I relate this tale in case it helps anyone either in, or about to put themselves in, my position.

 

I have been buying summer and winter tyres on mail order from Camskill in Cumbria for the last 11 years, and getting them fitted/swapped over at my "local" branch of National Tyres and Autocare every spring and autumn, and been very pleased with them (apart from an inability to ever get all four to the same pressure). Yesterday lunchtime I phoned them to check that they could fit me in again, and was told "no problem, any time after 2pm". I got my winter tyres from the shed into the boot and drove the 35 miles to the depot, to be told "we don't do that any more", claiming that the company had told them that afternoon. It seems they will now only fit/swap over tyres which have been purchased from them. I imagine this decision is a result of their takeover by Halfords, but it seemed wrong that what might be considered a verbal contract on the phone counts for nothing in their world.

 

So, if any of you are in this position, perhaps you should start looking for an alternative fitter well in advance of needing one. I hope this helps.

1 hour ago, ArisaigDavid said:

a verbal contract on the phone

isn't worth the paper it's written on.