BE CAREFUL WHO SERVICES YOU CARAVAN

[readcaravans]

in have had 2 incidents this week were mobile technicians have mislead customers into believing they are authorised to service their new caravans. it would be unprofessional of me to name the associations linked to these independent mobile technicians, but as a result both customers have had to pay for the service to be done again by an approved agent to re-instate the manufacturers warranty. it now looks like the £30-£40 they may have saved initially has cost them nearly twice as much by having to pay for the service twice.

THE MORAL

please, please, please make sure that whoever is servicing your new caravan, if it still covered by the manufacturers warranty, that the person or company is authorised to do so. normal rule is, if they are a dealer for that manufacturer or a member of the AWS, then the service should stand. if you have any doubts, then phone the manufacturer first before agreeing the service.

 

[Soozeeg]

Our mobile service engineer, who is a member of MCEA, makes a point of telling potential customers whose vans are still under warranty that he cannot service them, as he is not authorised. I would imagine that 'rogue' ones like the ones Reads has mentioned, are few and far between.

 

[Chaps]

We made sure we had an email from the suppliers of our caravan confirming that they were happy with the mobile servicing company we use. Luckily we never had to test the legality of this but it made us feel better.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The servicing of caravans does not affect your warranty rights, as the warranty only relates to the condition of the caravan at the point of sale.

What servicing does affect is your ability to maintain the manufacturers guarantee. If you intend to use any other servicing facility than the supplier of your caravan, check the manufacturers guarantee documentation you received with the caravan for a list of approved service agents, or if in doubt contact the manufacture and obtain written approval for work to be done by non franchised agents.

In Clair and Robs case, the Dealer may have been correct providing they are acting as an officer of manufacturer, but in practice it is only the manufacturer who can authorise changes to the terms of the guarantee arrangements.