Arnold Clark, Glasgow, Lanarkshire

I've taken my car for its service/MOT to a Vauxhall dealership for around 10 years. Why? So that my Lifetime Warranty would be maintained. Paid more than I would have at other garages. It passed the MOT without any issue in 2019. Last Saturday, the wishbone snapped while my son was driving it. He was lucky he didn't get killed. The provisional diagnosis - rotten sub-floor or frame (can't remember which he said). How on earth did it go from a pass to rotten in 9 months? I heard today that's it's a known fault........

I work for the nhs and thought I'd write to their CRS department to enquire about a free hire car for nhs staff. They say allow 4 working days, which I did. No reply. So I thought we'd do a wee social experiment. They were polite and very quick to reply when the name was Anglo-Saxon, not so polite when the name is not Anglo Saxon. Why? I'm thinking of placing this review on our nhs staff intranet social platform as somehow other platforms won't show my review.

I empathize and commiserate with all those that expected more from Arnold Clark (AC) Customer Services. I trusted the AC assurances of complete repair and have been left to foot the entire bill of their unqualified misdirection. On the basis of my experience I would NEVER contemplate another purchase from Arnold Clark nor would I trust the sales, mechanics or customer services functions of this company believing there to be an added vindictiveness when problems arose in;

1. Failing to honour a 50% off repairs voucher;

2. Seeking to charge for the storage of the defective vehicle; AND

3. Clandestinely and blatantly incorrectly claiming I was “publicly harassing people working for their company”!!! (this was to another review site in an attempt to gag my comments.

I am MASSIVELY DISAPPOINTED with AC, having purchased there in expectation of integrity from a national chain. What I have described is the opposite. How would I ensure this doesn’t happen to me in the future? – I WILL NEVER BUY THERE AGAIN.

No regard for customers, care more about commission. The service I received at this store was disgraceful. Also advise not to leave a deposit unless you're sure you're going to buy. They say you'll get it back hassle free if you don't buy, It's not true! Over two weeks and still nothing has been processed to return my deposit, despite being told it had been done. Had to contact my bank who confirmed nothing had been authorised. Single parent out of pocket they don't care.

We leased a Vauxhall Astra from Glasgow Vauxhall (South) in November 2016 and have unfortunately had issues since with both the car and the customer service at the branch.

The attached pictures relate to 3 separate occasions where we have had to have the RAC called out due to battery issues with the car:

11th May 2017

3rd July 2017

22nd October 2017 (I have yet to receive the report for this, however the engineer verbally confirmed that this was again due to a faulty battery and RAC customer services report will verify this)

On the 11th May the test result clearly states ‘replace battery’.

On the 3rd July the test result clearly states ‘bad cell replace’. On this occasion, once the engineer jump-started the car and carried out the tests, I drove straight to the branch and he followed me there. Both myself and the engineer explained the issue to a gentleman in repairs (I don’t recall his name) and was advised that the car would have to be kept in for further tests and that the policy didn’t allow for a courtesy car. With two small children at nursery and school, and both myself and my wife driving to work, this was clearly far from ideal. Once further tests had been completed by Arnold Clark and I returned to collect the car, I was advised by the same gentleman that there were no issues with the battery! When I argued that this was at odds with 2 separate RAC engineers, he told me that his own car would sometimes not start after being away. I’m not sure if this was supposed to make me feel better, but if he feels that this is normal for new cars then this doesn’t bode well for Arnold Clark’s business model.

Most recently (22nd October) we returned from a week at Disneyland with the kids to collect the car from my parents’ house and once again the car was completely dead to the point it wouldn’t remotely unlock. The same engineer from the 3rd July arrived and repeated that the test results showed a faulty battery.

Being disadvantaged on 3 separate occasions due to negligence, with two small children, is not acceptable. We cannot accept a car that that is clearly faulty, and is so patently unreliable, I travel a lot with work, what if the car failed to start when in Aberdeen or Birmingham or the south of England? Worse, what would happen if the car did not work during the winter with 2 small children in the car and we were somewhere remote, with no battery and no heating?

I respectfully asked that the car either be fixed properly, or replaced. I received this response:

From AC-Customer Services

Sent 30 October 2017 1043

To

Subject

Dear xxxThank you for taking my call, I am sending you confirmation, in writing, of our discussion.

To clarify, when the car returned to us in May, no issue could be found. The car was comprehensively checked, at no charge to yourself, as a gesture of goodwill. We cannot fault the car. Due to the length of ownership of the car, if you would like to book back in, any further diagnostic work will be chargeable. As will any repairs not covered under your Vauxhall warranty.

This will be our final response in this matter, we will not respond to any further communication on this matter.

They are to eager to get your car for a service. They send you reminders by post then texting and phoning. However as soon as the get the car they forget about you. The quality of service is not that great and is not value for money.

Not recommended.

In March 2014 I paid £20700 for a brand new MX5 (not a demonstrator or pre-registered car) from Machargs, South Street, Glasgow. Every vehicle manufactured anywhere in the world must contain one unique Vehicle Identification Number - or VIN. I was horrified to discover that the car sold to me as brand new had two different VIN numbers stamped onto different body panels which relate to two different registration numbers from two different MX5's. This is currently under investigation by Mazda UK. It would appear that the dealership took parts from a damaged blue MX5 and put these onto the blue one they sold me as brand new - because the car they sold me had been damaged at the front. Machargs have now swapped the car with the two VIN numbers for another brand new vehicle and I am pleased the dealership agreed to this - but be warned, Machargs have now placed the 14 plate MX5 with two VIN numbers for sale on their web-site. Buyer beware!!

The asian senior sales person do at all costs avoid dealing with this person!!! He is very rude, unprofessional and extremely intimidating. I was there for a couple of hours to buy a car and at the point of negotiating the sale he decided to jump in because he is a senior sales person. I walked out and they lost a sale because of his intimidating behaviour. I strongly advise management at Machargs Glasgow to send this man for training on customer relations. Will not be going back there to buy a car!!!

purchased a brand new ford ka from Machargs and it was only 11 months later the tyre had suffered from a puncture. It was then that I had noticed that I was not provided with a key for the locking nuts, so the mechanic from AA (breakdown assistance) used another form of equipment to change the tyre. Took the car to machargs and asked for a replacement key....THEN WHAT? well, they treated me with complete disrespect and had a lot of attitude! it almost felt as if I was subject to bullying! was told that I could not order a replacement and that the company was not willing to take any responsibility. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED!!! DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!

Bought Vauxhall Astra from this lot brand new in 2011, the brake caliper on the back wheel stuck and caused me to need new pads and disc as well as new caliper, I was quoted 390 pounds for the work."What about my warranty?" I asked.Ah! Unfortunately the brake caliper is only warranty up to 20000 miles....Eh? Obviously I didn't give them the work, but was charged Eighty pounds for them investigating fault...basically taking back wheel off to confirm stuck caliper..stand and deliver should be their motto....stay clear of this lot and stay clear of Vauxhall. find

Bought a six months old corsa sri from their Mount Vernon branch. 2 Months later the window washers stop working. (Common fault on the corsa which is not covered under warrenty).

Put it in to get fixed was told i would get a call to tell me if it was under warrenty or not. No phone call. Call the service department and the feamle told me the car was ready and was done under warrenty.

When picking the car up was informed it was NOT under warrenty as a gromit had been blocked and needed cleaned out at the cost of £35.00. Reluctantly paid and wsa give a leaflet with the things Uncle Arnold doeson their free quck heakth check.

Once home was reading through the free check to discover that according to Uncle Arnold all my tyres had 7 mm's of tread on them all the same kind. Funny considering it had done 15k and was a front wheel drive and that i also had to replace one of the back tyres 2 Days previously. ON further looking at it according to Uncle Arnold my spare tyre is brand new with 8mm's on it. The corsa SRI doesn't come with a spare wheel as the body kit does not allow a standard jack into the car.

Went into speak with the service manager who was of. Spoke to the workshop supervisor who wanted to keep my health check. I refused and gave a photo copy of it. Never got a call back or any reply to my letter to head office will def no buy from them again