This is my personal account of what happened to me when I took my car to Halfords Autocentre.
This whole nightmare started on 20th March 2012 when I took my car a Mazda DTR to my local Halfords autocentre for a full service and MOT.They completed the service and after replacing a broken rear spring completed the MOT,total cost £308.00.
When I picked up the car on 22nd March I noticed after driving a few miles that there was a complete lack of power and performance.
I returned the car to halfords the next day, 23rd March and after a diagnostic test THEY decided to change the glow plugs and in the process broke one off in the cylinder head.
They tried to remove the broken glow plug with no success and on 26th March THEY decided to take the car to an Auto engine repairers in Avonmouth who unfotunately due to restricted access said they could not remove it and the only options were to take out the engine or remove the cylinder head,both costly jobs.
At this stage I contacted Trading standards and on their advice issued a template letter to the manger Richard Williams.

Halfords the brought in an independent vehicle assessor(who they have used before)who stated that "the tips of failed glow plugs can become displaced at any time and Halfords are not responsable for this failed part or its consequential damage"

I maintain that when I took my car into Halfords it was in perfect working order,two days later when I picked it up it had a fault and in trying to fix that fault Hafords broke off a glow plug in the cylinder head.
In all Halfords kept my car for 16 days despite me informing them that my wife is disabled and needs the car for transport.
I have since found out that the area manager Darren Stone told the local branch NOT to provide me with a courtesy car.
Overall Halfords has treated me like a criminal.I have been made to feel the guilty party,customer care has been non existent,especially from the local manager Richard Williams, who I believe has been replaced.
I have now lost faith in the car and in an effort to cut my losses have part exchanged it with my local Mazda dealer who has agreed to take it minus £1000.00 to cover their repairs.

I have sent three letters to the chief excecutive of Halfords autocentres and they are not willing to offer me any form of compensation,they just state they are not to blame.
If they are not to blame then who is? all I did was take my car for a service and MOT!
This whole ghastly episode has caused my wife and myself ill health, loss of sleep and extreme stress,I curse the day I took my car to Halfords Autocentre and I advise everybody I meet never take the risk of going to Halfords autocentres if you value your car.