“Staff take safety over the top. You get treated like a toddler when on board they're taxis/buses.
For example, you can't take off your seatbelt until the handbrake is pulled (i take it off before the handbrake is pulled anyway), that is ridiculous.
From ridiculous rules to being accused of breaking them when you didn't.
The staff also talk to you like a toddler, it's disgusting.
Please get better.”
“Anniesland, Glasgow branch charge £120 per hour for work . I have just discovered ...too late unfortunately .... a highly regarded , long established local garage who charge £60 plus vat per hour ...so only approach A.Clark if you have very deep pockets ( and at the outset make clear you do not want a "safety check" which should more accurately be a called a "Touting For Business Check".
The receptionist explained that they "don't want you driving away with an undiagnosed fault" .....absolutely not their responsibility if you put the car in for a specific repair.”
“I would like to commend the sales and administration staff at Edinburgh Seafield branch for dealing with what appeared to us a complex and worrying problem, regarding a Seat Arona we bought from Arnold Clark, with curtesy, efficiency and speed.
First class service which we will remember when looking for cars in the future.”
“Bought a 2015 Clio in finance, with full service and autocare plan, had the car sent up from another branch, 4 days later engine management light came up, needing a replacement part, which i had to fight for, fast forward to my first service tried to charge me £21 for a window wiper paid as I didn't have time to do it myself, 3 months later my exhaust pipe falls of on my way to work, costing me a days wages, a recovery call out and a prices repair from a local garage, fast forward to my first MOT.....haven't even had the car a full year most of my front suspension needs replaced apparently, although the service didn't pick up any issues trying to charge me over £600 to do repairs for components that don't even total £50, i was not happy and told the service guys that i believed the problems would have been noticed during my service, and that i was annoyed that as i hadn't even had the car a year i was extremely disappointed that i had an autocare plan if my price was still over £600. he was shocked they didn't know I had the mechanical warranty, I'm currently still waiting on autocare replying to my claim for parts, my MOT has not expired waiting for notification and i can legally drive a car I'm still paying for!!”
“Had My Car In Getting Serviced ! They Said When I Picked It Up Rear Brakes In The Very Near Future Required ? A Bout 1 Hour To Fit Them ? How Much Do You Charge An Hour I Asked. Replied £120.00 Pounds An Hour ! Sounds To Me That Arnold Clark Have The Best Deal Guaranteed For Them ……….”
“2days short of 4weeks after putting a reserve on a Mercedes Glc 2018
And still not even viewed the car
What a shambles
Never go back to these cowboys”
“What has happened to Arnold Clark??? Went to a branch for a look around and to get some prices only to be told I should’ve just did that online!! Cars seemed overpriced and sales staff just hanging around in groups. When I asked for some help the advisor just got his phone out in the lot and started Googling figures. Strange. I left and used an online service - much better deal.”
“Was charged £139 to install a part which only cost £19 to bye . Feel let down by the company, because i have a service plan, I feel they are are trying to extract more money from me. Have lost so much respect for the company. I will never renew any agreement with you. Sorry but fact.”
“I was very impressed with Saf at the Bolton branch. He was very patient answering my questions and helped me to choose a car that suited me. He did a follow up call to check that I was happy with my car and helped me to arrange the tracker. Overall I was very impressed with all of the staff at the Bolton branch.”
“Paid a deposit for new Kia Sportage in November 2021. Arnold Clark totally messed up the order and actually did nothing for three months. Eventually found out in May 2022 when I was told the car had not even been placed for manufacture and would one another four months at least. Well done Arnold Clark on customer that will never return. Dreadful uncaring and unprofessional. Oh and the Branch Manager refused to return my calls, he delegated it to a person who knew very little.”
“When my second service was due I informed the Service department I had an oil leak from the front of the car and would they check it out, on completion of the service I was informed the leak was coming from the sump plug but had now been rectified, ( it was previously serviced by them).
A few weeks later I took the car for its first mot, the mechanic informed me there was an oil leak from the timing chain and it looked like it had been for awhile.
I called Arnold Clark customer service who advised me to take it to a main dealer as there was still manufacture’s warranty remaining.
My local dealer confirmed there was a leak and they would have to have the car for two days to complete the work, this on a car that’s only done 21,200 miles and only a few weeks after the service.
I can’t help feeling was it ever leaking from the sump plug? and they knew it was a job they didn’t want to do.
However I don’t think I’ll be going back to Arnold Clark.”
“SD card for satnav was missing.
Service record book was different from servicing record in car computer system.
Spare wheel had flat tyre with unrepairable puncture.”
“Called Wakefield branch as was interested in a vw golf. Went through p/e quote and was happy to test drive and view the car. I was told on the phone to go through the process of holding the car for a £99 deposit which I agreed as the sales man reassured me that it was refundable if not satisfied after viewing the car. I played with their conning game.
Drove 185 miles to view and test drive the vw golf. I was not happy with the car and told the sales man that I would like my deposit back as per telephone our telephone conversation.
I got a rude answer saying you will not get the deposit back as we have taxed the vehicle, I said to him I would like to speak to the manager. He was going back and forth in the show room wasting time. After a while the manager came and I told him I want my deposit back. He also started to wind me up with excuses, until I showed him a screen shot of t&c which said I could have the full money back before concluding the deal.
He was not happy and snapped,he said to his sales colleague give him his deposit and put the car back on sale.”
“Bought a car
Trusted Arnold Clarke’s pre delivery inspection
What a mistake
Too busy in workshop to investigate
Plus a £120 charge
All on a car with 20000 miles
And only owned 5 months and 500 miles
Faulty suspension and
Poor fuel economy
1979 trading standards act needs to be applied”
“Sold our car today at Sefton St Branch it was so easy and quick .. Sally Whelan was great so friendly and knowledgeable and made the whole process seamless .. can’t recommend them enough .. Definitely 5*”
“AVOID AT ALL COSTS. MOT for car took over 2 weeks with very poor communications, false promises and don't call back. Charged for work twice with own staff admitting the costs are high. Still waiting to speak to manager and still no car.”
“Bought a Hyundai which was available in Greenock and had it transported to Lingfield which is less than 20 miles from our home in Horsham
From the outset , everything went to plan and service was exemplary Staff - Paul in Greenock and Louise in Lingfield - were a credit to the Arnold Clark organisation”
“Why there is so many bad reviews connected to Arnold Clark?!
They must be scums from competition - that was what I thought before I decided to buy my next car from Arnold Clark again as my previous experience was always brilliant.
Unfortunately I was wrong…
I am existing Arnold Clark customer. My previous car was purchased in Arnold Clark. My father in law and two brothers in law also have their cars from Arnold Clark. Everybody were always happy both from cars they selected and service provided.
That was in the past.
I decided to buy a Ford Galaxy Titanium X 2017 from Manchester store (Winsford Vauxhall). I live a far away from this place so based on my previous brilliant experience I decided to relay on videos with car presentation provided by Arnold Clark and get it without personal inspection.
I ordered collection to Nottingham store.
Based on these videos I was sure that only one downside of this car is some scratches on one alloy wheel - I have been reassured that it will be fixed before they send a car out - not as bad I thought - I am taking it!
On my car collection day they showed me where the car is and ask to make a transfer. While I was doing a transfer and paperwork the car has been driven out the store and parked outside.
On my inspection I noticed many stone chips on the bonnet, lots of scratches on plastics inside the car and interior trims.
That’s 5 year old car - all of them will have some scratches, but in my car was a hole in the interior panel next to the floor (diameter 3in!) and 1 inch tear on leather passenger seat!
I never would even assume that it is possible to Arnold Clark to sell car worth £20k with 1 inch tear in passenger seat…
The worst thing is non of the above was mentioned in two video car presentation I received.
From my point of view it has been done in purpose for selling purpose.
I can’t understand how Arnold Clark expect to have a good reviews if they do things like that.
In my opinion it supposed to be fixed before putting a car on sale.
If they can’t repair it or don’t want to it is still fine as far as they will highlight it on video car presentation to allow customers decide if they want a car with such a downside for the price and repair it by it self.
When I contacted my product consultant he said that Arnold Clark will fix a bonnet and passenger seat but unfortunately can’t do nothing about a hole next to a floor or scratches on alloy wheel.
There wasn’t any update since that phone call. When I emailed him a couple of days later, he said he will organise 3rd party company to fix a seat
AND
He also said that he ordered a touch up pen for the stone chips on the bonnet for self application and get that posted out to me if I don’t like how it looks like…
Almost 2 weeks later - nothing has been done so far - no updates at all
My previous experience with this company was brilliant. I don’t know if I was lucky or it got worse now.
One thing I now for sure is to never ever relays on video presentation as they are in my opinion misleading.
Unfortunately if we want to buy a car we still physically need to go and have a look on it and even order a pre purchase inspection check by 3rd party company.
That being said I hope that such reputable (or it used to be) company as Arnold Clark will return to its high service standards in some point in the future so customers will have their piece of mind alternative to buying cars from privet people”
“Me and my partner brought a car from Arnold Clark Westbrom, back in 2020 and made sure we had two years warranty- it’s lucky we did!
Only a few months after having the car we have to send it back to Arnold Clark due to electrical faults. Unfortunately the car broke down again last week but now the car is completely underivable. Since the car has been back with Arnold Clark they have been nothing but unhelpful.
The service manager Ian Higgins told us the car wouldn’t be looked at for atleast a week because of staff shortage and they couldn’t help us with a courtesy car because they don’t have any. To which I cried, I explained I would be unable to work, I would have loss of earning, I wouldn’t able to drive our 18month daughter around and I’m pregnant, which his response was ‘that’s not his problem’. Surly they could help considering they won’t even able to look at the car for another week?
Still now I haven’t had an update and the car has been with themselves since Saturday 2nd and every time we phone they can’t tell us anything new or give us a time scale.
I’ve never felt so stressed and overwhelmed, I’m so disappointed. We chose Arnold Clark because they are a popular brand and we were assured we would be looked after- clearly not.
I advise anyone to stay clear- they’ve taken away what’s suppose to be a happy time of my life enjoying a pregnancy and fuelled it will stress and frustration instead.”
