Lipscomb Cars Ltd Reviews 

Appalling customer care.
After the rear window of my fiat 500 becoming loose. I returned to Fiat expecting them to fix the problem as a rear window shouldn’t just become unfixed for no reason. So clearly a manufacturing fault. Their response was to tell me I had to pay for the repair and that I would need to contact their customer care team if I wanted to take it further regards a refund. What Fiat don’t tell you when you buy a car from them. (Or two in our case) that you have to contact Fiat in Italy for any customer care problems. Yes Italy!! I don’t know where to being. Their automated phone system is awful, you struggle to hear the options. When I got to speak to someone they were hard to understand. They said they would raise an enquiry and I had to call back on the morning of taking my car in. Which I did. I had to explain everything once again to be told someone would get back to me in 48 hrs. But what do I do about payment today? They couldn’t answer this. When I collected my car I way informed I would have to pay and Fiat would reimburse me. But I’m stood in a Fist dealership. Ridiculous is an understatement. When I am contacted by Fiat (Italy) I am told they do NOT refund customers. They give a goodwill gesture to the amount in stead, which can go against a service or extras. What the service that is £150 more than other reputable garages I can go to?? So I’m still out of pocket. The battle continued until two weeks later Fiat (Italy) agree they will reimburse. But they have to refund Lipscomb who then refund me. Is it me or is this complete madness. So a month later and I am still having to chase. Lipscomb have not returned my calls on two occasions. So I go into the dealership in person. We are dealing with it! I would disagree. Nine days later still no contact from them. The only contact I’ve had from Lispsomb has been when they have called to try and get me to book both mine and my sons Fiat in for services. Today after a frank discussion with their service manager and threatening to take both cars back. I have been told I have been refunded but yet to confirm the transaction on my credit card. I can’t believe this ridiculous customer care situation. When do you have to go to the country of the manufacture as opposed to the company you have purchased from. Potential Fiat buyers be aware it is making me rethink the make of my next car after this appalling and frankly ridiculous service.

Absolutely disgusting service from this dealership!
After purchasing my vehicle in October 2022 its been back into this garage 4 times and yet they still cant solve the issue, The service iv received from them is awful, They cant do their job correctly and continually lie to their customers! The manager doesn't seem to care about anything, whenever I call and request to speak to him he is always busy, meanwhile the receptions seem to think they know it all...They take your money, promise you a years warranty but yet they don't deliver!!

Shocking communication ! My brand new car stopped working 2 months in , 2 starter motors ( apparently !) then a new engine . Alfa Aylesford Maidstone absolutely useless . How does this business survive . Seeking compensation currently

My car had been in for repairs for 5 weeks, parts coming from Italy with no knowledge of when they will arrive. How can a business survive like that not knowing when essential parts will arrive. Communication very poor. My first and last car from this dealer.

So a year ago I took out a service plan for two Fiat cars, mine and my wife’s. First service we encounter issues, my car a week after the service gets the engine light on, I check the stick guess what it’s low! I call them up, they tell me this service was a visual only… ironic as they tick the box to say oil change! So I ask what was done and I was advised it’s only a visual and all levels are correct so nothing! Expensive trip. Second trip my wife’s car, this time I’m vigilant and check everything…. But this time we get a knocking sound, we call 5 times asking for the service log so we know what’s done.. nothing! Then they say bring the car back in.. well they say the knocking is a mount and they noted it on the service report…? Ok please provide the report… sorry sir we lost is?????? Something smells funny! Anyway engine mount c.£300! So I call Fiat direct, they say just to let you know sir your car has extended warranty until the end of 2023 so should be covered? So why is the garage telling me I don’t. Prior to sending it back in I decide to carry out a once over on the car, engine fluid low, spark plugs not been changed oil dirty certainly not new - so I advise them. This time they advise again similar story… we noted this down on the service you have a leak and requires further investigation!!!!! I then get a service log with this all on it but not before, I had 1 spark plug changed under the service that was it - What cowboys! Now it’s my time for my service, second on the plan - last time was a visual inspection, I advised the car is struggling to start probably needs new plugs defiantly needs an oil change as the lights have been on for a year and I had to top the oil up - when I got given the car I got told no this service was just an inspection to tighten everything up! My engine fluid is below the minimum line but not recorded - in a nut shell your paying a premium for a stamp because they don’t do anything done to the car! the final topping they tell my wife she needs to use the third service before the years up by a considerable amount otherwise she loses it??????

Have you ever checked what you had done? Put a dot on the spark plugs, check the fluid before it goes in? As I promise these guys are robbing you and not doing anything. All round I feel robbed and though my car is not getting the treatment it deserves to get the best out of it! Worse car experience I think I’ve ever had.

It's a shame there isn't an option for zero - as my experience over the last 10 days isn't worthy of anything higher. I ordered an 18 month old VolvoV90CC from Lipscomb Canterbury with a towbar, and having checked a couple of times the week prior to collection that all was ok for the scheduled collection date (and being assured there was no problem) I sold my previous car privately. I then find out late afternoon on the day before collection that there is an issue with the towbar(the trailer module is on backorder-with no eta for delivery) As I was then without a car, moving the date back was not an option so we made the 280 mile found trip to Canterbury to collect the car. On the day of collection, the salesman (Sam) suggested that sending the module to a local dealer to finish the job would be an option to avoid us having to make another round trip of 280 miles. The good news is that they do now have a trailer module available from another customers order,but the ONLY way to finish the job
(That they started without having all of the required parts available!!) and which they have only half completed is for the car to go all the way back to them again.. The module cannot be sent to another Volvo dealer closer to home after all as they have started the job. If this is indeed true, why on earth start a job that you don't have all of the parts for when you know the customer lives so far away??? It cannot be finished at my home address either apparently... Whether this is all true, or is just an excuse so that Lipscomb are not inconvenienced whilst finishing the job, I don't know... But - I can only go by what I've been told, so will have to assume this is correct. Over the last week or more, a few emails have been ignored. and phone calls not returned. So - the saga continues...
I'm sure this is not typical Volvo customer service, but right now I'm really wishing I'd stayed with Mercedes as my recent dealings have been far from positive. I will of course provide a further review if there is any positive news on the outcome of completing this half-finished job (which has of course already been paid for in full) as I'm nothing if not fair..... Before I forget, I'm also waiting for a refund of the 2 year service plan that I bought with the car, only to find that it is already covered by a service plan from the previous owner that still has a further 18 months to run.. Maybe that can only be refunded via a drive back to Canterbury too? To be continued...........

UPDATE: I'm pleased to report that the nonsense about not being able to fit the towbar module anywhere other than at their workshop in Canterbury was indeed totally untrue - as I suspected. Lipscom have very kindly sent out a technician to my home address and it has been fitted on my driveway today and the software updated too. The refund for the service plan has also now been made after the 4th request. A big thanks to Sales Controller Michael Gillmore for finally getting involved and acting swiftly to rectify an issue that should never have happened in the first instance... Not the 'new car experience' I was looking forward to, but we got there eventually..

Always had great service from Shaun, he had moved now but the guys are still great. Adam, Mark and the service team are so helpful. Thank you guys, Ali, Gem & The Family

I Traded in my PRISTINE Competizione for the Esseesse Model.
On Collection of the Esseesse I was very disappointed to find a scuff on the rear quarter which was not there on viewing, also the car had not had a full valet/clean ( apart from tyre black)
On getting the car home I noticed more quality issues, The passenger front wheel had been curbed, water mark on the driver seat, scuffs/scratches inside.
Returned the car for improvements to be carried out.
Now the car had been cleaned and on getting home I found the other 3 wheels had scuffs and scratches, the seat mark was still visible.
I decided after the drivers door started rattling, the heat shield underneath rattling/buzzing and chips in the windscreen to return the car after only 12 days.
Emails and photos were sent to Lipscomb throughout the 12 days, they knew I was not happy and wanted my PX back.
On the morning that I was returning the car they called me to say "they had sold my car"
They offered me a lift to the station or back to work.
So I was left with no car and no money.
It was only when I contacted citizen advice and wrote a letter of complaint did Lipscomb contact me with an offer over a week later!
They would give me a run around on provision that I still buy the car after it had been in their workshop. I declined.
After many many years of being a "valued customer" buying 4 new vehicles and 2 used plus servicing, I felt let down.
Why wasn't the car fully examined and valeted before sale?
Why wasn't I told they sold my car the day after I collected the new one? Why leave it till the day I was returning the car and left me high and dry?
All along I have been the bad guy in all of this, because I refused to accept a car with many quality issues.
Even with a letter to the after sales director I have not heard a thing.
I did get my money back eventually though.
My advice if you buy from Lipscomb.
Get them to fully valet/clean BEFORE you view.
Examine well and test drive,
Get them to fix any quality issues BEFORE you part with your PX or hard earned cash!
Will never use again.

Excellent service particularly from Michael in sales. Could not be more helpful and professional, highly recommended.

Great service and MOT
Personal attention
Mark is excellent
Work carried out great value

I bought a used Volvo V40 last year after popping in just to have a look.

At the time of purchase my wife was heavily pregnant and I needed a car that was safe but had nice luxuries too. Volvo make the safest cars on earth so it was an easy decision. The V40 is a really nice looking car that is overlooked by the Audi/BMW/Mercedes fans, but is definitely at least the same if not higher quality than those cars.

The car was beautifully presented, like a new car in a showroom and not just shoved in the outside car park, and has everything I want and need on it.

The staff were great and not pushy at all, and understood that I wanted to check out a car at another dealership before committing to this one.

The car has been really reliable so far, best car I’ve ever owned by miles! My daughter is now 18 months old and the V40 has been a perfect family car in every way.

Would definitely return next time I need a car, but unfortunately I don’t think that’ll be for a long while as I love this car too much!

Fully recommend.

Booked my car in for a service and explained twice on the telephone in detail what was required as the car had not been 'serviced' since 8000 miles. I wasted an afternoon waiting for what was a checklist of faults and no actual work was carried out on the car, so it cost £93 to get a £1000 estimate of work needed on a well looked after car with only 25k on the clock.

When I returned I was fuming and somehow managed to contain my anger. This was presented to me as a misunderstanding. They were prepared to refund the money as a discount against a full service of around £400. I was refused a simple straightforward refund so resolved to take action. After having my car checked over informally locally it would appear that most of the items identified do not require attention in the near future. However after writing to the aftersales manager did get a 50% refund. I'm told by an ex-alfa mechanic that my experience is not unique. I've been a lifelong Alfa driver, but this will be my last, I had a good long relationship with Northgate. I'm not happy for a main dealer to take the mickey out of my custom. I have reported the dealership to trading standards but will not bother myself with taking them to small claims for the remaining £45. At least I had a washed car and a dealer stamp in my book. Needless to say I will not use Lipscomb again as this is my second poor experience. I advise any of you thinking about using them to be very careful and my opinion is they should not be trusted. Their stance has lost Alfa a loyal customer.

I was hit in the rear whilst stationary and my car was booked in for repair. I chose Lipscomb Cars as I have used them for almost 2 years for servicing and found them to be highly professional and reliable. This time around was no different. Their service is very personable and truly exceptional in my decades of dealing with car services. Such a pleasure to deal with them, they just always do that little bit extra and I have come to trust their expertise and their work practices.

Told car would be 1.5-2 hours, got it there at 0804. they took it at 0820, still not ready at 1128. No problem with car to cause this, simply deplorable customer service!

Alfa Romeo stelvio 2.0t .... I'v now had servicing done by them and asked for a number of warranty niggles to be sorted. I purchased my car from an independent dealer, over the past 6 months my car has had some niggles (warn grill - leather premature ageing) - without quibble they have rectified, this includes a new list I have just graced them with .... So to summarize, great service and easy to deal with ... Thank you, a credit to Alfa!!

I bought an Abarth 595 just over a month ago, and after a couple of weeks I noticed an issue with the suspension.
Called the Abarth team and the service has been superb. It needed the rear springs changing so the car was collected by 24/7Abarth and Lipscomb ordered replacement springs from Italy. The car was delivered back to me today fixed and valeted.

Can't fault the service at all and highly recommend the Abarth team.

Made an appointment to view a Alfa Romeo ,120 miles round trip plus Dart charge, only to be told the car had been sold on Saturday, today Tuesday. No real appology, not the salesmans fault as he had been off for 4 days !!! Car still advertised. Very poor customer care. Not impressed.

Good communication, very friendly, knowledgable and helpful team. On reflection a very fair part-ex price offered. Wish we'd taken it instead of believing the rubbish hype of the likes of #webuyanycar.com (more fool us). We'll take delivery of our used car soon so unable to quote on aftersales care etc but they definitely made the purchase of a used car painless. Recommend.

Ashford fiat/abarth failed to provide us with the v5c/3 of our previous vehicle and kept the whole logbook, so we were sent fines in the post from the motor insurance beureu what Lipscomb failed to even negotiate and help us out with, very poor customer service. watch when you part ex a vehicle with these guys, rude management no manners and won't let you have a word in egdeways (they're always right attitude)

1st bad experience: Mito supplied by them @ 6 months old rear wheel protectors discoloured ( White car - protectors turned yellow ) a well known problem. Returning from 3000 mile + Eurotrip car delivered to Lipscomb for rectification...... several hours later they call to say car ready BUT they advice not to be driven due to severe oil leak !!
They are @ 50 mins ( with a clear road ) from home. Arrive there to be informed they did a “ Health Check “ not requested by me and discovered oil leak .... due to user error they would kindly replace the sump for £480 ....😱. Went to parts department and bought 2 Ltrs. Oil. 20 Miles later and 2 ltrs of oil @ an independent Alfa dealer Sump Plug removable by hand !!
The car had just covered 3000+ Miles with absolutely no oil usage .
The streaked oil was “fresh “ and not covered in Road gunk .... verdict someone had recently put a spanner on a steel plug and turned it the the wrong way into an Aluminium sump !!

2 Bad experience .

My one year old Giulia ( supplied by Lipscomb ) is leaking water into the foot wells .... having had this problem with a 3ltr GTV I suspected an aircon drain. Car booked in I arrive with wet shoe and wet floor - verdict .... we put a camera down all ok .......
2 months later after turning the car into an indoor pool and trashing the interior ..... they discovered it was the aircon drain !!