Service - Do you / should you receive paperwork when leaving caravan with a dealer?

[a18041967]

When you drop your caravan of for a service does the dealer ever provide proof that they have received your caravan and that there's no damages, should they be doing this?

The reason for the question is that I've never received any paperwork regardless of the dealer and currently my caravan has been with my current dealer coming upto four weeks for what should be a few hours of servicing. The dealers communication is poor at best and I've phoned them and been told that they are waiting for parts from Bailey which is possibly true, gas valve keeps sticking.

I just keep asking myself, what if, have they damaged my caravan, is there a bigger problem, what happens if the dealership goes into receivership whilst my caravan is in for a service?

 

[Raywood]

I have had caravans serviced by three different dealers over the years and none of them have given me any paperwork to acknowledge receipt but there again neither has any garage I have used for the car although sometimes I have had a card with the individuals name and phone number. I have never had a Bailey but my experience of waiting for parts from other firms is that the service is poor so the dealer may be telling the truth. Most dealers I know are tight for space so I doubt they would want it to keep taking up space longer than needed. On balance I would think the explanation given is true but cannot be sure.
If the dealer does go into recievership the caravan is still your properrty and you will owe the reciever only for any work completed although there can sometimes be a problem picking up the caravan until the receiver has established what is the companies property and what is customers.

 

[GrahamDerby]

This is a very good question. I used to deliver hire cars and vans to customers. Before we set of therehwas a check list to fill in, all dents, scratches and any damage was listed, then signed for by the customer. When we took the viehicle back the check was done again, any damage over what was listed on delivery was charged to the customer.Why cant this be the same on caravan services, lets face it doesnt take much to damage one, and when you part chop they take damage into account.

 

[ProfJohnL]

This is a good question.
Dealers /service agents have a duty of care towards their customers property, and disputes about damage whilst at service etc are always hampered when it comes to proving what was and was't present when you left your property with them.
The same issue arrises when damage ocurs at storage sites.
With the availability of digital photography it would be a relatively quick and painless procedure for the booking clerk to take photos of the four sides of the caravan and any specific features going to be worked on. Using a computer to log the the booking along with the photo's is a relatively simple process these days.

Alternatively you could do it or even create your own caravan check sheet and get your agant to sign when you leave the van with them, and again when you pick it up.

 

[Brum1]

When leaving either car or caravan (or as now the case...motorhome) for service, I alaways insist that the receptionist inspects the vehicle with me 'to confirm that there is no dammage. I have never had anyone resuse this.

 

[Martin24]

When our van went into the factory for her damp to be sorted we did a full inspection with the appropriate manager and both signed to say what the condition of the van was. We repeated this on collection!!

 

[Raywood]

It would seem a sensible idea to walk round using the video on a camera or phone when you drop it off. Think I will do this next time we have it serviced. The dealer we use takes most of the weeks work in on a Sunday and hands them back on the following Saturday so they tend to be busy with this and other customers so I doubt they have time to do it themselves.
quote=Prof John L]
This is a good question.
Dealers /service agents have a duty of care towards their customers property, and disputes about damage whilst at service etc are always hampered when it comes to proving what was and was't present when you left your property with them.
The same issue arrises when damage ocurs at storage sites.
With the availability of digital photography it would be a relatively quick and painless procedure for the booking clerk to take photos of the four sides of the caravan and any specific features going to be worked on. Using a computer to log the the booking along with the photo's is a relatively simple process these days.

Alternatively you could do it or even create your own caravan check sheet and get your agant to sign when you leave the van with them, and again when you pick it up.
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