“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.”
“Very poor service from Arnold Clark on Royston road branch in Glasgow. They tried to charge me £700 more than was advertised and then said the “ system had the old price in” therefore they couldn’t give me a reduction in the warranty price either. But thankfully I never went through with the deal and got a brilliant deal from an Approved used dealer( not Arnold Clark!) elsewhere. The sales manager was being greedy and lost the deal. Oh and also, the mileage was advertised as being 5000 miles LESS than it was when I went to see the car! Avoid these guys! Go elsewhere!!!”
“It Is Fair To Say That They Only Want To Sell Used Car’s With Finance And Add Ons ? Do The Bare Essential Work Required To Get It Out The Door ASAP ! The Managers Do Not Want To Take Any Come Backs With The Car, One Key Supplied If They Can Get Away With It, Although Arnold’s Clark’s So Called Policy Is To Treat Customer’s Fairly And Supply Them With 2 Keys With There Car ? It Would Appear The GM’S In The Branches Dictate The Policy’s To Enhance There Pocket !”
“Home of the real steal more appropriate traded in kia soul said they couldn't match motorway price as they were selling it at £14498 and I have proof of that now sold to someone for £16498 so two people shafted me and new owner hope they read this they can stick the new puma where the sun doesn't shine won't be back near the place cheers guys lies lies lies you know who you are”
“Brought a car from a differnt branch when they sent the email with the video only said they was one small mark but whwn we got the car home we notice it been repaired sprayed in a differnt couler a scrape on the alloy just very bad quality and it was not a cheap car so just warm people they sell bad quilty cars”
“My wife bought a car from Arnold Clark now on her 4th week of using public transport during this inclement weather, paid Arnold Clark 16k for car which included extended warranty, turns out wasn't worth the paper it was written on,please if you want your family to have reliable transportation do not use Arnold Clark”
“A went down on time at 8 booked my car in for a code 82 and brake clunk got told a few hours ,they put it threw a machine done full work up every time they charged me for top up of fluids normally free got got a call from them to pick it up at 3 50 in the afternoon was told £408 . 80 . Very over priced just not what I was expecting at all disappointed in the price won't go for a repair!”
“Took my car for repairs to Salford branch,having to wait for 3 weeks, it was dropped off on November 20th. And waited till 17th February 22 for it to be ready. Along the way every excuse for delays was given which were not consistent. Worryingly I was told the master technician wouldn't touch it cause he hadn't done that job before. I asked if they would give me a price for the car when the job was done , they made me an offer which they would not honour, and were trying to sell me another car. 3 months of nightmare, would not touch them with barge-pole .”
“Arnold Clark complaint
Bought new Renault master van from Arnold Clark Hillington in May 21.
25/11/21
1st fault reported 25/11/21 repair appointment 10/12/21. I was told save to drive with all the warning lights and loss of power. Repaired 10/12/21
28/1/22
Some faults return less than two hundred miles. I called 28/12/22 no one available at service department and was told they would call back, I waited all weekend, no returned call. Called again Monday 31/1/22 Was told no appointments for 2 weeks. I asked as it was the same faults that reoccurred can the fix my van sooner. Was told no. I asked for a replacement van as I couldn’t work with my van in this condition and was told no. Again appealed to them to repair my van sooner as the fault was going on for 25/11/21, but again was told no. I said that there customers service was disgraceful and that there was ether an ongoing faults with the van or the technician was incompetent and only reset warning lights and did no repair faults. At this point service assistant spoke to someone saying I’M GOING TO HANG UP ON THIS GUY. I asked to speak to manager. The service manager told me I was abusive and was not welcome at Arnold Clark.
1/2/22
I contacted Renault Uk and explained Arnold Clark refused to repair my van under warranty. They arranged for the RAC to assess my van. RAC technician assessed my van as Un-drivable and stated that Arnold Clark should not have told me to drive the van, they have placed me in danger due to lack of power and properly causing further damage to engine. RAC arranged for a recovery truck to take my van to Arnold Clark Renault in Hillington. 911 Recovery truck picked up my van but within 30 minutes returned van saying the Arnold Clark staff told to take van back to customer as he was abusive.
So on the 1/2/21 Arnold Clark Renault Hillington have branded me as an abusive person to Renault UK, RAC assist and to 911 Recovery service.
2/2/22
I complained to Arnold Clark customer service who put me through to business manager Richard Kennedy. I explain my complaints and said that there was no way I was ever abusive to there staff. He said me would listen to the phone recordings and get back to me. He at this point said that if I was abusing his staff they would not deal with me.
I waited a week but no reply. I called again.
Richard Kennedy final responded to complaints on 9/2/22.
The first point he made was that I was NOT ABUSIVE but he said I called there customer service useless and disgraceful and I called a technician incompetent. I commented that
I did call there customer service useless and I did ask them to tell me either there is a fault in the van or is the fault with the technician. I don’t believe this to be abusive or agresive as I am trying to keep business going.
I also commented that I have bought a new Renault van every 3 years for the last 20 years and they have no customer loyalty.
Richard Kennedy has decided that I am NO WELCOME AT ARNOLD CLARK.
I now have an 8 month old van I can not get repaired
IN MY OPINION ARNOLD CLARK RENAULT HILLINGTON WILL DO ANYTHING TO GOT OUT OF REPAIRING VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY.
IM NOW STRUGGLING TO KEEP MY BUSINESS RUNNING
THANKS TO ARNOLD CLARK.
Sent from my iPhone”
“I spoke to them to exchange my car they Valuing my car for £1750.
But when I visited their website I find car same as my car with 15000 miles more drive an same age same engine
They sales £5300..!!!!!
That is, they buy from me at a very free price for nothing and sell it to me as a buyer with 200% Unfair profit.”
“Terrible service. Take my reservation for a car they then take off sale as not fit for sale. Will only refund by cheque. Then forget to do refund and refund to my card anyway when I chase after 3 weeks. Why not do that in the first case? Salesman response - "not my problem". DO NOT BUY A CAR FROM THEM.”
“I bought a brand new Renault master from Hillington branch. Within 6 months faults displayed on dashboard check injection, Check anti pollution, engine and spanner icon and loss of power. Report faults and was told first appointment was 10 days away and it was safe to drive. Van was repaired 10 days later. Less than 200 miles later all the same faults reappeared on dashboard. Phone to report faults and again was told no appointments for two weeks. At this point I expressed my frustration as it was adversely affecting my business and commented that there customer service was shocking, I was told I was being abusive, I tried to explain that there was ether a faulty with the van or the technician didn’t repair it properly the first time. At that to my shock I was I was no longer welcome at Arnold Clark. I phone RAC as I still had all the warning lights. They advised me that Arnold Clark should have never have told me to drive with warning lights and power faults and commented that all Arnold Clark have do on the first visit to garage was turn off warning lights.
I have bought a new van every 3 years from Arnold Clark for the last 20 years, and to be treated like this is absolutely shocking. I’m struggling to keep my business going with the can problems and Arnold Clark just don’t care”
“Advice for new buyers which I will never let happen again
Check the air-conditioning of your car when you buy a car in the winter
Don't trust any manager when they say they will sort a repair keep questioning them , make sure they record every complaint you have n there system ,don't be trusting when they say something will be sorted double check with another garage if possible double check that it is recorded because they might be forbing you off . Never , Never take there word for it
When you pick up your car make sure you test everything the first few weeks
Don't but a car in the winter .
I have learnt my lesson and I am not a happy bunny. My error for trusting people . Never Again .”
“Well I dont know or can write review on other arnold clark but the one at wakefield I can after looking around for an hour or so found the car we wanted at there showroom we then learn it's in Scotland so you would think 48 to 72 hours only to come 250 mile we are still waiting 4weeks late if I could say one thing it would be I WISH I WOULD OF READ THE REVIEWS BEFORE I GO THERE”
“I had a fantastic experience with Arnold Clark, Stirling with Adrian Krol. He went above and beyond to help me. He was so patient, helpful and friendly. He didn’t push or try to force any sale. I would highly recommend, ask for Adrian every time.”
“Had a great experience with Arnold Clark when looking for a new car for my elderly parents. Their service is Superb. I would definitely recommend dealing with Joseph at the Leeds branch on Roseville Road, who went above and beyond to help us. He was so patient, helpful and friendly. He didn’t push or try to force any sale. I would highly recommend, ask for Joseph every time.”
“I bought a Car fro Arnold Clark which broke down within 3 months after some stress and time going to and frow they replaced the car with like for like. Great you may say however at they're suggestion I hired a car which cost over £900 as it took over 2 week of persistent complaints. I'm a blue badge holder so a car as essential. I was travelling to holiday when the car broke down so paid money for 2 accommodation I couldn't use never mind totally spoiling the holiday as insta of enjoying it I spent the entire time on the phone emailing Arnold Clark and trading standards. I'm ut of pocket over £1200 and they offered a good will gesture of just £500 which I felt is disgraceful for such a large company.”
“This is on an extension on a review I posted three months ago regarding a used car with old, damaged tyres.
After the tyres were sorted, I thought that would be the end of any further issues. I could not have been more wrong.
I was driving to work when all I could hear was this horrible screeching sound coming from my right, front tyre. I managed to pull over quickly were I thought it was a stone stuck. Tried my hardest to see where the stone was, yet found nothing.
I took the car around to the garage near my work to find that my brake pads and discs were rotten, worn down and corroded.
Phoned Arnold Clark straight back and I luckily managed to get every single penny back and they mentioned that the car came from another Arnold Clark garage.
I was terrified driving the car after as I was waiting for the next bad thing to happen. I ended having to get the vehicle checked over for peace of mind sakes before I felt safe and comfortable enough to drive the car.
They should never have sold me a car that was in such a state. Just because a car looks clean, does not mean it is fine. They should just replace parts that are over three years old, unless they are absolutely immaculate.”
