“Avoid this company if you don’t want your holiday memories ruined. This company left me and another 10 members of my family including children stranded in Manchester airport at 3am in the morning. All they can say is claim from your travel insurance. Stay clear please”
“AVOID THIS COMPANY they are National something or other not SMC. They have terrible 1-2and 3 star reviews here and on trustpilot left me and my whole family stranded at 3am in Manchester airport. They knew about the delay I told them well before our schedule time 1hr 20 min delayed. Said they would be there as the flight was monitored when we arrived this is what he said. Recording on my mobile. Iv left you wasn’t there. I said you knew we were delayed he said not my problem Iv took another job now. We got home at 10am on the train. SMC said he was out of driving hours as if that’s an excuse for a transport company. I have his text and recording g saying he took another job. Look at the poor reviews they do it often to delayed flight customers. They will be exposed by my in court. PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM. thank you”
“Avoid this company read the 1-2 and 3 star reviews a few of the 1 star are mine I know but there are a lot of others. Long story short if your flight is delayed you are likely to be left stranded when you arrive back from holiday. They left us 11 family members at 3am in Manchester airport and just told us to claim from our travel insurance. An obvious scam when you see how many people have had the same shoddy service. AVOID THIS COMPANY”
“SMC Coach Hire PLEASE SHARE THIS POST
They are a SCAM they make money on delayed flights ! DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY as a big family arriving home from holiday they stranded us left us at the airport early hours when called the driver said not his problem as flights were delayed WE LET THEM KNOW ALSO! We were straight out from baggage and were on time if not early from the delay and they confirmed knowing the driver was rude and said not his problem and LEFT!! Plus they had the baby car seat to which the driver when spoken to said he didn’t even have that either!! We were stuck at the airport hours away from home with a baby and 5 children left in Manchester airport freezing early hours For hours! they were aware we was delayed and said no problem we track the flights ….. DISGUSTING SERVICE PLEASE DONT RISK IT NOT RELIABLE and will be fighting for refund DO NOT USE took upfront payment now refusing to refund we are taking it to court it isn’t as if it was a small price it was £700+ all they have said is not their problem and claim on holiday insurance not off them!!! 🤯 it is disgusting please spread the word if they did this to the elderly or young people or people travelling with venerable adults we were lucky we had each other as the outcome could of been very different in a city away from home! I won’t stop sharing on all social media until we are refunded plus giving bad reviews online”
“Very bad service from SMC they quoted me a price to go to london which I was happy with but when my party wanted one drink each on the bus (in cans) the driver demanded £100 cash but said I would get back the deposit so I obviously thought that’s fair once they see the bus is all clean (we cleaned up rubbish our selfs and recorded)
we’re a group of women not teenagers but now as a suspected they refuse to give my deposit back even though we recorded it all ! No problems a company charge more to drink I get it but don’t lie and say it’s only a deposit and they will transfer back to me ! Also this is like 3rd party company the driver didn’t even know where we was going to they just outsource to different drivers! Wouldn’t recommend don’t trust this company at-all now !”
“returning from Crete we 11 family memebers including children were left stranded in Manchester airport at 3AM wednesday morning after having spoken to them from Crete about being delayed £570 fare and only actually carried out half of the contracted job. we spent £160 on train fares to get back to Leeds and all these people can say is its not their problem and advised us to claim on our travel insurance. be carefull this company just subs out jobs to uncaring cowboy companies , on this occasion they used Stallion chauffeures of Bradford .”
“DO NOT USE as a big family arriving home from holiday they stranded us left us at the airport early hours when called the driver said not his problem as flights were delayed WE LET THEM KNOW ALSO! We were straight out from baggage and were on time if not early from the delay and they confirmed knowing the driver was rude and said not his problem and LEFT!! Plus they had the baby car seat to which the driver when spoken to said he didn’t even have that either!! We were stuck at the airport hours away from home with a baby and 5 children NOT RELIABLE and will be fighting for refund DO NOT USE”
“Avoid this company my family 6adults and 5children We arrived back from holiday into Manchester airport today 2 hours delayed at 02:15Am with no signal (we live in Leeds) but the company monitored the flight. However when I rang our driver once we got into arrivals he said he had gone and it wasn’t his problem. Try to imagine that. Please do not use them.”
“With only 12 hours to go they cancelled our booking for 23 people to the airport . Offering no alternative, and taking no responsibility. They are only a 3rd party , they actually don’t own any coaches . So they are not liable ! Shambles of a company !”
“Very poor service. Very poor communication. Staff were unhelpful. Tried to change price and conditions after non refundable deposit was paid.
To confirm that SMC is an intermediate company and this review is only in reference to THEIR service. The mini bus drivers we had were excellent, prompt, professional and helpful. The poor rating is poorly based on how unorganised, unprofessional and unhelpful they were as soon as a significant deposit was paid.”
“DO NOT GO WITH THIS COMPANY!!! they are cowboys 5 days after paying the full amount and 2 days before our event they emailed to say the specific coach for our party had "broken down" and the replacement would cost us an extra £220 which morally isn't right in the first instance but then we were shocked to read in their T&Cs they had this written in for this very unique circumstance which is very suspicious. We were even more shocked to look at the reviews and see they've done this to people multiple times so this is obviously a sinister tactic they use to get more money from people who they know 2days before an event that they're stranded and left with no other choice but to pay the extortionate extra fee. The email they sent to announce this change was also very suspicious as whatever low IQ staff member they got to send out the round robin email left a space for "PRICE" and also called me two different names when I rang up so this "broken down" coach specifically relating to just our party was obviously conveniently happening to all the rest of their fleet all at the same time.... convenient that. Only redeeming factor about this company is they refunded me which in all honesty I wasn't expecting but other than that they are cowboys. the wish.com of coach hire companies”
“SCAM COMPANY AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!
I booked SMC over 6 weeks ago now for a trip we are taking this coming Saturday (it’s Thursday today) I paid in full £350, and emailed them 2 days ago to confirm the booking as I’d not heard anything from them and to ask if we’d be okay to leave bottles of water etc on the coach whilst we were at our event for the journey home to which I received an email saying “let me come back to you this afternoon” I received no further communication. Then TODAY less than 48 hours from our booking departure I received an EMAIL to say they were sorry the mini bus has broken down and they have to cancel the booking. I called and spoke to Marcella who was rude and completely unhelpful and unsympathetic and just said they would get the refund processed asap. I then frantically called a number of local mini bus hire firms trying to find alternative transport (I haven’t been able to at such short notice) to be told by 3 of those said companies that this company is a broker they do not own any vehicles they are renown for taking multiple bookings and taking peoples money then cancelling on them last minute as they are incapable of fulfilling the bookings. I was told by one company I was the 4th call he had received just today who had been let down by them due to “vehicle breakdown” absolutely disgusting company they will be getting reported. Crooks taking peoples money and leaving them in the lurch less than 48 hours before they are needed !!”
“Booked a minibus for 12 people at 00:15 to get from North Wales back to Chester after a wedding for £210, nobody turned up and I couldn't get a hold of the driver or anyone at SMC. After an hour I had to make other arrangements. Got in touch with SMC the Monday afterwards but could only file a complaint email. Then had to wait 18 days to get a refund, at which point I was told the reason was that 'the driver read the job sheet incorrectly'. Extremely poor customer service, professionalism and an apparent lack of empathy.”
“Unreliable and irresponsible
Avoid booking with SMC coaches as they are careless with their organisation and handling of customers.
I booked with SMC coaches in September 2021 for my wedding in June 2022, with the request to transport my wedding guests from Worcester City Centre to the wedding venue.
I was in communication with SMC between this time and even called 3 days before my wedding to double-check details.
However, due to their poor planning and carelessness, they cancelled less than 48 hours before my wedding, citing a broken-down coach and giving two drivers leave.
They offered no more than a poor apology and a refund. They didn’t take responsibility for their mistakes, citing it was out of their control which is a lie.
SMC showed no consideration for their poor organisation and didn’t offer any help in resolving the issue.
I would not book with SMC coaches as their service and organisation are extremely poor.”
“I am absolutely gobsmacked at the experience I have had with this company.
Our minibus cancelled the day before we were due to travel. Every single alternative company I rang to try and book another minibus were not the slightest bit surprised when I gave them the name 'SMC'.
Reading the reviews now I realise I should have avoided this company completely.
I will never use them again, the amount of stress and upset they have caused me today is not worth it.”
“Book this company to take 21 people, including 2 disabled people, 1 in a wheelchair, to Aintree races course on national day and collect us at the end of the evening, took us there OK, but we're a no show for the return journey, wouldn't take our calls or answer are texts on the day, we had to get friends to collect our 2 disabled guests and the rest got trains and taxis after waiting 4 hours, totally ruined the day, stay away from this company. Total rip off.”
“If I could give zero stars I would. Left my party stranded on their return journey from the Grand National at Aintree 2022. Ruined what was a fab day. We have two disabled passengers as well, one in a wheelchair. 3 hours to make our own way home. Would only refund return journey which didn't cover all our additional expenses.”
“Terrible experience. Do not use this company. The mini bus had no luggage space for 13 girls.
On the way we asked the driver to stop for toilet break and he drove straight pass services.
Return bus just did not turn up at all leaving us all stranded. We then had to pay for train journey home having already paid over £600 for the bus. It has been a huge hassle since to get any sort of compensation from SMC instead of them doing the right thing and giving us at least half the money back.
Stay well away.”
