ARNOLD CLARK IMPORTANT CUSTOMER INFORMATION. Worth a click?

This is a very long saga cut short. The jist of it is I have a Vauxhall Astra which is still under 2 years old and is now on it's 3rd new engine thanks to Arnold Clark. I purchased the car in November 2002 and everything was going well until September last year when the engine started sounded really loud, like a taxi running. So I phoned my local garage and booked it in and was told the car needed a new engine. Since then it's been in and out the garage on six separate occasions due to a recurring oil leak and had the engine replaced again. The oil leaks have ruined my newly laid driveway, which I shall pursue further with "customer care". I have no faith left in either the car or Arnold Clark and would truthfully advise people not to purchase their vehicles from Arnie, because you will be lied to, no doubt about it. If you don't believe me, just read all these other comments too, they speak for themselves.

Couldn't believe it when I found this site. I work for Mr. Clark, who is unbelievably soon to be Sir Arnold.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am pleased to be able to vent my fury after being treated like sh**e for far too long. I won't go into details but there is something that I think all you AC haters should know. The reason why there are so many tales of nearly new cars turning out to be piles of crap could be because of Mr. Clarks policy of using brand new cars in the Hire division.

From here they will be used daily for between 6 and 12 months. I work at a Hire Drive and believe me these cars get hammered. The tales I could tell would probably bore you to death, but take my word for it. With 12,000 miles or so on the clock, they go off for sale. But it's not easy miles these cars do. Basically when they leave us they are nearly always already on their way to being sheds. One example I saw with my own eyes was a Seat Leon that we had from new. It got pasted like the rest for a few months and then went of for sale to another branch. It was a 51 plate and I couldn't believe my eyes when a few weeks later I visited one of our other branches and saw the very same car taking pride of place in their showroom. You could see where all the dents and scuffs had been although it did look very shiny. The price they were asking was 8895, new price was 9995. I was shocked but it did explain a few things. The person who bought this car will no doubt have got it on final!

nce and think he or she got a good deal. What they probably didn't know was that this car had been treated as a bag of sh**e for a number of months and had already had one hell of a beating for a car of it's age. I don't know if he declares them as ex-hire cars but I doubt it. So the next time you go into a AC branch, beware. You could be being duped.

I purchased a Citroen for my wife when we found out she was pregnant she had an old banger and I thought it would be safer for her to have a newer car)

To cut a long story short and simply because I'm so bored repeating my tale of woe to Arnold Clark personnel the cars engine blew up on the M8 Kingston Bridge. I phoned my sales man and his manager, who promptly gave me a taxi number and told me I may be able to claim it back( bearing in mind I only purchased this car 29 days prior and my wife was by this time seriously pregnant) I took the taxi number and went home with the grim satisfaction that when the "real Arnold Clark" heard about this these guys would be out on their arses quicker than their fat little legs could carry them. However the old shite never replied to my more tactile letters, phone calls and e-mails so when I seen your site I was I'm sorry to say pretty happy I had someone to grumble to. By the way I bought my wife a new care from motor point across the road from Arnold Clark so fuck him and his smarmy gomeless salespeople . And I have now deleted the real radio breakfast show from my morning listening on the way from work since they are sponsored and blatantly advertise for him

FUCK HIM AND HIS REAL CAR SALES I HOPE HIS NEXT SHIT IS A HEDGEHOG

To begin with I bought a used car from Arnold Clarks motor superstore in Motherwell, a Vauxhall corsa in 2002. About a month after buying it we tried to put the rear seat down to transport something to a friends house. Well... the back seat got stuck in a semi upright position and wouldn't go forwards or back to it's correct position, so we took it to the local Arnold Clark garage in Helensburgh, where it was supposedly fixed, or so we thought. (Stupid people we are didn't think we needed to check that this had actually been done) Anyway about four months later we needed to put the back seat down again, and...yep you guessed it, it did exactly the same thing again, so back to Arnold Clark we went, they did a temporary repair and said that we needed a "clip" for it. WHICH THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US FOR!!!!!!!! We informed them that the problem was a recurring one and that it had supposedly been repaired four months prior to that, but they still tried to charge us £32 for the re!

pair. We still haven't paid it!!! They tried to say that we had to pay because it was repaired the first time and we should have brought it to their attention sooner if it wasn't. Now, I may be what the people at these places call a "stupid woman driver" but, come on, how often does the average person need to collapse the back seat of a car? Plus, they'd conveniently lost the previous "job card"!!!! Ummmm!!!

The next run in with them was the supposedly "free MOT" that comes with the extended warrantee. We took the car in for its free MOT, and guess what??? Yep, IT FAILED!!!! On numerous points that would cost us around £100 to put right. So, after the last time we were understandably suspicious so my husband took the car to the garage he usually uses for an MOT to be done there.... surprise, surprise, it passed with flying colours!!!!

Next, was an Arnolds service, again done at the Helensburgh branch. The car was booked in for it's service, and the service was done, or so we thought!!! When we went to collect the car we discovered they'd done the WRONG SERVICE, they'd done a minor one and it should have been a major one. When we pointed out their mistake, they wanted to charge us the full price for the correct service to be done!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, was just this past week. My "T" Reg, 1999 corsa broke down on me last Saturday we took advantage of the recovery service included in the extended warrantee and the car was taken to Arnold Clarks Helensburgh branch again. The guy from the recovery centre was brilliant, he called after we'd got home to tell us that we should call the garage on Monday morning to arrange for a replacement car while mine was being repaired. Following his advice I called Arnold Clarks Helensburgh, and was asked if I'd mind "hanging fire" on the courtesy car until someone had looked at the car and they knew how long it was going to take to repair, I was assured it would be looked at and at least assessed that day. So I stupidly agreed to wait. I waited all day and finally called them at around 3.30pm only to be told that the mechanic had quickly looked at it and couldn't work out what was wrong and they didn't know when someone was going to be able to look at it again, oh and the courtesy !

car had just conveniently been booked out half an hour before I called!!!!!!! When hubby came home he was furious and called them telling them that I needed a replacement car, so they said they'd have one brought up from the hire drive department in Dumbarton for the following morning, if I was there for around 9.30am they'd have a car for me, but I would have to ARRANGE MY OWN INSURANCE????????? Prior to this we hadn't even heard of garages making their customers get their own insurance for a courtesy car, any other times the garage has covered this on their own insurance!!!! We weren't too happy with this but we thought, at least I'd have the use of a car. Tuesday morning came and as hubby was working a neighbours husband had kindly offered to take me down to collect the hire car. We arrived at the Helensburgh branch at just after 9.30am, only to be told "We're sorry but there's been a slight hold up the car will be here shortly." Errrrrr.... we waited until 10.45am!!!! We!

ll, at least the car was here now! Hmmmmmm... the car they'd sent was a brand new Renault Scenic, worth about £12K, but there was no engine size or anything in the information, so we had to hang around for another half hour while they found this out. With this information to hand, the lady on the service desk called my insurance company who very kindly informed me that this car would cost me £25.50 PER DAY to insure. Now, what makes me think that Arnolds knew this would happen and did it on purpose???? Considering my car is a 1.0 litre corsa, they send a great big 1.6 Renault Scenic, and don't expect us to figure out what they're up to???? THEN they decide to tell me that they're short staffed in the service department and so my car probably wouldn't get even looked at until the following Monday or Tuesday.

Anyway, I called hubby at work and he told me to tell them to shove it. So I left, again careless!!!! Hubby took the afternoon off and called the garage he uses again, and he told us that he's actually an approved auto care garage, so hubby took the car from Arnolds and took it to him. It took him an hour, and apparently the problem was the fuel filter, he also told us that if Arnold Clark said they'd serviced the car before collection when I bought it, they were lying, the fuel filter hadn't been changed from the car being new!!!

Further to this, we broke down again on the same day as collecting the car. So, we again called out the recovery guys, who tried to tell us that the car had to go to Arnold Clarks!!! I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!! But we eventually managed to persuade them to take the car to the garage we preferred using!!! Only to discover there's a different problem now, the speed sensor!!!

We've also tried to find the service details of the car, but all we have is the "stamp" in the books all done by Arnold Clark, funnily enough, the fuel filter is supposed to be changed at 20k miles, there was a service done at 18k and then the one just prior to my collecting the car at 23.5k. We tried to trace which branches had done these services so we called Arnold Clark Motherwell who had no record apart from it being an ex-contract hire car, which we weren't told about when we bought the car, otherwise we wouldn't have even considered buying it. The lady listed on the V5 as being the previous owner is ex-directory so we can't contact her either, to try and find out where she had the car serviced.

We are totally disgusted with Arnold Clark Automobiles, and will NEVER EVER buy another car from them again.

I'm don't usually make a habit of making complaints public, but this particular company has just gone WAY OVER THE SCORE. They really have to take first prize for diabolical treatment of their customers, and I am so grateful that this site gives people like me an opportunity to warn anyone considering using the company to THINK AGAIN and STAY CLEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Saw your site before. Excellent! Unfortunately, forgot about it and have recently had a service carried out on our new Zafira.Since then sounds like rubbing brakes or'down to metal'shoes. Took it back to service station - "nothing wrong" problems getting worse. Having re-read your site in more detail the possible reality of having my discs/brakes replaced by worn ones from another vehicle whilst in for service - is making me feel rather uneasy! I'll take the car to another outlet, not ac's and report back. Thanks 18/1/04

I bought a car from Arnold Clark in prestwick road ayr 2.20 td I paid £500 for a warranty and every time something went wrong said not under warranty after buying the car they couldn't care less about you. ill never buy a car from them again I took my car to rover dealer in prestwick road ayr problem was no water coming out back window washer but water was leaking from back of car so I phoned them they said bring it in next day so I did 10 o clock had car to 1.0clock said was a big job I said ok so I went home and asked my friend to have a look at it he is a mechanic teacher at college, he laughed and laughed came out to car joined a hose took less than 3 minutes and said they are a joke yes Bryson in prestwick a scandal he said your not the first and you'll not be the last so Bryson kiss my fucking arse that's the last.

I put my car in for a service

unfortunately I forgot to leave

my alloy wheels locking key

I put the car in early morning

I did not notice until tea time

I ran round with the key and

was told we were just about to

phone you your car is ready

well gob smacked is an under-

statement so they don't look at

the brakes on a major service

guess where I won't be taking

my car for a service

I bought a saxo vts from Perth it is a very bad car and I have resorted to taking it back . now I am going to lose £2000 after all the problems I have had with this particular branch I thought the least they could do would be to clear the debt totally but no ! I would advise anyone who is thinking of buying a car from AC not to they are really shite.

Arnold Clark Sucks

READ HERE WHAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY www.arnoldsucks.com Please update your bookmarks.
This is a very long saga cut short. The jist of it is I have a Vauxhall Astra which is still under 2 years old and is now on it's 3rd new engine thanks to Arnold Clark. I purchased the car in November 2002 and everything was going well until September last year when the engine started sounded really loud, like a taxi running. So I phoned my local garage and booked it in and was told the car needed a new engine. Since then it's been in and out the garage on six separate occasions due to a recurring oil leak and had the engine replaced again. The oil leaks have ruined my newly laid driveway, which I shall pursue further with "customer care". I have no faith left in either the car or Arnold Clark and would truthfully advise people not to purchase their vehicles from Arnie, because you will be lied to, no doubt about it. If you don't believe me, just read all these other comments too, they speak for themselves. 17.1.2004
My car is 15 months old and only done 9000miles and the clutch is slipping like crazy. I contacted Arnold Clark Citroen Dunkeld Road Perth and got no help whatsoever , in fact the service manager was totally arrogant and said the car is over 12 months old so tough even although the car had 3 years warranty. I had to phone Citroen UK and they said they could not over ride the dealer and on contacting the dealer they said they could not over ride Citroen. I then phoned Arnold Clark to say that my boyfriend who is a mechanic had checked the car and the clutch was definitely faulty and they said to bring it in to the workshop and they would check it free of charge. They then tried to charge me half an hour labour .I was quoted £545 for a new clutch from Arnold Clark as it was driver error. A lot of waffle. They then contacted Citroen UK but the claim was turned down and they are trying again on Monday ha ha. I cannot afford £545 for a new clutch on a car 15 months old and 9000 miles. I am a careful driver and I am sure the clutch must have been faulty but the car is off the road and Arnold Clark’s attitude is tough. 17.1.2004
Couldn't believe it when I found this site. I work for Mr. Clark, who is unbelievably soon to be Sir Arnold. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am pleased to be able to vent my fury after being treated like she for far too long. I won't go into details but there is something that I think all you AC haters should know. The reason why there are so many tales of nearly new cars turning out to be piles of crap could be because of Mr. Clarks policy of using brand new cars in the Hire division. From here they will be used daily for between 6 and 12 months. I work at a Hire Drive and believe me these cars get hammered. The tales I could tell would probably bore you to death, but take my word for it. With 12,000 miles or so on the clock, they go off for sale. But it's not easy miles these cars do. Basically when they leave us they are nearly always already on their way to being sheds. One example I saw with my own eyes was a Seat Leon that we had from new. It got pasted like the rest for a few months and then went of for sale to another branch. It was a 51 plate and I couldn't believe my eyes when a few weeks later I visited one of our other branches and saw the very same car taking pride of place in their showroom. You could see where all the dents and scuffs had been although it did look very shiny. The price they were asking was 8895, new price was 9995. I was shocked but it did explain a few things. The person who bought this car will no doubt have got it on final! nce and think he or she got a good deal. What they probably didn't know was that this car had been treated as a bag of she for a number of months and had already had one hell of a beating for a car of it's age. I don't know if he declares them as ex-hire cars but I doubt it. So the next time you go into a AC branch, beware. You could be being duped. 17.1.2004
I purchased a Citroen for my wife when we found out she was pregnant she had an old banger and I thought it would be safer for her to have a newer car) To cut a long story short and simply because I'm so bored repeating my tale of woe to Arnold Clark personnel the cars engine blew up on the M8 Kingston Bridge. I phoned my sales man and his manager, who promptly gave me a taxi number and told me I may be able to claim it back( bearing in mind I only purchased this car 29 days prior and my wife was by this time seriously pregnant) I took the taxi number and went home with the grim satisfaction that when the "real Arnold Clark" heard about this these guys would be out on their arses quicker than their fat little legs could carry them. However the old shite never replied to my more tactile letters, phone calls and e-mails so when I seen your site I was I'm sorry to say pretty happy I had someone to grumble to. By the way I bought my wife a new care from motor point across the road from Arnold Clark so fuck him and his smarmy gomeless salespeople . And I have now deleted the real radio breakfast show from my morning listening on the way from work since they are sponsored and blatantly advertise for him FUCK HIM AND HIS REAL CAR SALES I HOPE HIS NEXT SHIT IS A HEDGEHOG 17.1.2004
To begin with I bought a used car from Arnold Clarks motor superstore in Motherwell, a Vauxhall corsa in 2002. About a month after buying it we tried to put the rear seat down to transport something to a friends house. Well... the back seat got stuck in a semi upright position and wouldn't go forwards or back to it's correct position, so we took it to the local Arnold Clark garage in Helensburgh, where it was supposedly fixed, or so we thought. (Stupid people we are didn't think we needed to check that this had actually been done) Anyway about four months later we needed to put the back seat down again, and...yep you guessed it, it did exactly the same thing again, so back to Arnold Clark we went, they did a temporary repair and said that we needed a "clip" for it. WHICH THEY WANTED TO CHARGE US FOR!!!!!!!! We informed them that the problem was a recurring one and that it had supposedly been repaired four months prior to that, but they still tried to charge us £32 for the re! pair. We still haven't paid it!!! They tried to say that we had to pay because it was repaired the first time and we should have brought it to their attention sooner if it wasn't. Now, I may be what the people at these places call a "stupid woman driver" but, come on, how often does the average person need to collapse the back seat of a car? Plus, they'd conveniently lost the previous "job card"!!!! Ummmm!!! The next run in with them was the supposedly "free MOT" that comes with the extended warrantee. We took the car in for its free MOT, and guess what??? Yep, IT FAILED!!!! On numerous points that would cost us around £100 to put right. So, after the last time we were understandably suspicious so my husband took the car to the garage he usually uses for an MOT to be done there.... surprise, surprise, it passed with flying colours!!!! Next, was an Arnolds service, again done at the Helensburgh branch. The car was booked in for it's service, and the service was done, or so we thought!!! When we went to collect the car we discovered they'd done the WRONG SERVICE, they'd done a minor one and it should have been a major one. When we pointed out their mistake, they wanted to charge us the full price for the correct service to be done!!!!!!!!!! Finally, was just this past week. My "T" Reg, 1999 corsa broke down on me last Saturday we took advantage of the recovery service included in the extended warrantee and the car was taken to Arnold Clarks Helensburgh branch again. The guy from the recovery centre was brilliant, he called after we'd got home to tell us that we should call the garage on Monday morning to arrange for a replacement car while mine was being repaired. Following his advice I called Arnold Clarks Helensburgh, and was asked if I'd mind "hanging fire" on the courtesy car until someone had looked at the car and they knew how long it was going to take to repair, I was assured it would be looked at and at least assessed that day. So I stupidly agreed to wait. I waited all day and finally called them at around 3.30pm only to be told that the mechanic had quickly looked at it and couldn't work out what was wrong and they didn't know when someone was going to be able to look at it again, oh and the courtesy ! car had just conveniently been booked out half an hour before I called!!!!!!! When hubby came home he was furious and called them telling them that I needed a replacement car, so they said they'd have one brought up from the hire drive department in Dumbarton for the following morning, if I was there for around 9.30am they'd have a car for me, but I would have to ARRANGE MY OWN INSURANCE????????? Prior to this we hadn't even heard of garages making their customers get their own insurance for a courtesy car, any other times the garage has covered this on their own insurance!!!! We weren't too happy with this but we thought, at least I'd have the use of a car. Tuesday morning came and as hubby was working a neighbours husband had kindly offered to take me down to collect the hire car. We arrived at the Helensburgh branch at just after 9.30am, only to be told "We're sorry but there's been a slight hold up the car will be here shortly." Errrrrr.... we waited until 10.45am!!!! We! ll, at least the car was here now! Hmmmmmm... the car they'd sent was a brand new Renault Scenic, worth about £12K, but there was no engine size or anything in the information, so we had to hang around for another half hour while they found this out. With this information to hand, the lady on the service desk called my insurance company who very kindly informed me that this car would cost me £25.50 PER DAY to insure. Now, what makes me think that Arnolds knew this would happen and did it on purpose???? Considering my car is a 1.0 litre corsa, they send a great big 1.6 Renault Scenic, and don't expect us to figure out what they're up to???? THEN they decide to tell me that they're short staffed in the service department and so my car probably wouldn't get even looked at until the following Monday or Tuesday. Anyway, I called hubby at work and he told me to tell them to shove it. So I left, again careless!!!! Hubby took the afternoon off and called the garage he uses again, and he told us that he's actually an approved auto care garage, so hubby took the car from Arnolds and took it to him. It took him an hour, and apparently the problem was the fuel filter, he also told us that if Arnold Clark said they'd serviced the car before collection when I bought it, they were lying, the fuel filter hadn't been changed from the car being new!!! Further to this, we broke down again on the same day as collecting the car. So, we again called out the recovery guys, who tried to tell us that the car had to go to Arnold Clarks!!! I DON'T THINK SO!!!!!!!! But we eventually managed to persuade them to take the car to the garage we preferred using!!! Only to discover there's a different problem now, the speed sensor!!! We've also tried to find the service details of the car, but all we have is the "stamp" in the books all done by Arnold Clark, funnily enough, the fuel filter is supposed to be changed at 20k miles, there was a service done at 18k and then the one just prior to my collecting the car at 23.5k. We tried to trace which branches had done these services so we called Arnold Clark Motherwell who had no record apart from it being an ex-contract hire car, which we weren't told about when we bought the car, otherwise we wouldn't have even considered buying it. The lady listed on the V5 as being the previous owner is ex-directory so we can't contact her either, to try and find out where she had the car serviced. We are totally disgusted with Arnold Clark Automobiles, and will NEVER EVER buy another car from them again. I'm don't usually make a habit of making complaints public, but this particular company has just gone WAY OVER THE SCORE. They really have to take first prize for diabolical treatment of their customers, and I am so grateful that this site gives people like me an opportunity to warn anyone considering using the company to THINK AGAIN and STAY CLEAR!!!!!!!!!! 18.1.2004
Saw your site before. Excellent! Unfortunately, forgot about it and have recently had a service carried out on our new Zafira.Since then sounds like rubbing brakes or'down to metal'shoes. Took it back to service station - "nothing wrong" problems getting worse. Having re-read your site in more detail the possible reality of having my discs/brakes replaced by worn ones from another vehicle whilst in for service - is making me feel rather uneasy! I'll take the car to another outlet, not ac's and report back. Thanks 18/1/04 18.1.2004
I bought a car from Arnold Clark in prestwick road ayr 2.20 td I paid £500 for a warranty and every time something went wrong said not under warranty after buying the car they couldn't care less about you. ill never buy a car from them again I took my car to rover dealer in prestwick road ayr problem was no water coming out back window washer but water was leaking from back of car so I phoned them they said bring it in next day so I did 10 o clock had car to 1.0clock said was a big job I said ok so I went home and asked my friend to have a look at it he is a mechanic teacher at college, he laughed and laughed came out to car joined a hose took less than 3 minutes and said they are a joke yes Bryson in prestwick a scandal he said your not the first and you'll not be the last so Bryson kiss my fucking arse that's the last. 19.1.2004
I put my car in for a service unfortunately I forgot to leave my alloy wheels locking key I put the car in early morning I did not notice until tea time I ran round with the key and was told we were just about to phone you your car is ready well gob smacked is an under- statement so they don't look at the brakes on a major service guess where I won't be taking my car for a service bye 20.1.2004
I bought a saxo vts from Perth it is a very bad car and I have resorted to taking it back . now I am going to lose £2000 after all the problems I have had with this particular branch I thought the least they could do would be to clear the debt totally but no ! I would advise anyone who is thinking of buying a car from AC not to they are really shite. 20.1.2004
Went to Arnold Clark in Kilmarnock for a look around.....soon approached by a smooth talking salesman who showed me lots of cars in my price range....every car except the one I wanted....with added extras of course, like free warranty and service plans.....had a meeting to go to so agreed to go back later....which I did.....and soon found myself signing a 4yr credit agreement for a car that I didn't really want at a price I couldn't really afford....getting diddly squat for my trade in and the added extras of course were no longer included in the price but simply added to the price. I found all this amazing as I had been refused the previous 3 loan applications from the bank for a measly couple of grand and here I was getting credit for over 8. Went online to check my prices to see if I had misheard the salesman and found your site....after many attempts/days eventually got hold of the salesman and cancelled my agreement....was supposed to collect it tonight....so glad I didn't cos mighty weight lifted off of shoulders. CHEERS!! arnoldsucks.com 20.1.2004


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