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Had my 'van serviced at my local independant dealer Mon/Tue. Total bill was £145.90.

He does the job far better than the major companies because his trade is local and generally by recommendation. Having a major 'Approved' workshop is not always the best service and seemingly never the best value.

As an example he always finds the odd little problem like a loose door catch or the gas igniter on our hot water heater wasn't secure.

It's always worth the effort to try and find these people....mine is Mike at Peter Wells Caravans in Swaffham, Norfolk.

PS. I might add that the 100Euro service is similar to our MOT where ALL vehicles are tested therefore the price is low!

Hi Vic

I'd be mad too!

Did they ask you before changing the tyres?

Did they show/prove to you the need for new ones? What was wrong with the tyres?

Are we forced to allow tyre changes in order to maintain the warranty? Reading the small print I'd say probably yes but how do tyres affect the items under warranty!

Incidentally how much were you charged for the tyres, including v.a.t.?

I'm beginning to regret buying a new caravan. The only reason to maintain the warranty is worry from all the horrific stories we hear about damp problems.

It appears the dealers win hands down all round.

Tyreman

Hi Tyreman, As promised I said i would post when I had further details of servicing costs, Oxford caravan Centre where I purchased my Bailey from just after Xmas quoted me £213 for the first anniversary service which is due according to them in May as the caravan was sold new in May last year, however after calling Baileys helpline I found out that due to my caravan having a PDI in February there was no need for a service in May, I asked if they would confirm in writing and they did, my worry was because of the warranty, Baileys stating it has to be done six weeks either side of the original anniversary of purchase, but at least saved £213

After my other post on here with regard to Chipping Sodbury Caravans service price of £126.70p this is confirmed and it does include a damp test to comply with warranties, their service cost for the twin axle Bailey (i.e. Senater etc) is £148 with no hidden extras, and I also asked about tyres after seeing the post on here, the service manager clearly stated that if anything needed replacing they would contact the person first before proceeding, as I have been a old customer at Chipping Sodbury Caravans they willingly accepted to look after the servicing and any warranty work on my caravan and are going to replace the whole wet locker door and not just adjust it. I have never had any problems with them in the past and their standard of service and care of customers is excellent.They will also wash caravans after service if requested at the time of booking service

In the previous posts there has been no mention of whether the servicing costs have been for a standard service or premier service that some independants are offering i.e. my very local caravan dealer has a two tier service costing £139 for standard service and £199 for premier service.

Going on what I have found out there does not seem to be any sort of uniform pricing and I can quite see where people are coming from when they say they feel like they have been ripped off, but as I found it does pay to shop around and ask questions and my own personal feelings are that at least I can rest a litle more easy towing knowing that the caravan has been serviced, what price safety and peace of mind!!

Micky

We got our caravan's first service today by the Dealer. Bill came to £200 that includes VAT and £30 to replace ?studs and ceiling flyscreen .

For once things same price in Northern Ireland as on mainland

Quote: Originally posted by Tyreman on 28/3/2007

Hi Vic

I'd be mad too!

Did they ask you before changing the tyres?

Did they show/prove to you the need for new ones? What was wrong with the tyres?

Are we forced to allow tyre changes in order to maintain the warranty? Reading the small print I'd say probably yes but how do tyres affect the items under warranty!

Incidentally how much were you charged for the tyres, including v.a.t.?

I'm beginning to regret buying a new caravan. The only reason to maintain the warranty is worry from all the horrific stories we hear about damp problems.

It appears the dealers win hands down all round.

Tyreman

---

In all conscience they did phone me about the tyres and they told me how much they would be - about £57.00 each + vat. They are a make that I have never heard of before - Nexen - but upon enquiring at a local Kwik Fit was assured that they were a middle of the road brand. What they didn't tell me was that they would make an extra charge for changing them because I had Tyron bands fitted which, when fitted, require additional labour to fit new tyres. They charged me their minimum hourly rate which was £42.50. They said that there was bulges in the walls of both of them but I couldn't see any. Apparently they were on the inside. Before putting the tyres back on, I had checked them and couldn't see anything. When I asked to be shown the tyres they had be gotten rid of already. Bloody convenient all of it eh?
I thought I had read somewhere, either here or in one of the caravanning magazines, that bulging of the walls doesn't occur so readily with radial tyres as it used to when cross-plys were used.

In any event, I felt a bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights, bitched heavily as I handed over my credit card and decided to await to next rip-off event in this bloody country.

This servicing lark IS is the down side of buying a new caravan, but even if I add the cost of the first three services together, the total still doesn't come to what a water ingress repair could cost so I suppose it's worth sticking to the rules.

Needless to say, they will not be seeing the colour of my money in the future.People only do this to me once.

Still smarting and not a happy bunny!

Vic


Post last edited on 29/03/2007 11:36:13

Post last edited on 29/03/2007 11:37:19

Hi Vic

Thanks for that information.

I shall certainly be telling any workshop in the future not to do anything extra without contacting me first. It's a policy I've adopted for many years with car services.

Tyreman