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Just about to have a service on a caravan I am about to buy.

Should I use a NCC approved servicer or MCEA approved servicer.  Which is best.

'My guy is an MCEA approved felow, it means he has been trained on the gas and electric appliances and passed the courses,as well as general road safety servicing they are expensive courses to take.....'

They may well be expensive but according to the mcea website they only last 5 days, unless I have read it wrong.  That is some learning curve.

Brian

Quote: Originally posted by Dave101 on 04/6/2009

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NCC is the Caravan Industry National Governing Body, and the MCEA isn't. So as with many other things in life, you get what you pay for.

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The NCC is funded by the caravan trade.  It represents the interests of the trade, not those of the consumer.

It is also one of the most pointless organisations to have existed in the history of mankind.

Members of the NCC are extremely fond of dinner-dances and  lavish ceremonies, where they gather together with other caravan industry grandees to congratulate each other and present each other with various awards.

What they seem to care a good deal less about is the poor quality of the products produced by their paymasters - hence their complete absence of pronouncements on such matters as water ingress in nearly new caravans, cracking of ABS panels, and the plethora of other issues that affect UK caravan buyers.

On the other hand, if you need someone to hand over a trophy or a plaque with a firm handshake and a smile for the camera - the NCC can oblige you.

Quote: Originally posted by Returnee on 04/6/2009

Quote: Originally posted by Dave101 on 04/6/2009NCC is the Caravan Industry National Governing Body, and the MCEA isn't. So as with many other things in life, you get what you pay for.

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The NCC is funded by the caravan trade.  It represents the interests of the trade, not those of the consumer.

It is also one of the most pointless organisations to have existed in the history of mankind.

Members of the NCC are extremely fond of dinner-dances and  lavish ceremonies, where they gather together with other caravan industry grandees to congratulate each other and present each other with various awards.

What they seem to care a good deal less about is the poor quality of the products produced by their paymasters - hence their complete absence of pronouncements on such matters as water ingress in nearly new caravans, cracking of ABS panels, and the plethora of other issues that affect UK caravan buyers.

On the other hand, if you need someone to hand over a trophy or a plaque with a firm handshake and a smile for the camera - the NCC can oblige you.

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The MCEA is indeed a weeks induction course but they then should go on to complete product training with the various suppliers, ie ALKO, Truma, Dometic etc and get a gas competents certificate after another weeks training.

Not much difference to NCC in those respects and many have a strong background such as car mechanics etc, having said that...some have no relevent experience!

I deal with loads of both types, some are damn good! and some I won't deal with!! and many in between

As I said, recomendation is key to it all

Quote: Originally posted by Dave101 on 04/6/2009

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And the MCEA is run by One man and to His standards, which is hardly a benchmark.

As already mentioned by Brian, the course is for 5 days and having personaly been heavily involved in the delivery of training for most of my life, anyone who proclaims to be able to teach this lot to an accceptable standard in just 5-days deserves a Nobel Prize.

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I can't t comment on the MCEA - but my supplying dealer was 'approved' by the NCC (which, presumably, meant that he paid the necessary subs) and the standard of work done on the pre-delivery was genuinely shocking.

Also, the workshop was also 'approved' - despite the fact that it was a wooden shed, and most work had to be performed in an open yard.

In the end, neither NCC nor MCEA accreditation means anything - it all boils down to how conscientious the mechanic is.

What I am certain of is that many caravan owners appear to think that the NCC is on their side, an organisation that is batting for them.

Well, they are most certainly not.  They are there to represent the interests of the trade (and  are paid by the trade to do so)  When the interests of the trade and consumers coincide, all is well - but when they diverge (as they very often do) the NCC is there for the dealer, not for you or I.

Personally, I consider NCC 'approval' to be worthless - in fact, worse than worthless because it creates a false sense of security.  In all honesty, it would make no difference if your caravan dealer/workshop was 'approved' by McDonald's!