READ HERE WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY
Arnold Clark, Citroen dealership in ABERDEEN
I have never experienced such incompetent, rude and unhelpful staff in all my
motoring experience.
My car had been looked at by about 6 different mechanics (thank you kwik fit)
before I had to bring it to Arnold Clark for a specialist part for my Saxo. So
I knew what was wrong with my car and what parts I needed.
That didn't stop them from taking 2 days to put her on the ramp to have a look
and then quote me about £300 for something I knew should only cost about £40 (at
a push). So I complained and eventually the service manager (in order to shut
me up) took me into the garage to look underneath my car to see what they were
trying to charge me for. My exhaust although not in great condition, was still
whole apart from the pipe I'd asked them to replace.
So it was a con to get more money out of a "stupid woman driver" but they hadn't
bet on the fact that I knew what I was talking about.
The main reason for me putting this on this site is because while I was in the
waiting area the "service" manager and the "service" receptionist were
discussing the bill of a woman's car that had just been fixed. This was Tues
6th May 03. Her quote had been £330 but her bill came up from the garage as
£184. The "service" manager then asked the receptionist to add onto the bill
that they had looked at her linkages as well and to add 3.9 hours of labour to
her bill to bring it up closer to what she was estimated.
If that was you, you've been had by Arnold Clark like the rest of us. It's time
to stop using them and give all our complaints to Watchdog. My first port of
call however, is Citroen as it's their name that is being tarnished too.. 14.5.2003
It is time that RENAULT had a look at how Arnold Clark are servicing RENAULT customers.
Hope A.C. pays attention to your site and cleans up his act although he has been in the game a long time and has done nothing about it.
I do not know of one person that has a good thing to say about A.C. servicing 14.5.2003
That's right AC Seat, Elderslie. Bought an Ibiza from them in 98 and had 4 years of trouble free motoring. My wife and I decided to trade it in for the new model last summer. It seemed a good deal as they were offering 2 years 'free' servicing as an incentive, but as the colour of the car we wanted wouldn't be available until after the promo was finished, no servicing. The only colour that was available was a grey colour.
We eventually agreed to take more for the trade in to offset the price of servicing and duly took delivery at the beginning of August.
Now the problems start...After about 3 weeks an engine warning light came on. Of course, when you see a warning light, you worry. Called them and because of work patterns I can only take it on a Saturday. They had a look, put it on a machine, and couldn't find anything so they reset the light. No problem... for 2 hours and it came on again. Called in on the Monday, took it back on the Saturday, found a problem but sorted it... To cut a long story short, they've replaced something called a 'lambda probe'(?) twice, no fault found four times, so 10 visits within 7 months and that's where I'm going tomorrow with the same fault!!
14.5.2003
i recently bought a car from Machargs in Broxburns. five weeks down the line my
head gasket blew causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage. when i went back to
the garage the general manager just didn't care, saying it was out of the four
week warranty. on numerous occasions i went back to the garage and every time the
manager Allan Gordon was sitting about watching teletext or surfing the net for
holidays. in the end i had to take the car to another garage and pay half the
price. if you want my advice don't buy off Arnold clark.14.5.2003
Wife's car is a SEAT Alhambra Diesel.
First service & MOT at nearest SEAT dealer (Arnold Clark at Elderslie) was
substantially dearer than verbal quote given to my missus over the phone.
Some time late, Water pump goes: again, verbal quote over the phone to my wife
again over-runs substantially. OK, maybe the guy who took the phone call was
badly-informed.
A little later, air-con stops working. Arnold Clark charge her 60 quid to replace
a fuse.
OK I get the message.. 15.5.2003
Lindsay) branch in 1999.
During the 30 days warranty, they were very good. I got several problems fixed
with the car free.
The car had only 27,000 miles on the clock and was an ex-mobility car. I had
only done 2,000 miles in it before my timing belt went. When I took it to two
separate garages, both informed me that the car had been clocked! I then found
out that a timing belt should last over 60,000 miles. Mine went on 29. Arnold
Clark gave me a 'guaranteed mileage' when I bought the car. Yehh right.
Since that time several major components needed fixed/replaced. Not happy.. 15.5.2003
I bought a new Clio cup 172 from East lane Paisley which was delivered 01/03/03.
Here is my list of faults so far.
60 miles rear hatch was loose.
60 miles sales person Gary was informed that the handbook was in German. I'm
still waiting for a replacement 10 weeks later.
500 miles power steering fluid was below minimum level.
1300 miles(6 weeks old) The car was put in for an oil leak, vibration noise from
rear and uneven tick over. Got it back after 5 days with a new cylinder head!!
The vibration and tick over problems still remain.
1300 miles told the salesman I wanted a replacement car as a new cylinder head
is not a minor problem. He said he would speak to the service manager and phone
me back 2 days later. Needless to say the phone call never came. I have wrote to
both the general manager and Renault ek without joy so far. In fact Customer
service at Renault can't even get the manager to answer the phone. So pissed
off, I contacted trading standards who informed me the it seems the standard
practice for our friends from Arnold Clark Paisley is to ignore all
correspondence until it gets to court hoping you will go away.
I have now send an email to Arnold's customer service department which judging
by this site won't be answered. I have also emailed what car magazine in an
effort to get these idiots even to acknowledged I exist.
The handouts mentioned in a previous email sound great and I was thinking about
taken it a step further. A local poster site near to the garage can be rented
for about £100-£400 per week depending on the size and location. I'd rather
spend my money on this than giving it to a lawyer to fight a case that is not
guaranteed. . 15.5.2003
