Diamond Chauffeur Drive/Hire, Cumbernauld Review

Overall Rating

Good customer service until you hand over your money.

Atrocious customer service as soon as you hand over your money.

I was recently married and before the wedding I entered into a written contract with Diamond Chauffer Drive on the basis that the company would provide my wedding cars, including a period ivory Daimler to transport my mother and my bridesmaids to my wedding venue. I naturally paid the balance in full before the wedding and assumed that the company would deliver their part of the bargain. On the day of my wedding what actually arrived (without any prior notice) to transport my mother and my bridesmaids to my wedding venue was a burgundy modern style American limousine with blacked out windows and advertising emblazoned on it (advertising a completely different car hire company). It didn't even have a wedding ribbon on it. It looked cheap and tacky and completely inappropriate for a wedding car. As soon as the car arrived I complained to the driver of the vehicle about it, as it was so offensive to look at I really didn't want my beautiful bridesmaids to be seen in it. He at first tried to claim that I had specifically ordered that particular limousine; however when I offered to show him my contract for the Daimler he soon changed tact and then claimed that the Daimler I had ordered had broken down and was unavailable. Whilst I accept that cars naturally do break down from time to time, and that the Daimler may have been unavailable on this occasion, I am amazed that this company did not even attempt to contact me to advise me of this before the wedding. They had my home phone and mobile telephone number - they should have called me. I should have been given the choice of another, more appropriate wedding car or two smaller wedding cars within their own fleet to transport my wedding party. Instead, Diamond Chauffer Drive obviously hired in the cheapest alternative they could find from another company, without giving a thought to what I, the paying customer, might have wanted. This caused me much distress on the morning of my wedding day and ruined what should have been an enjoyable journey for my mother and bridesmaids, as, regrettably, the limo that arrived had turned up so late that we had no option but to use it. I have since written to the company twice to ask for compensation, outlining my reasons noted above. On both occasions the company has refused to compensate me in any way for their failure to honour their part of our written contract. I feel that appropriate compensation is deserved, especially as I am told that it is much cheaper to hire a modern limousine like the one provided to me on my wedding day, than the car I had anticipated would be offered and had paid for in advance. Please please please avoid this company at all costs - they are awful in every way!

Members' Comments onIce Cold Cube's Review

• martinbrown on 16th Jan 2007

  At least a car was supplied to transport your bridesmaids. I would prefer an American limo to something that would probably resemble a funeral car. Painted American limos are normally fun for any occasion.

• marymont on 16th Feb 2008

  I disagree with this review because..it does not come close to the experience I have enjoyed with this company.

• Susan Friel on 8th Jul 2008

  I disagree with this review because...it is nothing like the experience I had with Diamond, from start to finish they were simply wonderful and totally professional. I could have paid a lot more and got a lot less. I even sent them a THANK YOU card.

• catcowie on 8th Jul 2008

  I don't think that the reviewer fully appreciates just how good Diamond is in everything they do. The service is totally professional from start to finish, the cars are amazing and you could pay a lot more and get a lot less.

• Mac99 on 15th Jul 2008

  Well sorry, but I agree with the reviewer. It seems on this occassion Diamond let her down. Even the best companies in the world sometimes 'get it wrong'. They should admit to being at fault and at least offer to refund her money for this particular car. As a soon to be mother of the bride I would have been horrified to being driven is such a car. These cars are all fine and well if going out on a hen or birthday night, but not really appropriate for a wedding party!