Marvellous🤬

[Dustydog]

This morning neighbours Mum with stacks of space reversed into our faithful Wyoming. Poor thing. The Wyoming not her!She said she didn’t see it🥴🥴😵‍💫. Nearly 8 metres!

She or her Insurers will pay. Her cars damaged too. What’s cheesed me off is getting estimates for repairs. Unlike a car , caravan repairs are not straight forward. My AWS Engineer put me onto a mobile body specialist, based in Bristol but travels to the job. So he’s quoted me £550 plus vat. £660 all in.

If she or her Insurers demand another estimate I will ask them to get it or charge them say £150 for my time and expense of driving a 90 mile round trip to Chipping Sodbury Caravans. Is that reasonable ? I’m not happy but these things happen. I don’t see why I should be out of pocket or spend my valuable time sorting out their problem .

 

[Beehpee]

I agree DD, it’s down to the lady who did the damage, you could point her in the right direction with your extensive knowledge but other than that I’d wait and see, fingers crossed.

BP

 

[Beachball]

Hi Dusty, looking at the damage to your van, in agreement with you, puzzled how the lady missed your van, the onus should be on her to sort out the valuation on work needed. Good luck and hope everything comes okay and you are happy with the results.

 

[otherclive]

Sorry to see the damage. I think that’s you can charge reasonable expenses for actions necessary to sort out the repairs. I think it will fall to you as most car insurer would not be familiar with caravan repairs. Good luck.

 

[Jcloughie]

I once had a repair done. Filling and flattening were good. But blending in paint colour and texture was very difficult. I had to reject the repair 3 times before they got it right. 50 mile round trip each time. Things got nasty, but the insurance were supportive.

It may be down to a poor workman in my case.

 

[woodsieboy]

You could say it is fortunate that she didn't do more damage, as it looks fairly minor,although frustating I suspect you will still be able to use the van,might be worth asking CS what they do with a damaged van, I suspect most dealers probably use one of the mobile repairers for small repairs,the sort that garages use for scuffs and alloy wheel repairs.

 

[Dustydog]

You could say it is fortunate that she didn't do more damage, as it looks fairly minor,although frustating I suspect you will still be able to use the van,might be worth asking CS what they do with a damaged van, I suspect most dealers probably use one of the mobile repairers for small repairs,the sort that garages use for scuffs and alloy wheel repairs.

You are right . The guy who’s quoted travels from Bristol and does a lots of body work paint spraying for S C near me. He must be good👍👍

 

[Jcloughie]

You are right . The guy who’s quoted travels from Bristol and does a lots of body work paint spraying for S C near me. He must be good👍👍

Let's hope it's not the same one who serviced the Forest of Dean!

John

 

[Dustydog]

Let's hope it's not the same one who serviced the Forest of Dean!

John

🤪🤪

 

[Hutch]

Thankfully she didn't hit the lower awning rail, £660 not bad really.

 

[Parksy]

She should have gone to Specsavers 🤓
Sorry to see the damage to your caravan Dusty, and I hope that it's repaired to your entire satisfaction soon.
Imagine if a cat, dog or a child had been behind this careless driver 😟

 

[Anseo]

DD, have you considered using a car body repair shop?

We have two car body repair shops nearby that will do caravan bodywork repairs, I have seen the results from one of them (on a neighbour's caravan), very very good, and not a fortune charged either.

 

[Dustydog]

DD, have you considered using a car body repair shop?

We have two car body repair shops nearby that will do caravan bodywork repairs, I have seen the results from one of them (on a neighbour's caravan), very very good, and not a fortune charged either.

Thanks John.
Good idea👏
My mate round the corner runs a very good body shop. I’ll ask him today. It’s just the hassle involved.

 

[Martin_E]

Martin and Sam at MJLovell and sons do an excellent job on bodywork https://www.mjlovellcaravans.co.uk/
You could probably get a estimate from them by sending them the picture.

 

[Buckman]

Why shop around for the cheapest quote when only the best should be used as it is the responsibility of their insurance company to sort out and you don't want them accepting the cheapest quote?

Take it to a Bailey dealer and get them to do the quoting. That way you also have assurance that any damp warranty is kept intact plus being a specialist Bailey dealer they may see other damage that is not obvious.

The sad part is that you have to notify your caravan insurance company of the mishap and next year your premium probably increases even though you were not at fault!

 

[otherclive]

Why shop around for the cheapest quote when only the best should be used as it is the responsibility of their insurance company to sort out and you don't want them accepting the cheapest quote?

Take it to a Bailey dealer and get them to do the quoting. That way you also have assurance that any damp warranty is kept intact plus being a specialist Bailey dealer they may see other damage that is not obvious.

The sad part is that you have to notify your caravan insurance company of the mishap and next year your premium probably increases even though you were not at fault!

What basis is there for excluding the cheapest? What is important is the track record of the repairer in carrying out good repairs on caravans/ motorhomes. A single man mobile repairer will have lower overheads than a larger company.
I think Dustys warranty expired around 2013.

From personal experience CS are an excellent dealership. I used them for my Bailey for 9 years.

 

[Dustydog]

Why shop around for the cheapest quote when only the best should be used as it is the responsibility of their insurance company to sort out and you don't want them accepting the cheapest quote?

Take it to a Bailey dealer and get them to do the quoting. That way you also have assurance that any damp warranty is kept intact plus being a specialist Bailey dealer they may see other damage that is not obvious.

The sad part is that you have to notify your caravan insurance company of the mishap and next year your premium probably increases even though you were not at fault!

Very true.

I really can’t be bothered with all the hassle of driving an 80 mile round trip to Chipping Sodbury. By the time I remove all the security, drive, get an estimate, drive back , refit the clamps etc, that’s another day lost! But if she or her Insurers want me to do that then for £150 I will😉.
The chap who is mobile already does all the paintwork for the dealer 4 miles from me. So if I use them, same hassle factor and probably 30% more for the same chap!
The Wyoming is now 15 years old , with us from new. So no warranties exist. Good points though , thanks.
Why do I need to tell my caravan Insurers? Off the road , someone else paying. No different to the odd bush scratches and dents we fix ourselves?

 

[Buckman]

What basis is there for excluding the cheapest? What is important is the track record of the repairer in carrying out good repairs on caravans/ motorhomes. A single man mobile repairer will have lower overheads than a larger company.
I think Dustys warranty expired around 2013.

From personal experience CS are an excellent dealership. I used them for my Bailey for 9 years.

That is very true, but the last time we did that, when we had a small issue with the repair, trying to get them back was a real feat in itself as they then knew that their profits would be reduced considerably.

One of the reasons why we prefer to use main dealers in oen or two cases we have had similar with cars. However by the same token, many small businesses will go the extra mile to satisfy the customer.

Very true.

I really can’t be arsed with all the hassle of driving an 80 mile round trip to Chipping Sodbury. By the time I remove all the security, drive, get an estimate, drive back , refit the clamps etc, that’s another day lost! But if she or her Insurers want me to that then for £150 I will😉.
The chap who is mobile already does all the paintwork for the dealer 4 miles from me. So if I use them, same hassle factor and probably 30% more for the same chap!
The Wyoming is now 15 years old , with us from new. So no warranties exist. Good points though , thanks.

Hopefully you are aware that you can claim those sort of expenses? I would leave the caravan at CS if I am not using it in the near future.

 

[Jcloughie]

The workshops and space at Chipping Sodbury are as good and big and secure as they get. I had major work done there, about £13,000 worth. They are careful to estimate for all eventualities. In my case, they put a new mover on and it only needed a couple of parts, new steadies and hitch which where undamaged, a complete axle wheels and tyres instead of a new hub and one wheel.

While it was with them being repaired we part exchanged it for a new van. The dealer gave us a top price unseen and said if CS are doing it, it will be right.


John

 

[Martin_E]

I couldn’t see anywhere where anyone mentioned shopping around for the cheapest quote.

I also know Highbridge caravans use MJLovell for paint work and damp repairs

 

[Buckman]

I couldn’t see anywhere where anyone mentioned shopping around for the cheapest quote.

I also know Highbridge caravans use MJLovell for paint work and damp repairs

I think they are even further away from Bristol than CS. Over to DD to make a decision>

 

[Dustydog]

I know it’s only 24 hours but I have heard nothing from the miscreant. If the job is done at storage I may have to erect the porch awning in case it rains. A chore but only 30 mins and no need to peg the whole thing, mainly the storm straps Going to one of the two dealers means more work and time for me. The guy who has quoted is mobile, specialises in bodywork, actually does a lot of the work at the dealer 4 miles away and is highly recommended by my AWS Engineer. I will get quotes on line with CS and MJ Lovell

 

[Raywood]

Provided you sent the photo of the damage and the estimate the insurer can use their own engineers to asses if this is correct. It does look very reasonable to me, but you have provided the estimate and they need to challenge this on a factual basis if they feel it is too high. It is your own insurer who might ask for three estimates, the other insurer has no right to do this.

 

[Dustydog]

An update.
Two estimates . Both firms come highly recommended. Caravan Man Mike Bristol and Sam , M J Lovell. Just a few pounds difference. If I use Sam it will take two weeks. Say in time fuel and public transport I need to add another £300. Mike is mobile and will do it at the Farm in three weeks time . Had the damage been more serious and compromised the structural integrity I would have used Sam,
Unlike a car getting a caravan fixed cones with a lot more aggro, The offending party has promised to pay,

 

[Mel]

Glad you have progress. I’d go with the mobile man every time. Extract money from offending party up front??
See you very soon and we can all shake our heads and make soothing noises over the damage.
Mel