FG Barnes Vauxhall, Guildford

This review has been a long time coming. Although the events I’m about to describe occurred in August 2023, I have not been able to let go of what happened, and I feel compelled to share my experience to warn others. In August, I took my Vauxhall to F.G. Barnes for a full service. F.G. Barnes is a licensed dealer for Vauxhall, and that was the sole reason I chose them—I believed that as an authorized dealership, I would receive exceptional service and quality. Unfortunately, my experience proved the exact opposite. I paid nearly £300 for a full service. During the process, one issue was flagged: the fan was supposedly not working. However, I discovered the following week that the fan was functioning perfectly fine. Yet, I had already been charged for an unnecessary investigation into this “issue.” When I contacted FG Barnes about this, they were not interested in refunding me for the so called investigation. But that is not the main focus of this review. About two to three weeks after the service, I began hearing strange noises from my car. I dismissed it at first, trusting that my vehicle had just been professionally serviced. What could possibly be wrong? I soon learned, to my horror, that the issue was with the brake pads. At first, I didn’t realize the severity of the problem. But one terrifying day, while driving with my children in the car, the brakes gave out completely. I was in shock and terrified for our safety. I immediately took the car to another garage, where they inspected it and were appalled by what they found. The state of the brake pads was beyond belief—they should have been replaced months ago. The photos I have as evidence paint a damning picture of the neglect my car endured under F.G. Barnes’ care. F.G. Barnes sent me back on the road in a dangerously unsafe vehicle, endangering my life and the lives of my children and others on the road. For a licensed dealership to overlook such a critical issue is unacceptable and disgraceful. F.G. Barnes, you should be ashamed of yourselves. To anyone considering taking their car to F.G. Barnes because they’re an official dealer: Don’t. Just because they’re licensed doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed safety, quality, or professionalism. I trusted them, and they failed me in a way I wouldn’t wish on anyone else. If you value your safety and the safety of your loved ones, look elsewhere.

Just for clarity, this happened before the date options allow, maybe this was only started at that time perhaps, so I chose the oldest date I could, but it all happened before this date, but it doesn't make any of the facts listed any lesser than others. I wish I knew then what I know now, I would have reported them, to start with they showed me the car, I was a builder, as such I see bad points and good points where many won't, and going round the car there was no scratch on the tailgate, then they got me the finance to buy the car, the only thing they did right, they then said they would put it through an MoT and it can then be collected. Now bear in mind this was a black car, so when I went round it again and saw a scratch on the tailgate, they said I was mistaken and it was already there, no way would you miss a scratch like that on a black car, but with no proof what can you do? I then took the car and filled it up at the petrol station around the corner, then went around to a mates to show it off, he lived on a steep road, and I was parked nose downward, so the tank was at the highest point, when we came out he noticed some dripping from under the wheel arch, initially I figured it's probably just water, but as we reached the car we could smell petrol, I had a closer look and was amazed to see the fuel pipes had perished, so I was basically driving a death trap, if I got rear ended it could have caused it too blow up in the worst case. So I went straight back to the garage and asked how did it get an MoT on it with a fuel leak, they just bluffed away which just made me talk louder, the female sat behind the person I was talking too started to turn away giggling at my frustration of something like this happening, but they replaced the pipes and I have never been back. The reason for not going back(?), simple, I needed another part a few months later and they were the most expensive around, I went to another official Vauxhall Garage and said about my experience, and this was before I told them which garage I was talking about, and they smiled and said let me guess, then they name this garage, then went on to say the amount of people that end up going to them because of their incompetent work was astounding. Then then informed me that doing the MoT they should have checked the petrol pipes, because they were a known fault on these cars, so they did not understand how it could pass an MoT with such a dangerous fault, more so as it was a known common defect, if they had of taken the seriousness of it the way that a responsible\decent garage would do, I wouldn't have as much of a problem, but when the female started giggling and the blokes couldn't keep a straight face, that says it all.

Fairly poor. During a service they missed a 'service vehicle soon' warning light which I found quite worrying. The customer service was pretty poor with the receptionist being quite rude on several occasions; they even got the day of the service incorrect. I complained and they did offer me a complimentary diagnostic check but they didn't follow up with other promises and checks they offered; so they let me down again. Best described as sloppy! If you are going to charge premium prices then you expect a premium service; something they didn't provide. Personally, I won't be in a rush to use them again!

I have used FG BARNES in GUILDFORD for some time now and i trust them, not only to carry out a service, MOT or repair to the best of their ability, but to do the work for a fair price. They often go the extra mile to accommodate extra requests and often do not charge for the additional time and trouble taken. Sending out videos after an initial MOT, service or repair to demonstrate any other issues that might have cropped up, is also a nice touch. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Last but not least, Mike and Graham in service and Mike, Tristan and Jimmy in parts are thoroughly nice people. Even when confronted by the more demanding of customers, like myself.