Lantern Recovery Specialists PLC - Potters Bar - Potters Bar

John R.

Not at all happy. My Dacia Duster required recovery by Lantern Recovery from the M25 due to a clutch pedal issue (AXA roadside assistance contacted them, probably not ideal as there should be an attempt to repair the vehicle roadside before recovery). The main thing was I needed to get off the motorway, but as I only had up to 15 miles recovery distance on my policy with AXA, I could only go part the way home. I asked the recovery guy to be taken to St.Albans (pre approved by AXA - they always record calls), less than 10 miles away, to leave the car somewhere safe, enabling me to catch a train home. The recovery person made it clear he was not going to do this. I did not have an exact destination to give him, perhaps that was it?
He told me he'd take me to Lantern's yard and drop me outside, more or less saying he was doing me a huge favour, as he'd have to get the OK from his boss to be able to do this. I could get a bus to Potters Bar from there apparently, but I didn't want to go in the wrong direction to where I lived.
My car was taken inside their yard for "safe keeping" with the keys. I was told the car would be accessible 7 days per week.... there's no question of mixed messages here.... accessible 7 days per week.
I arranged for a my car to be lifted and taken back to Luton the next day (today Saturday 12th April). I phoned Lantern ahead to tell them my mechanic was on his way, only to be told there's nobody available on weekends to do the release paperwork!!!!!
There's a few things here. I had to walk for 2 1/2hrs from the depot at South Mimms to St Alban's City train station, with my little dog. I'm 60 years old, it left me exhausted on a hot day. Walking through St Alban's from the direction of London Conley....there were numerous places where the car could have been left legally, safely and without parking charges. Now my car has ended up in a car pound, liable to storage costs probably, when I have a car breakdown policy supposedly to take me anywhere up to 15 miles Lantern should make it clear to companies like AXA breakdown that they will not take cars anywhere if they don't fancy it. It may end up in their yard.
The other major thing is: I was blatantly lied to. The guy knew I couldn't get my car back till Monday at the earliest. His dishonesty has left me today having to rearrange collection and compensate someone for a wasted part journey to pick it up.
I need my car repaired by Monday evening, easily done if it was picked up today but highly unlikely as it can't be lifted until Monday morning.
I'm left feeling let down and tricked. It was a case of take it or leave it mate.
Mixed in with all these wonderful reviews left on here by grateful customers there's a punctuation of less than wonderful reviews as well. Also, check your breakdown policy to ensure you have Nationwide cover. Don't end up like me, walking along the edge of dual carriageways where there's no footpaths.
Another thing - Lantern Recovery give out a phone number which is premium rate - is says a lot about greed.
I will update this review regarding how the process of getting my car picked up went on Monday.
THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE MY VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC I SENT. I'VE HAD TO PAY £80 FOR THE PICK UP AND STILL HAVE NO CAR. (THE MECHANIC REDUCED HIS CHARGE FROM £120 - at least there are some decent people)
I've complained to AXA, who have logged this as an official complaint. Fortunately, AXA have confirmed the job was logged as a recovery and forward journey.
After AXA's intervention my car was returned to me at my home address. The Scottish guy who dropped it was a decent fellow. He said there should have been no issue taking me to St Alban's. It seems it was a rotten apple.

Chris

Where do I start,
IF ANY OF THERE DRIVERS HIT YOUR CAR IN AN ACCIDENT, DO NOT LET THEM OFFER TO FIX YOUR CAR. BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS DISHONEST LYING UNPROFESSIONAL REPAIR SHOP THAT DO NOT FIX YOUR CAR PROPERLY.
“Kartec the garage is called”

From 21st of February they gave my car to Kartec to repair it over two months now,
one of there drivers ran into my BMW and damaged the driver and back passenger doors also my wing mirror.

They were leading me around in circles until they said Oh it's their driver was at fault, they said they will fix my car, I ask them to send out someone to come and do a markup of the damages, so they know what to fix they told me "NO"we can't send out anyone to assess the damages.

"That's the mistake I make with my BMW" SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO BMW.

The garage "it's called Kartec repair” that they sent my car for repair, the shop had mess up my car, claim that they put on a new door on my car when they didn't. they also mess up the car paintwork, the Wing mirror didn't got replaced they try to glue up the mirror casing and paint residue is everywhere on my car and on my leather seats.

When I take my car to get it wash water was running inside because the rubber seal did not fix properly on the back door. Also the back door panel had no clips in them, it was falling off I have been emailing a Miss Smith for almost over two months she claim that she of to speak to her boss about getting my car fix when it was there driver was at fault that ran into my car.

I also ask for the receipt of the new door that the garage claim they had bought and I didn’t received this from them.

My car as always service by a BMW garage, so I said let me take it to them and find out if its all genuine parts was use, and they told me parts wasn’t genuine and whosoever fixed my car is dishonest and lied to you.

I keep emailing Miss Smith telling her my car is not fixed properly it’s substandard, she continue telling me how the garage told her my car was fix properly and everything was genuine.

I had to report them to trading Standard and the Motto Ombudsman and get a lawyer, so they sent a person from the garage and one of their representative to come to my home to look on the disrepair that they had left my car in, thinking that I was lying about my car not fix properly.

“LOST THE SALE OF MY CAR BECAUSE I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET BACK MY CAR IN ONE DAY”

On the 22nd of April, They told me they will fix my car and it will take one day. It’s almost a week now and I can’t receive my car. They gave me no courtesy car and left me to take trains to work that is so expensive. then I received a email from Miss E.Smith that it’s unfortunate and have bad news that the garage had find more faults and damages that wasn’t fix.
all they had to do was to send someone to look on the damage so the car could have fixed properly first time.
LOOKS LIKE ITS THEIR CHEAP REPAIR SHOP THAT THEY USE, BECAUSE SUBSTANDARD AND NONE GENUINE PARTS SHOULD NOT BE USE ON PEOPLE VEHICLES.

I have been emailing asking when I am getting back my car and Miss E. Smith is ignoring all my emails and not responding.

As I said above do not let them force you to repair your vehicles and give to that Kartec repair shop, they’re unfair unprofessional lairs and dishonest. Find your own repair shops to fix your vehicles.

“I am so piss off with myself to let Lantern give my car out to repair when I should have taken my car to BMW, I would have never have all of these problems now”.

Connor M.

They illegally dumped an untaxed and MOT-expired vehicle on the roadside. When I called to inform them of their mistake, they showed no interest in rectifying the situation. Instead, they simply told me that it was my problem where they had left it. I reported the incident to the relevant authorities.
I wouldn’t trust a company like this to perform any work for me. They clearly have no regard for the local community.

Duncan B.

Outstanding service from the very charming Matt, who was worthy of being a “Prime Minister in waiting”!!! He communicated well, explained what he was doing, provided reassurance and ultimately delivered on the job which was to rescue our flooded BMW. Thank you Matt, looking forward to seeing you in Downing Street soon!

Kemi A.

This review is several months late. Winston from Lantern recovery came to my rescue in summer 2024 when my car broke down. He was amazing, friendly and went above and beyond!! I lost my bracelet in the process and he helped me call Starbucks in Chiswell Green where my car broke down to see if they had found it and they had!! He made what would have been an awful situation, easy and seamless. I can’t thank him enough.
- Kemi

William G.

One of our wagons was recovered by this company through our insurance broker, the truck in question broke down with a hydraulic leak coming from the gearbox powerpack due to a fractured pipe.

Lanterns hooked the truck up and carelessly left the ignition switched on during the 90 min recovery journey which obviously caused this powerpack to keep surging, surging for hydraulic fluid which obviously wasn't being pumped through causing the pack to fry itself.

What could of been such a simple fix for us has turned into a very expensive and time consuming repair.

Ginnette A.

I don’t easily give a negative review but I don’t see why I shouldn’t share my experience with Lanterns Potters Bar. End of Oct 24 (had a lot on plate so didn’t review earlier). Ordered very expensive recovery for motorhome to go for repairs. Gave measurements etc of motorhome however initially they sent a truck too small for motorhome causing hassle to wait for another one. When vehicle was left at mechanics the mechanics took photos very quickly and sent to me showing oil marks on drivers seat that weren’t there before, and we had a buyer ready! I sent photos to Lanterns who hadn’t taken photos when they left the vehicle. However they spoke to their driver who denied the damage saying he’d used seat cover and they took his word even though we had proof. When I complained the best they offered (eventually) was that I would have to take the vehicle to their depot in Potters Bar for them to clean the seats with correct materials. Thing is they aren’t around the corner and I have a full time job! Had to pay privately to get the seat properly cleaned in time to hand over to buyer. Not impressed at all Lanterns especially how much money the recovery cost on first place. I know it wasn’t lots of damage, these things happen but the service attitude wasn’t good. Could have quite easily employed someone to come to me or compensated for me to get seats cleaned. ..that’s service.

Tim W.

I had my van recovered from ravencroft recovery by lantern in January 2024and i put a review on this site and it has been removed so I am redoing it as i think people should know they have a thief driver on board as i had some of my tool's and stock stolen from my van.the driver came up to me telling me my van had been ransacked how would he know this and then told me he had to have a break but didn't get out of his truck.when asked them for footage they couldn't be bothered so i ended up £1500 out of pocket.be careful and take pic's