keefe,

just checked out the link in your post but that article was dated as 1994.....

let us know how you get on with the bailiffs at the scam-mongers though. They should be shown on Watchdog or similar so that they lose as much future trade as possible.

Have they resurfaced as http://www.reconditioned-engines.co.uk ?

Yes - have you used them? :S

No but just doing research before i did!!

If I was you I would not use this company. They had our car for almost 2 months charged us £3200 and the car came back making tapping sound which they claimed was a sticking butterfly??? Our usual garage says its tappits.(not sure on spelling) so our car is still not running as it should.

Hi I know that the link I provide is old but it is the same people. Heathrow Engines became Heathrow Motor Services ( the workshop I took my car to was in Brent Road Southall) which if you search Companies House is the registered office of; guess who? Engine Warehouse!! They also sell stuff on the internet under a different guise. I was looking at buying a Saab on Ebay until I recognised the premises it was photographed by; Brent road Southall.

They also sell surprise, surprise, used engine parts on ebay. Now I wonder where these are sourced from? Not saying anything else except they would have a good supply I guess! Apparently they also have their fingers in all sorts of different auto repair businesses and are bigger than it would appear. Google "rebuilt engines" and you will get a slick looking website with a similar name, ( you can even do a virtual tour of the factory!) that lulls you into thinking "wow, big proffesional operation, I cant go wrong" !!

I was advised by small court to contact the firm in charge of liquidating the company. I was told that they "don't have much in have assets left" and that calling in bailliffs was a waste of time and money. The "work" from Heathrow Motor Services cost over £1000, it cost an extra £1000 to get my car repaired properly at another garage, plus numerous letters, time off work, (I am a driving instructor and lost pupils due to not having my car). In all a total nightmare.

Talk to reputable people in the engine rebuilding trade about them and you get either a wry smile, a shake of the head, or some expletives followed by the advice "dont go anywhere near them"

Watchdog or Rogue Traders would surely be interested but it needs a few people to get stuck in and tell their story.

I am certainly going to do it, anyone else?

Meanwhile if you want your engine rebuilt; research like a paranoid person before choosing.

My advise to anybody looking for a reconditioned engine would be to do as i did when i purchased mine

Contact the federation of engine remanufactures and ask them for a list of members in your area and how long they have been a member of the federation .

i then contacted the local authority (trading standards ) and asked if the company had been trading long and have they any history of complaints.

having done this i found Southern Engine Services in Charlton SE7

I had a nissan navara with a hole through the block main dealer wanted £7000 plus vat and i got the work done for £2800 and the car runs perfect to this day

DO YOU HOMEWORK AND YOU SHOULD NOT GET SHAFTED

Regards

I just got screwed by Engine Warehouse LTD (a.k.a Heathrow Motor Services / Heathrow Engine Centre / MPH Engineering LTD / Hallmead Services LTD / Rebuilt Engines / Rivermead Engineering....) They are liars who cheat and con people of hard earned cash!!!

There website still gives 5 years warranty/60,000 miles guaranttee on their engines. But in actual fact no one offers that and no one will. I have a Toyota MR2 (2000 W-Reg) and they said the job to repair it will cost £1450 (inc. VAT). Within one day of collecting my car they said £2235.31 to £2659.66 (which was about the same price of the car - so there was no point). So I told them not to do anything! They then demanded £650 if I wanted my car back for looking into the matter. One week later they are now demanding £723.35 (I am not sure what for). No charges were mentioned if no work is carried out.

Now they've got my car and "They hold the Aces in the deck" (They said). I have also written three letters to them without receiving any replies. I have now preparing to log a case in small claims court.

Anyone out there who is going through the same thing????? Any advice???? Please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thx.

Hi All

I also have gone through the same experience as most of the people on this thread, got quote online then told it would be another £500 etc etc - they told me that i had agreed to T & Cs by getting quote on web (good one).

Anyway i decided not to go ahead with the work and got car back to a local garage - it cost me £300 but i still feel like i got off lightly - i am going to get it done properly. I know the car will be in a state when i see it but i am prepared for that (the Cylinder head was on the passenger seat i hear - nice).

You need to vote with your feet and not go anywhere near these guys and dont agree to pay any more money if necessary go and get car back.

Best way to fight back would be to take down the website and keep taking it down - anyone know any hackers? they like a challenge.

Also the credit card companies must surely withdraw merchant facilities if they get enough complaints.

good luck

yes and there still conning everyone. they always seem to charge 2-3 Times what they quote first. they need some serious investigation. DO NOT USE AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

How many enquiries would it take to confuse their website. You could put an enquiry into them through their website, you don't have to take them up on it? They could only handle so many enquiries per day? Then the website would be of little use to them? Get enquiring?!!

Do not let them get away with this. Let us all get together. Put case forward and take action now.

Nickstar, you are not alone!

my engine recon saga has been going on for the best part of 4 months! the engine has been back to the several times now, as they appeared to be fitting random engine components form other vehicles to my engine.

i gave the every oportunity to resolve the issue, and havent

each time they blaimed my mechanic for doing something each time they sent the engine back to me for fitting, so i requested a detailed report of what my mechanic was doing wrong, surprise, surprise, they couldnt come up with the goods.

also, i asked for a list of qualifications the mechanics working on my engine help, surprise, surprise, they couldnt come up with the goods.

my insurance company (fully comp) is unable to help, i have explored other avenues.

i am just glad i didnt send the car to them, as i have read MANY reports of customers sending their whole car to these cowboys, who, have with-held the vehicle and demanding a rediculous amount of money.

harry in the workshop, and kevin in the office, and everyone else at hallmead services ltd, heathrow engine centre, heathrow engine center (Engine warehouse)...and whatever micky mouse company you have setup to swindle people out of their hard earned money..i can only hope some day you can get what is coming to you.

to any other customer of these cowboys, it appears hallmead services ltd is in the process of being disolved/Proposal to Strike off

get in touch with companies house, explaining this company owes you money / have your goods, and they will be able to put a hold on the Proposal to Strike off.

Note: This post has been moderated. Please ensure you read the Moneysupermarket.com User Community Standards and Terms of Service before posting. Thanks.

My cousin has just been terapped by these guys, they offered the same 5 year warranty etc,,,, they collected his car from another garage and said it would cost 70 pounds and without asking, the claimed to have inspected it and want 400 pounds to give the vehicle back. My cousin has gone to the Trading Standards agency.

Hes going to pay them via card as it can be traced and then take them to court but by then they will have disappeared.

My cousin has just been done by these guys and they want 400 pounds for nothing and wont give the car back!!