First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester Reviews 13

TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2.7

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Company details

  1. Mechanic

Written by the company

At First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester, we provide a professional, reliable, and fully mobile service designed to keep drivers across Colchester and the surrounding areas on the road without the hassle of visiting a garage. With over 10 years of experience in the motor trade, our team of skilled technicians are trusted by hundreds of local customers for everything from emergency roadside assistance to complex repairs. We specialise in a wide range of services including diagnostics, brake replacements, suspension, timing chains, batteries, starter motors, alternators, and more. Using dealer-level diagnostic equipment, we can quickly identify faults and provide clear repair solutions on-site at your home, workplace, or the roadside. What makes us unique is our commitment to convenience and customer care. We understand that breakdowns and repairs can be stressful, which is why we bring the workshop to you. All of our work is carried out with OE-quality parts and comes with a full service warranty for your peace of mind. Whether it’s a non-start issue, a warning light, or routine servicing, First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester is here to help. Our mission is simple – any car, any problem, we’ll get you going.


Contact info

2.7

Poor

TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

13 reviews

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Replied to 14% of negative reviews

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolute shambles of a company / SCAM

I wouldn't even give them 1 star.

I would like to echo everyone's point of view here and confirm that this company is a complete shambles.

I will report them to Trading Standards as this is unacceptable.

Like many others, I engaged them to look at a problem for me, and they said yes, it would be x and payment up front! I was silly and agreed.

They texted me the day before and said they couldn't make it due to weather conditions the previous day, which was a lie (it was warm and sunny).

I submitted a request for company information and received a very shirty WhatsApp message too. (P.S., quick bit of research, I found it)

They then said they would come out on a Friday no one came. I messaged and called them, but got no answer.

I got an out-of-hours service (which I feel was them), and they proceeded to gaslight me.

I have since requested a refund, and to my “surprise”, there has been no response.

I wouldn't waste my breath or time on this company, and I don't want people to make the same mistake!

So, everyone, please listen to all the reviews and don't use this shambolic company!

I had to complete the repair in the end.

April 3, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I wanted to share my experience with…


I wanted to share my experience with First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester. Initially, I paid for a mobile diagnostic survey on my car because it wasn’t sounding quite right, and I was planning to sell it. The company came out and performed the diagnostics, discovering an additional issue with the vehicle. I took them at their word, compared their quote with my local garage, and decided to go with them since it was convenient for me to have the repairs done at home. After the repairs, however, I didn’t notice any improvement in how my car sounded. I reached out to them, and after booking five separate appointments for follow-up checks, they failed to show up each time. There were numerous email exchanges and phone calls, and at one point, the operations manager responded, offering a £100 refund. They also mentioned speaking with their Land Rover technician, who supposedly confirmed exactly what my vehicle required, and claimed they had acted on this information to ensure the correct part was ready for my next appointment.
In total, I paid £89.99 for diagnostics and £580 for the repairs, yet it appears the necessary repairs may not have been done—or possibly nothing at all was completed. On the last scheduled appointment, yet again, no one turned up. By this point, I was thoroughly frustrated and simply wanted my money back so I could have my local garage fix the car and move forward with selling it.
When I called them, I was apparently transferred to someone, but the call was cut off. Subsequent attempts to call them went straight to voicemail. I emailed again and was told that their technician had attended the appointment, but claimed there was no answer at the door and no reply to calls or messages. For the record, I have a ring doorbell and cameras around my house; after reviewing all footage and logs, there was absolutely no sign of anyone turning up, nor did I receive any missed calls or voice messages.
Currently, they’ve stopped replying to my emails and calls. Considering the amount of money I’ve already paid and the thoroughly disappointing customer service, I’m seeking advice on how to proceed. I wanted to share my experience in hopes of preventing others from going through something similar and suffering unnecessary stress. My honest recommendation at this point: steer clear of this company.

February 13, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Still waiting on a refund a month later

​I booked a repair service that was canceled twice due to the technician calling out sick. While I was understanding of the first reschedule, the second consecutive cancellation forced me to request a refund on Friday, March 13th.
​It has now been nearly a month and I still have not received my money back. Communication has been poor and the delay is unacceptable. I would advise caution before pre-paying for services here.

April 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

No contact, no refund

Was advised we could have a refund to our original payment method for an unused EGR valve that we had paid upfront for but was never used on the job. When we chased the refund they then said it was a store credit only. We have tried multiple times to call them and sent multiple emails to try and use the credit for the EGR valve as we still need it but we have had no response. We are thousands down the drain, had to take our vehicle to another garage. Original diagnoses by this company was totally wrong and they should never have started the work which they couldn’t finish

March 26, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very unreliable, no way to run a business

As with the previous two poor reviews, I too was badly let down by this company. They charge for labour and parts before they come out. They cancelled several times, excuses including: part not yet available; mechanic gone home because they became unwell; no mechanics available. Each time they cancelled they booked another appointment, but didn't 'deliver'. The final time they cancelled, they booked an appointment for a week later. By that time I had been without my vehicle for almost two weeks and could not wait any longer. Luckily I was able to recover my money. The company name has since been changed to Rapid Response Mobile Mechanic.

January 25, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

One of the most stressful experiences…


One of the most stressful experiences I’ve ever had – 6 cancellations in 3 weeks
I have never left a negative review, but people need to be aware of my experience.
Over a three-week period, this company cancelled my appointment six times. Every single cancellation was either late the night before or on the actual day of the confirmed booking, usually by email. Each time, I had already arranged time off work and reorganised my schedule around them.
Every cancellation came with a different explanation:
Technician unavailable
Technician injured
Other jobs overrunning
Waiting for parts
No response from me (which was completely untrue)
Most recently, I was told all required parts were in the warehouse and ready to go. The very next day, the job was cancelled again and I was told I would now have to wait 10–15 working days for a refund.
During the first visit, the technician arrived with the wrong part. He cut the electronic parking brake wiring to carry out an emergency release. That has left me with a vehicle without a functioning handbrake — and the repair was never completed.
I paid £1,400 in good faith. Three weeks later, I am:
• £1,400 out of pocket
• Left with a vehicle with a disabled handbrake
• Without proper use of my car
• Have taken multiple days off work unnecessarily
• Been subjected to constant last-minute cancellations
• Now waiting up to 15 working days for money that should never have been taken without the ability to complete the job
The stress, inconvenience and disruption this has caused has been significant.
This matter is now being reported to Trading Standards, my bank for recovery action, and the relevant motor industry bodies.
If you are considering paying upfront — especially large sums — I would strongly suggest reconsidering.

February 24, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Dont Bother With Them

This company were booked to fix my brothers car. They insisted on payment upfront, we now know why, They also have shady terms and conditions so please read them carefully.
They took the money and then they cancelled not once but twice, leaving me with no other choice to seek repair elsewhere.
At this point I asked them to refund the money, as it was there fault.
This is where the terms and conditions come in to play. They wont refund you. You are signed into loosing the full amount of momey, oh dont forget the good will gesture 60quid credit for future bookings. Why on earth would anyone rebook after this, no response on messages and left in the dark. DO NOT USE THEM.

December 12, 2025
Unprompted review
First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester logo

Reply from First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester

We’re sorry to read this review, however it does not accurately reflect what occurred.
The booking in question was confirmed with payment in advance, which is clearly explained at the time of booking and forms part of our published Terms and Conditions. These terms are provided before payment and must be actively accepted.
In this case, the appointment was delayed due to parts availability. We communicated these updates and offered the option to rebook at no additional charge once the correct part was available. The customer chose not to rebook and instead cancelled the repair.
Under our Terms and Conditions, a cancellation fee applies once time, scheduling, and resources have been allocated. Despite this, and without any admission of fault, we offered a goodwill resolution to conclude the matter.
We do not cancel bookings without cause, we do not take money without explanation, and we do not leave customers “in the dark.” All communication in this case is documented in writing.
We always encourage customers to contact us directly so concerns can be addressed properly. We remain committed to providing a transparent and professional service and are happy to engage constructively where this is reciprocated

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding company.

Following weeks of issues with my vehicles coolant system, I was loosing both patience and the resolve to push ahead and try and get the problem sorted once and for all. Rick the mechanic had previously attended and carried out fantastic work, this was after the fact other garages had misdiagnosed the issue and done poor standard of work. Unfortunately despite the extensive work completed by Rick, it transpired that somehow the coolant was still leaking. I called upon the services of first response, and they thankfully sent Rick back to review the problem. Rick once again provided exceptional service, and quickly found that the new water pump that I had fitted by another garage, had become faulty at the connection point (seal). Which was causing the collant to leak. After exploring all options, and clearly Rick saw my frustration he very kindly offered to to try and reseal the faulty part. I gave the go ahead, and thankfully Rick explained that the fix had appeared to have gone wel. And that this should fully resolve any further coolant issues. This for me was above and beyond the expected level of service, and has no doubt saved me more time trying to sort the issue with the garage that carried out the work. I was extremely grateful, Rick is the ipotome of what a good mechanic should be. He listens, and sympathies with the issues you have and does his level best to resolve them for you. Richard the manager of the company contacted me, and explained that the repair would be of no cost to me as a gesture of good will. Let me be clear the water pump fault was in NO WAY first response issue, but they chose to go above and beyond to resolve what has been weeks of stress and anxiety. And for that I will be forever grateful. This company deserves all the credit, it cares for its customers and this is so refreshing in what can often be a frustrating world. I would not hesitate in recommending this exceptional company to anyone looking for repair/motoring services. I certainly will ve using them again in the future for of required.

January 10, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

OSF outer CV boot leak

Communication was very prompt and precise.

Accurate work description and fair pricing.
Convenience of having the mechanic (Rick in this occasion) come to my home to perform the repair.

I recommend this company, and would use again in the future if need be.

October 24, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I had such a great experience with…

I had such a great experience with First Response Mobile Mechanic Colchester. They arrived quickly, diagnosed the problem straight away, and fixed my car efficiently at a very fair price. On top of that, they were really friendly and reassuring, which made the whole situation stress-free. It’s rare to find a mechanic who is this reliable, professional, and honest. Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

September 9, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Professional and reliable

I usally don’t have a clue when it comes to good service with my car but this company made it so simple for me they come to you, diagnose the issue and book you back it to fix the issue all within a few days my car was back on the road again. I have recommended to others and they have shared the same positive experience, from now on I will be using this company.

September 8, 2025
Unprompted review

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