Absolutely abysmal experience from start to finish.
Recommended by a friend who lives close to the garage but I have since learnt that he does not use Atkinson's any more either due to his own bad experience.
I booked my car in for a new clutch but after booking the day off work and arriving nice and early to drop off my keys, Atkinson told me (with barely an apology) that he couldn't fit me in and we would need to re-book. Fair enough, I thought, these things happen.
I take my car in a week later (another day off work) and the clutch gets fitted. I return to pay and I am charged more than the original quote. Okay, I think, so be it. I don't mind paying for a job well done so I pay and leave.
The next day I discover oil spots on my driveway from underneath the car. I phone Atkinson to get the car booked in again. I take the car in (another day off work) and ask if he can look at the problem first thing and agree to come back in 2 hours. After a nice walk around Highbury Park I go back and he tells me that he would need to order a seal (a seal which he broke when fitting the clutch) which he can only get from Suzuki and that he'll call me when he has a price. I have no choice but to take my key and leave.
So, in summary, I've already been to this garage 3 times (3 days booked off work and wasted) and the car still isn't fixed. I don't have an estimate for how long it will take or how much extra it will cost and I haven't been offered so much as an acknowledgement or apology from Mr. Atkinson for the trouble caused.
I give up. Time to find a new garage who can actually fix my car. I get the feeling that if you have not been going to Atkinson's for many years and aren't able to talk to him about your holidays, kids, pets etc like old friends then he really couldn't care less about offering you any service whatsoever.
I definitely would not recommend this garage to anyone and, from what I've heard, neither would anyone I know. read more