for the damage his own team caused. He eventually reduced it to £148, which I felt pressured to pay just to get my car and leave. It's an absolute rip-off to be charged for a garage's own catastrophic mistakes.

And the final proof of their shoddy workmanship? I didn't even get out of the car park before I heard a loud grinding from the wheel they'd just "fixed." I went straight back in. The problem? A cover wasn't fitted correctly and was rubbing on the brake disc. It just proves they have absolutely no attention to detail.

This place is a joke. The management is dishonest, the mechanics are careless, and the entire experience was designed to wear me down until I paid for their mistakes. I was treated terribly, my time was disrespected, and I was ripped off. AVOID FORMULA ONE SOUTHEND AT ALL COSTS.

Avoid!!!!!!
Took my car here just for a M.o.t, it failed on a split tyre, they quoted me for a new one, I gave the go ahead and was told the tyre would take up to 3 days to come in, I hadn’t heard so I phoned and was told they were having a delivery the next day, as I hadn’t heard from them I phoned again and was told it still wasn’t in, I did all the calling & chasing, it’s been 3 weeks and they still haven’t called, luckily I realised how unprofessional they were and went to another garage, tyre was in within a day and re m.o.t’d and back on the road.
Have not got a brain cell between them down there, and the service is shit, as they say ‘you get what you pay for’

I recently went to Formula one Southend Branch . They fitted a tyre for me and I was really pleased . later that week they fitted 2 tyre sensors with no charge. They were really helpful and I would recommend them and I will use them again in the future

Very polite and helpful guys.

Excellent service and customer care. Many thanks to everyone who advised me and a special thanks to Perry for fitting my water jets. Will make formula 1 my go to garage

Amazing and fast service. Very friendly and helpful members of staff. Wouldn’t go anywhere else . Thank you 🙏

Good service, good MOT. The recommended works over and above the service we're a bit unnecessary. But overall good.

Took my car in for a service found a small oil leak, charged me £700 to fix it and blew the head gasket then blamed it on the age of the car. It was ruined so badly I couldn't even use it for a trade in on another car. The worst garage in southend please avoid

Mot and service was faultless. Quick, good price. Happy

Bought a Mini JCW recently... and had what appeared to be a puncture on one of the tyres... went to F1 Auto centres Southend and was greeted by yet another / different manager (since Super Mario)... previous experience post Mario wasn't the best....he booked me in for this am... Went this morning, he arranged for the car to be looked at straight away and once done, he advised there wasn't an issue, and something just needed tightening up... what a star...I now will be coming back to get stuff done at F1 Autocentre Southend - Matt, 3 weeks in you're doing great - don't change!

New Year’s Eve MOT at Sutton Road, Southend. Although my car failed, the guys sorted it out the same day and were courteous, friendly and professional throughout. I even had the doors opened for me!! Thank you :)

Southend on sea branch. Took my sons car to this branch for tracking and new windscreen wipers. On collection i was told by manager and mechanic that the cv joints had split ball joints were damage and this would cost in excess of £400. Also told if i drove the car there was a chance that the wheel could fall off and the gear box drop out. I decided to drive the car to another garage. Whilst driving there was a terrible knocking noise from under the vehicle which wasn't there before. Once the garage had done there investigations they informed that these items did not need fixing. The car was still veering to the left after the tracking had been done , i am not convinced it was even done as it was 25 minutes from dropping the car off and receiving a call to say the car was ready for pick up. Beware!