Pulman Group Reviews 50

We are in a position where we were looking to purchase a new car. Having purchased our two Skodas from Pulman in Durham we arranged a test drive for 9am on a Saturday morning giving almost a week’s notice in advance. We also received confirmation of the test drive booking. We arrived on time and spoke to the receptionist who looked confused when we introduced ourselves. The receptionist then called a member of the sales team who we had previously dealt with. The salesperson then went outside to find the car we arranged the test drive for. The salesperson looked around for fifteen minutes whilst we sat waiting. We were not offered a coffee or any explanation what was happening. The salesperson returned and informed us that vehicle was not on site.
We both work full time and sacrificed our Saturday morning to bring business to Pulman. It was a very disappointing experience demonstrating a total lack of respect for the customer and no professionalism.

Just picked up our Skoda from Pullman Durham.

Such a good experience, from walking in to take a look, through to buying and driving away today.

No pressure, sales executive so knowledgeable, helped with every aspect of purchase cannot fault his approach at all.

We would definitely recommend this garage if you are thinking of buying a new car and 100% recommend you speak to David Nichols. First class service !

Went early this week to cramlington branch to see about a mobility car what a waste of time the mobility salesman is. When I asked what was available he gave me a leaflet I tried asking him questions but it was like pulling teeth I left feeling he was uninterested

Had to wait a month to get my car booked in for a service, Durham Branch VW which is a disgrace for a main dealer garage ,my car was in there three hours for an oil change they give you a car thoroughly examination and if they can't find nothing they will do their best to try and find something , nit-picking to get more money out of the customer, work but did not need doing just to try and swindle a few more bucks out with me D**k Turpin comes to mind use another garage unless you like to chuck money away not be back

My negative experience began when I asked for a quote for a basic second-year service and was instead ‘steered’ into purchasing a two-year service plan. I was told my only options were to buy the plan or pay well over double the £200 I had paid for my first-year service, which I felt was a questionable way to do business.

During the service, I was contacted and informed that the rear brakes had rapidly deteriorated, showing 80% wear compared to just 10% recorded at the first-year service point. This was despite similar incurred mileage and time between services, with no change in driving style or journey types. Notably, the front brakes showed only minor wear. I was quoted £445 for the rear brake work, plus an additional £234 for a brake fluid change and a Haldex oil change. Mind blowing prices!

Feeling suspicious, I did not authorise the work and contacted the dealership to express my concern that no investigation had been carried out into the unusual and accelerated deterioration. I was disappointed that the only response had been to recommend further chargeable work. I was subsequently told the wear could be due to driving style or corrosion from the vehicle being parked, neither of which applied in my case. This is further supported by the fact that the front brakes showed no unusual wear or corrosion.

I was then informed that this issue has been seen before on Skoda Karoq and Kamiq models and was advised to contact Skoda UK, as they had previously contributed towards the cost for other customers. Skoda UK responded, basically suggesting that excessive rear brake wear compared to minor on the front is not unusual, and they did not dispute Pulman’s comments that Karoqs and Kamiqs can be affected by this issue. They also stated that brake discs and pads are excluded from warranty cover as wear items, which did not recognise my actual concern.

My concern is not that brakes wear over time, but that the level of rear brake wear in year two was both highly accelerated and inconsistent with their condition at the end of year one, as well as with the front brakes over the same period, which remain in good condition. This raises questions about whether the components are fit for purpose. Unfortunately, neither Skoda nor Pulman appear willing to acknowledge or properly address this concern.

Prospective buyers and owners of Skoda Karoq and Kamiq models should be aware of this expensive and concerning issue.

The sales agent did a great job of listening to my needs and coming up with the perfect option….. and it was priced very competitively! All in all very professional and very friendly

After pulman group seeing my honest review of my experience they have threatened legal action insisting I have tarnished thier name demanding I remove my review, clearly a stance of only positive reviews allowed instead I will not remove my review. I will add before these demands I have never had an issue with the pulman group as a business and have always been highly satisfied with them as a business. I understand 1 individual does not make a business its reputation or its name my initial review was not a mark on the pulman group as they claim on my review but an honest review of my experience with the individual I dealt with for my new car.

Recently purchased a Fabia SE L tsi 116 and after collection, found I wasn’t keen and regretted I’d made the decision to change from Ford which had been mr chosen car for a long time. Not really giving the car enough chance I had made enquiries about returning the car and me having back my fiesta ST Line which wasn’t going to be as easy as it sounds but it was doable and between the Sales Executive Alex and Ssles Manager Ken, they were going to make it work for me. Soon after I realised the car had grown on me and the performance really could match the ST Line and the car style can’t be faulted, in short I had changed my mind and didn’t know what to do as they were accommodating me to give me the fiesta back and now I didn’t want it so in the end I had to tell Alex and he made no fuss, whatever I wanted, him and his company was happy to make happen. In all my years of purchasing cars, I’ve had good customer service, sometimes pretty okay and a couple of occasions felt they didn’t care about a pretty major problem however I’ve really never known the care and service given at this dealership. I’m thinking a lot of my problem with the Fabia was surrounded by a form of snobbery in that there’s a car on my drive with ŠKODA and another with Ford and honestly felt a bit embarrassed at having considered Škoda. It’s early days and apart from realising I’m not a snob in anything in life, why about a car and if the pleasure of driving the car remains as it is and I get a couple of years relatively happy motoring, reckon I’ll be back for another Škoda and will be proud to have 2 on my drive. If the sales team are the same as Alex Bowden, then they’re not pushy, he offered products which as any sales person would do as it can make a difference to the performance they’re measured on if they secure the sale however when I didn’t want them, that was it, my decision was respected. It’s a dealership I feel I’ll be back to in a couple years or less to buy another.

Avoid Škoda Durham if you value your time or customer service.

I booked my Citigo in weeks in advance for tyres. They kept my car all day without offering a courtesy car, and only at 4pm did they call to say they had no tyres in stock. I then had to drive across Durham myself to get tyres sorted elsewhere. Totally unprofessional and a waste of time.

It wasn’t a one-off either — when I was seriously considering buying an Enyaq, I requested a test drive and follow-up, but they never even replied.

Rude service, poor communication, and no care for customers. The cars themselves may be fine, but this dealer completely ruined the brand for me. If you’re thinking about using them, go elsewhere

Excellent service from Alex at Pullman Skoda, Durham when buying our used car. He was professional, informative and helpful and made the purchasing experience easy and enjoyable. The car was beautifully prepared and the paperwork completed smoothly. We would have no hesitation in recommending Alex and Pulman Skoda, Durham to friends and family.

Seen a car on site, looked around it and went home to think about things. Sales person contacted me wanting to take a £500 deposit to secure the car which we agreed to thinking it would be on the basis of it being refundable if we changed our minds which we did.

Retailer refused to refund it due to the car being off sale for 2 weeks and costs incurred. Very unsure as to what costs could have been incurred but never the less.

We got offered a better deal which was almost £3000 more for our part exchange else where which was the main factor in not proceeding with the purchase.

Also the condition of the car was not the best but it was a used car.

Id avoid this retailer group and look to deal with a bigger group as they have more protection for their customers.

Took my skoda to cram 20/1/25 for a re gen only to be told needed new coolant pump still charged £175 for re gen.Returned 24/1/25 for new coolant pump charged £449 only to be told needed new turbo & quoted £2,700 so decided to go to a private garage & got told nothing wrong with turbo & they re generated my skoda very upsetting experience

I have had three new Skoda SUVs in the last six years, the last two being supplied by Pulman Skoda Durham.
However my last vehicle, an Kodiaq L&K 2.0TSI arrived minus its engine cover and despite contacting Skoda U.K. and Pulman Skoda Durham on numerous occasions it took 22 months to have the missing engine cover supplied and fitted. And this only happened after I contacted Bristol Street Skoda in Darlington who ordered and fitted the part. Unfortunately this long stressful wait destroyed any faith I had in both Skoda UK and Pulman and I have therefore ordered my next car from another manufacturer as I won’t have another Skoda, and I won’t deal with Pulman Skoda Durham.

Visited this dealer for some warranty work , staff very helpful and professional work completed quicker than expected, complementary wash and valeted extremely happy with the experience would highly recommend

Pulman's Skoda at Gilesgate are doing there best to rectify the problem with the car we bought from them. So I now give them the 3 stars.

Just purchased my third car from Pulman Skoda Durham. Again I dealt with Dave Nichols a better guy you could not wish for.He is friendly, polite, and not at all pushy plus very knowledgable about his trade. He will bend over backwards to help you in getting the deal you want. Both the product and Dave are first class and I would not hesitate in reccomending both if you are considering purchasing a Skoda.

Skoda Cramlington, a lovely customer orientated person sold my daughter a car, from test drive to driving away with a new car was simple, efficient and not at all troubled. Evidently a professional in the customer service field.
Well done Ian Brunniche and thank you for the very positive experience.

Would not give me any information regarding leasing a skoda on motability as the specialist was on holiday and wont be back until next weekwhen I asked if anyone could help the saleswoman said sorry there isn't but if I left my number the motability specialist would ring me after her holidays, why should I have to wait, I am going to try Lookers skoda in Newcastle I hope I have a better customer experience.

I was looking for a Motability car and  Decided to look at the seat cars. I was keen to get a car sooner rather than later eventually decided on the sea Leon.. from start to finish the staff were totally brilliant and I got my car within 10 days of order. Cannot fold them one bit.. definitely would recommend.
From a very happy customer

This garage is shocking if your asian don't go there you will be treated horrible