“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.”
“Purchased and collected a car on the 30th December 2021.
Purchased and collected a car on the 30th December 2021. Drove it for 20 days and a major fault came up on the dash board lost all power steering, electrics. Fault eventually temporarily righted itself after I'd turned it off and back on again. Was very dangerous as I was on the m6 at the time. Called them and they didn't get back to me so tentatively drove it to the branch. Was told it was more than likely the battery. I left my car there as it was undrivable. Next day they called me and said it was a loose connection on the battery. 2 days later the same thing happened again. Took it back and its been there ever since. It went to Ford to have a diagnostic test done. They identified that they the steering rack had gone and that there was an oil leak and it has ruined the electrics and the temperature control didn't work. That was the 5th Feb 2022. I still haven't had my car back. Went into branch to get an update as they never return calls or update and they said the cost of the repair had to be authorised bit they were 80% certain that I would be getting a refund. Next day they called me to advise the repair had been authorised but they didn't know when it would be done. Took me 10 days to get a courtesy car (which is awful,why anyone actually wants to drive an Abarth I'll never know) Had a call on the 31st March 2022 to say that it had been done but the warning light keeps coming on and it had to go back and they promised it would be back 1st April 2022. Had a call today (1st) to be told it hadn't been done as there wasn't a free mechanic. They said it would be Monday. I said I'll pop in on Monday then to collect it to be told we'll give you a call. The saga continues. Got a call at 4pm Monday to sat my car was ready. Advised I would have to collect on Tuesday as they closed as 5pm. Was told that the courtesy car was booked out for 8am on Tuesday. I Advised them that their car would be back by 5pm on Tuesday after I'd finished work and if they'd given me more notice that my car was ready after 9 weeks of having it I probably could of had it back by 5pm. I've done 200 miles in this car I purchased on the 30th December 2021. I shall be seeking compensation (not that any will be forthcoming) and I'll get an independent mechanic to make sure the work they say they've done has been done as tbh I don't trust them. Arnold Clark Oldbury your sales team are delightful. Your after sales are a disgrace as once you've had payment you don't really care as long as the car has
Drove it for 20 days and a major fault came up on the dash board lost all power steering, electrics. Fault eventually temporarily righted itself after I'd turned it off and back on again. Was very dangerous as I was on the m6 at the time.
Called them and they didn't get back to me so tentatively drove it to the branch. Was told it was more than likely the battery. I left my car there as it was undrivable.
Next day they called me and said it was a loose connection on the battery.
2 days later the same thing happened again. Took it back and its been there ever since. It went to Ford to have a diagnostic test done. They identified that they the steering rack had gone and that there was an oil leak and it has ruined the electrics and the temperature control didn't work. That was the 5th Feb 2022.
I still haven't had my car back. Went into branch to get an update as they never return calls or update and they said the cost of the repair had to be authorised bit they were 80% certain that I would be getting a refund. Next day they called me to advise the repair had been authorised but they didn't know when it would be done.
Took me 10 days to get a courtesy car (which is awful,why anyone actually wants to drive an Abarth I'll never know)
Had a call on the 31st March 2022 to say that it had been done but the warning light keeps coming on and it had to go back and they promised it would be back 1st April 2022. Had a call today (1st) to be told it hadn't been done as there wasn't a free mechanic. They said it would be Monday. I said I'll pop in on Monday then to collect it to be told we'll give you a call. The saga continues. Got a call at 4pm Monday to sat my car was ready. Advised I would have to collect on Tuesday as they closed as 5pm. Was told that the courtesy car was booked out for 8am on Tuesday. I Advised them that their car would be back by 5pm on Tuesday after I'd finished work and if they'd given me more notice that my car was ready after 9 weeks of having it I probably could of had it back by 5pm.
I've done 200 miles in this car I purchased on the 30th December 2021. I shall be seeking compensation (not that any will be forthcoming) and I'll get an independent mechanic to make sure the work they say they've done has been done as tbh I don't trust them.
Arnold Clark Oldbury your sales team are delightful. Your after sales are a disgrace as once you've had payment you don't really care as long as the car has gone and you've got a big payment on your sales ledger. They never return your calls, they never answer the phones. It constantly goes back to the sales reception who say they will email them to say that you've called. Which I believe they do.
I was actually told that my repair time would be on an as and when they could fit it in basis as paid warranty customers have priority. My car is still under their 60 day after care warranty but means nothing to them. They eventually booked my car in for repair but I didn't get a courtesy car for another 10 days as they had booked it out to another customer even though I was told there would be a car for me. They don't care that I have to get to work. Arnold Clark if you did proper checks on the cars you sell prior to selling them then perhaps all this would have been avoided
Will I use Arnold Clark again...no would I recommend them most definitely not and I and my family have been loyal customers over the years and even followed the sales manager to this branch as he has sold us cars in the past when he was a just a sales lad starting out. Be interesting to see if what they have done has fixed the problem else this will go further.
SO PLEASE AVOID ARNOLD CLARK AS THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE. Get Outlook for Android Drove it for 20 days and a major fault came up on the dash itself after I'd turned it off and back on again. Was very dangerous as I was on the m6 at the time. Called them and they didn't get back to me so tentatively drove it to the branch. Was told it was more than likely the battery. I left my car there as it was undrivable. Next day they called me and said it was a loose connection on the battery. 2 days later the same thing happened again. Took it back and its been there ever since. It went to Ford to have a diagnostic test done. They identified that they the steering rack had gone and that there was an oil leak and it has ruined the electrics and the temperature control didn't work. That was the 5th Feb 2022. I still haven't had my car back. Went into branch to get an update as they never return calls or update and they said the cost of the repair had to be authorised bit they were 80% certain that I would be getting a refund. Next day they called me to advise the repair had been authorised but they didn't know when it would be done. Took me 10 days to get a courtesy car (which is awful,why anyone actually wants to drive an Abarth I'll never know) Had a call on the 31st March 2022 to say that it had been done but the warning light keeps coming on and it had to go back and they promised it would be back 1st April 2022. Had a call today (1st) to be told it hadn't been done as there wasn't a free mechanic. They said it would be Monday. I said I'll pop in on Monday then to collect it to be told we'll give you a call. The saga continues. Got a call at 4pm Monday to sat my car was ready. Advised I would have to collect on Tuesday as they closed as 5pm. Was told that the courtesy car was booked out for 8am on Tuesday. I Advised them that their car would be back by 5pm on Tuesday after I'd finished work and if they'd given me more notice that my car was ready after 9 weeks of having it I probably could of had it back by 5pm. I've done 200 miles in this car I purchased on the 30th December 2021. I shall be seeking compensation (not that any will be forthcoming) and I'll get an independent mechanic to make sure the work they say they've done has been done as tbh I don't trust them. Arnold Clark Oldbury your sales team are delightful. Your after sales are a disgrace as once you've had payment you don't really care as long as the car has gone and you've got a big payment on your sales ledger. They never return your calls, they never answer their phones. It constantly goes back to the sales reception who say they will email them to say that you've called. Which I believe they do. I was actually told that my repair time would be on an as and when they could fit it in basis as paid warranty customers have priority. My car is still under their 60 day after care warranty but means nothing to them. They eventually booked my car in for repair but I didn't get a courtesy car for another 10 days as they had booked it out to another customer even though I was told there would be a car for me. They don't care that I have to get to work. Arnold Clark if you did proper checks on the cars you sell prior to selling them then perhaps all this would have been avoid. Will I use Arnold Clark again...no would I recommend them most definitely not and I and my family have been loyal customers over the years and even followed the sales manager to this branch as he has sold us cars in the past when he was a just a sales lad starting out. Be interesting to see if what they have done has fixed the problem else this will go further. SO PLEASE AVOID ARNOLD CLARK AS THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE. Get Outlook for Android
Purchased and collected a car on the 30th Dec 2021. Drove it for 20 days and a major fault came up on the dash board lost all power steering, electrics. Fault eventually temporarily righted itself after I'd turned it off and back on again. Was very dangerous as I was on the m6 at the time. Called them and they didn't get back to me so tentatively drove it to the branch. Was told it was more than likely the battery. I left my car there as it was undrivable. Next day they called me and said it was a loose connection on the battery. 2 days later the same thing happened again. Took it back and its been there ever since. It went to Ford to have a diagnostic test done. They identified that they the steering rack had gone and that there was an oil leak and it has ruined the electrics and the temperature control didn't work. That was the 5th Feb 2022. I still haven't had my car back. Went into branch to get an update as they never return calls or update and they said the cost of the repair had to be authorised bit they were 80% certain that I would be getting a refund. Next day they called me to advise the repair had been authorised but they didn't know when it would be done. Took me 10 days to get a courtesy car (which is awful,why anyone actually wants to drive an Abarth I'll never know) Had a call on the 31st March 2022 to say that it had been done but the warning light keeps coming on and it had to go back and they promised it would be back 1st April 2022. Had a call today (1st) to be told it hadn't been done as there wasn't a free mechanic. They said it would be Monday. I said I'll pop in on Monday then to collect it to be told we'll give you a call. The saga continues. Got a call at 4pm Monday to sat my car was ready. Advised I would have to collect on Tuesday as they closed as 5pm. Was told that the courtesy car was booked out for 8am on Tuesday. I Advised them that their car would be back by 5pm on Tuesday after I'd finished work and if they'd given me more notice that my car was ready after 9 weeks of having it I probably could of had it back by 5pm. I've done 200 miles in this car I purchased on the 30th December 2021. I shall be seeking compensation (not that any will be forthcoming) and I'll get an independent mechanic to make sure the work they say they've done has been done as tbh I don't trust them. Arnold Clark Oldbury your sales team are delightful. Your after sales are a disgrace as once you've had payment you don't really care as long as the car has gone and you've got a big payment on your sales ledger. They never return your calls, they never answer their phones. It constantly goes back to the sales reception who say they will email them to say that you've called. Which I believe they do. I was actually told that my repair time would be on an as and when they could fit it in basis as paid warranty customers have priority. My car is still under their 60 day after care warranty but means nothing to them. They eventually booked my car in for repair but I didn't get a courtesy car for another 10 days as they had booked it out to another customer even though I was told there would be a car for me. They don't care that I have to get to work. Arnold Clark if you did proper checks on the cars you sell prior to selling them then perhaps all this would have been avoid. Will I use Arnold Clark again...no would I recommend them most definitely not and I and my family have been loyal customers over the years and even followed the sales manager to this branch as he has sold us cars in the past when he was a just a sales lad starting out. Be interesting to see if what they have done has fixed the problem else this will go further.
SO PLEASE AVOID ARNOLD CLARK AS THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE.
Car collected seems OK. Gesture of good will they have extended the aftersales warranty and the new parts are”
“Arnold Clark Complaint
24/11/21
Drove over 1 hour away to collect car from Northwich- to find out when I arrived the paperwork hadn't been followed up and the car wasn't ready
25/11/21
Purchase of car
16/12/21
Complaint made via email after serval attempts to contact via phone call - radio, clutch, brakes, seat belt, smell
16/3/22
Car was finally able to be seen from Arnold Clark Bolton
30/3/22
Car collected from Bolton- still not upto standards, felt unsafe and didn't feel the work had been carried out correctly (which is later confirmed by another AC branch) after having the car for 2 weeks
30/3/22
I made another complaint when I arrived home, unable to keep the car in gear and swerving over the motorway - extremely unsafe to drive
31/3/22
Emails back and forth with Northwich general manager, who was ignorant, inconsiderate and refused to answer my calls- demanding to take the car back for a diagnostic test- at my expense, vile emails with no regards that I have commitments, am a single parent with a disability. Even though I was assured after the car had been in at Bolton I had a right to reject - full of empty
1/4/22
Car collect, reassurance it would be back the same day
Car didn't arrive back, subsequently making me miss childcare opening times and I was unable to go to work- I had loss of earnings and still had to pay the childcare fee
COMFIRMED - Diagnostic came back that the clutched hadn't been drained after having a new clutch and tracking hadn't been done after having new brakes (poor workmanship from Bolton)
But because these are just "adjustments" and not faults I was unable to reject the car for a refund
I rang the general manager again, while waiting/on hold I was told:
He was with a customer
He was tied up on a call
He had to dash out of the office
Unfortunately he had left for the day
This left me extremely frustrated and I was on the call for over a hour
2/4/22
Car return... within one hour of the car arriving back I sold the car at a very big loss because of all the anxiety and stress this had caused me
2/4/22
I requested my money back for the £100 MOT service I had signed in to for next 3 years with Arnold clark as I didn't trust the work that had been carried out and would never return to Arnold Clark - DECLINED as it is nonrefundable
The childcare, the petrol, working arrangements and time have all been at my expense.
Arnold clark pride themselves on a hassle free warranty and this wasn't delivered and I was well within my 30day period of raising any issues
The Car was sold not upto standards with none of the appropriate checks being carried out, at time of purchase and also when in Bolton.
Causing a life threatening condition to flare up.
Discrimination towards myself.
The workmanship carried out didn't resolved issues yet made them worse.
The customer services has been the worst I have ever known from a company.
I have countless more where Mark has emailed separately to our thread and none of his colleagues in the emails. I also have countless emails going back and forth with Ryan the salesman.”
“My brother bought me a scoda 9th feb 2022,driving it 50miles home i couldnt get to 60 on the motorway.
Static Noise screaming from the dash board.
They refused to reject the car. I had a second opinion at a garage Yes elecrical fault needed fixed.
Said garage near me did scoda when it does not.
Store Mgr said no 30 day return they advertise a 60 day hastls free return?
They picked up the car19th march 23rd returned. Winscreen wiper reason for static fixed now I complained of heating broken They have not replied when they said maintenance would get in touch They have not tried to contact me.
Now I am getting legal advice as my consumer rites 2015 say they are breaking the law.
They were given 1 chance to fix this or I can indeed Reject this car.
They simply dont care!”
“Arnold Clark is a disgrace of a company.
They commit to bullying you into a sale. All was going well until I decided to back out of a sale at last minute. My right I’d say …the salesman didn’t agree. His polite voice turned to anger stating all the hard work he had done for nothing. I was left shaken and nervous. I complained and excuses were given. Something needs to be done about this company’s salesmen.”
“If there was a 0 star option, they'd be getting a 0 star. Cannot stress it enough: NEVER ever under any circumstances buy or repair your car at Arnold Clark.”
“Daughter bought a mini from Arnold Clark - after 1 week engine management light came on this has happened 3 times in the last 5 weeks - they have said they cant fix it or do anymore - but happy to buy the car back !!!!!!!!!!! - selling cars with faults they cant fix”
“I don’t think I’ve ever read so many bad reviews about a company of this size! I was on the look out for a dealer to buy a used car and after reading all the reviews it feels like I have dodged a bullet !! For everyone who’s been affected by the level of service or the lack of it at Arnold Clark, please register your concerns/complaints to the Financial Ombudsman for a fair review of the issues/problems you’ve had with the company.”
