...to write my first ever sweary AIBU...

[KatoPotato]

...thanks the the fucking incompetent fuckers at Arnold Fucking Clark!

Need to rant, but my catalogue of complaints is huge and I've only been going back there because I was mis sold a warranty/service/MOT package.

The first time it went for a service I told them the fog lights weren't working so could they check? I was told that was included in the '42 point check' cheers then. Picked it up after it being there from 9am-4pm and asked 'so fog lights fixed?'

'Oh, no there's no note here' you'll need to bring it back tomorrow' the next day I took it in and was told it would be £80 to fix (due to the location of the fuse box) they then returned it to my work and left it in a consultants parking space.

Next time I dropped it in for a service I told them a headlight was out. 'No problem, when do you need it back?'
'Before 2.30 please!' No worries. I then get a phone call at 2.00 to say it needs a whole host of extraneous oil cleanses etc... 'What about the headlight?' 'Oh... There's no note here...' Rant rant rant. Got car back next day.

So yesterday! MOT. Failed. Due to sidelight and a suspension coil. Got car back after being phoned at 1430 to say it was ready, but then had to wait 45mins in it getting washed...

Switched on lights tonight... No fucking sidelight!!!!! I am beeling! What should my approach on the phone be tomorrow? Is it worth the back stories? Will I be charged for labour?

Sorry, bit drunk and fucking furious but feel so much better after swearing online about fucking Arnold fucking
Clark!!'

If possible you should try to learn to do at least the headlights and sidelights yourself, on most cars it's not that difficult.

Ask for an appointment with the service manager, and present him or her with an itemised list of everything that went wrong.

Explain calmly but firmly that you need the lights to be put right but don't expect to be charged for it.

Hopefully that should do the trick. If not, ask to see the Dealer Principal.

I reiterate an earlier response "use your local independent mechanic!" He/she is your friend. There is such a thing as "more money than sense"

Cheers guys, zwischenzug I get that, but as I've already paid for this bulb i'll get them to bleddy fix it! I'm more annoyed that they are omitting do work that is visible, so have no confidence they are actually doing the other stuff I can't see?

Buzzardbird I've only used them as the service and MOT were included in the sale of the car! Happy to be free of that now!

They told me I "needed" a new tyre. It turned I didn't and I made them cough up the money they fleeced me for. I stood my ground and made them pay... but I have no shame and a VERY firm voice

HedgeHogGroup you free tomorrow morning to come to uncle arnies with me? Come stay tonight, I've got wine and Pringles!

I'm in!! My daughter (7) often says "You were very rude to that person on the phone" and I say "That's not being rude, that's being firm!"
You need to channel the inner Headmistress in yourself... Mention things like Trading Standards, Sale of Goods & Services Act (and a relative who works on Watchdog .
Also, use this information (Arnold CLark is on there) - I ALWAYS ask to speak to a more senior person (and usually say something along the lines of "If you're not senior enough to make decisions on refunds, please could I speak to someone who is" - this REALLY pisses them off and they generally want to prove to you how 'senior' they are.
I recently got told (by Landrover) "This isn't the sort of behaviour we expect from a Headteacher" when I laid into them... they instantly regretted that comment!!!!
Some of us enjoy a fight - think of it as your duty and your right as a consumer

I have a real problem with that particular chain!!! I've heard so many people say they were ripped off/conned/accused of lying by them. Be scepital of any apparant incompetence that might leave you out of pocket.

My own is that I had new keys cut for last car. One was a "genuine part" (ie not a cheaper copy) so could later be reprogramed to engine immobiliser. One wasn't (so couldn't be), but cost the same (over-inflated) price. When I complained, they said I could ahve the money back if I could proove that the non-manufacturer key was the same key that they'd sold me. Not that I';d bough a key from them, but that I'd bought THAT PARTICULAR key from them.

Arnold Clarke tried to rip my housemate off - pity for them that my fiance was with the housemate and is a mechanic who told them what they had and hadn't done, what they were claiming was expensive and unnecessary, and what they should have fixed and didn't!

(housemate's car was bought from them, he only took it there because of the warranty)

Phew, sounds like I had a lucky escape... Looking for a car (this was about 5 years ago), spotted an aygo on the local Arnold Clark website. Phoned them up and asked if I could take it out for a test drive...
Arnold Clark receptionist: "and what time are you likely to be here to test drive. It's not in an easily accessible position at the moment."
Me: "yeah, I thought it might be blocked in, which is why I'm calling in advance. I'd like to come lunchtimeish tomorrow, about 1:00?"
ACR: "Oh no, that's no good"
Me: "I can come later, I'm free all afternoon."
ACR: "No, afternoon's no good. We can't be moving all the cars around in the middle of the day to get this one out for you. You'll have to come in the morning."
Me: "Well i work nights, getting home at 4am, so the earliest i can be there, having had enough sleep to drive a strange car safely, is 1pm. Is there nothing you can do?"
ACR: "Nope. Either you're here by 10 or we can't do the test drive."
Now, maybe i should have just said thanks but no thanks and put the phone down. But i didn't.
Me: "Ah well. Thanks for so clearly demonstrating your shoddy customer service and complete disrespect of your customers BEFORE I made the mistake of buying from you."

Meant to add-surely if they could get the car out by 10am, and presumably couldn't put it back during the day as it was too dangerous, what the bloody hell was the difference between me arriving at 10am or 1pm??

Honestly Lusty give them a swerve! Unfortunately they really have the monop

I don't really like swearing, but I'll make an exception here and join you.

I bloody hate Arnold fucking Clark.

That feels better.

Cathartic Swearing! Specially reserved for the team at Arnold Clark with their shiny suits and glaiket faces!