Stretto Boy
LIFE MEMBER
We ordered a new Auto Sleepers Broadway FB at the NEC show on October 16th last year. I had noted the rave reviews on the forum for VanBitz and their Growler alarm, so within days had booked it in to have one fitted today.
The new MH rolled off the production line as promised on Ist March. It then seemed to take a while to be delivered to Marquis in Northampton but it eventually arrived. As of Tuesday of this week (the intended delivery date) they had done the PDI and registered it on 31st March to avoid the new tax rules : which may or may not have been necessary given that it is being up-plated to 3,650 Kg but better safe than sorry. My understanding is that this was advisable in case we sell within 5 years to someone who wants to down-plate, which is possible given that we C1 licence holders seem to be a dying breed!
Marquis had not actually completed the up-plating or fitted the TV but these were things we could live with until we returned from a 4 night stay at VanBitz/Cornish Farm.
Then the problem hit home. The present trade-in van is registered in my wife's name. I checked with her about three weeks ago that she had the logbook and she couldn't find it. No problem thinks I, it doesn't take long to get a replacement. A new one was duly ordered on 20th March and posted to us by DVLA on the 22nd, so should have been with us in plenty of time. The problem is that it went astray in the post and to this day has not arrived. We then had a frustrating wait until Tuesday of this week, being the earliest date on which a second replacement could be ordered.
I knew that it was improbable that we would be able to make our appointment with VanBitz today. This worried me because (a) I hate letting people down (b) VanBitz have such a good reputation that they have quite a long waiting list and (c) I had already told my insurers that the alarm was being fitted today.
At this point I must give a plug to VanBitz, who were wonderful. The friendly folk there said not to worry and within hours they managed to arrange a swap of dates with another customer. This is great for all concerned. VanBitz are not inconvenienced, the other customer gets his alarm fitted early and I only have to wait four weeks until mine can be fitted rather than going right to the end of the queue. So top marks to VanBitz for customer service!
My concerns about the insurance were unnecessary. Although I went to great lengths to tell the insurers the date on which the alarm was being fitted, the type of alarm and the Thatcham approval number which VanBitz gave me it seems that they failed to make a note of any of it and so were unconcerned when I told them of the delay. A rare case of their incompetence working to my advantage!
The good news is that the second replacement logbook dropped through the letterbox this morning and the new MH is coming on Monday. I can start to get excited at last! It is a shame that we are not down in glorious Somerset this weekend, given the beautiful weather but I mustn't grumble. We are lucky to be having a shiny new MH and for that we must be grateful.
I have just realised how long I have droned on for, so my humble apologies to all who have read this far and are still awake!
The new MH rolled off the production line as promised on Ist March. It then seemed to take a while to be delivered to Marquis in Northampton but it eventually arrived. As of Tuesday of this week (the intended delivery date) they had done the PDI and registered it on 31st March to avoid the new tax rules : which may or may not have been necessary given that it is being up-plated to 3,650 Kg but better safe than sorry. My understanding is that this was advisable in case we sell within 5 years to someone who wants to down-plate, which is possible given that we C1 licence holders seem to be a dying breed!
Marquis had not actually completed the up-plating or fitted the TV but these were things we could live with until we returned from a 4 night stay at VanBitz/Cornish Farm.
Then the problem hit home. The present trade-in van is registered in my wife's name. I checked with her about three weeks ago that she had the logbook and she couldn't find it. No problem thinks I, it doesn't take long to get a replacement. A new one was duly ordered on 20th March and posted to us by DVLA on the 22nd, so should have been with us in plenty of time. The problem is that it went astray in the post and to this day has not arrived. We then had a frustrating wait until Tuesday of this week, being the earliest date on which a second replacement could be ordered.
I knew that it was improbable that we would be able to make our appointment with VanBitz today. This worried me because (a) I hate letting people down (b) VanBitz have such a good reputation that they have quite a long waiting list and (c) I had already told my insurers that the alarm was being fitted today.
At this point I must give a plug to VanBitz, who were wonderful. The friendly folk there said not to worry and within hours they managed to arrange a swap of dates with another customer. This is great for all concerned. VanBitz are not inconvenienced, the other customer gets his alarm fitted early and I only have to wait four weeks until mine can be fitted rather than going right to the end of the queue. So top marks to VanBitz for customer service!
My concerns about the insurance were unnecessary. Although I went to great lengths to tell the insurers the date on which the alarm was being fitted, the type of alarm and the Thatcham approval number which VanBitz gave me it seems that they failed to make a note of any of it and so were unconcerned when I told them of the delay. A rare case of their incompetence working to my advantage!
The good news is that the second replacement logbook dropped through the letterbox this morning and the new MH is coming on Monday. I can start to get excited at last! It is a shame that we are not down in glorious Somerset this weekend, given the beautiful weather but I mustn't grumble. We are lucky to be having a shiny new MH and for that we must be grateful.
I have just realised how long I have droned on for, so my humble apologies to all who have read this far and are still awake!
Glass will be duly raised at a more respectable hour 
