Flippin heck how much!

[Barclaybasher]

Why not? You have to pay for car dealers to check your car for the warranty to remain in place too.

Is the 'warranty' really worth anything?

 

[our poppy llll]

Just returned from 3 days at Lowdhams each day they took the van and returned at night to the rally field which is free to customers. Offered me a courtesy car (not needed) .

Can't do that, no heating, waiting for the Aldi heating to be repaired and they had no cars, only choic3 was to come home and return it’s taking 7 days, Tuesday through to Monday.
By the way I have no problem with Lowdhams. It’s just too far away.

 

[scotzsue]

Our first van was a swift only had first habitation check done by the dealer we had bought it from, all the res done by an approved workshop locally, we did check with Swift that it wouldn't invalidate the warranty

 

[our poppy llll]

Why do you have to return home, isn’t the service all done while you wait for the3ish hours. All mine have been done whilst I wait

It’s booked in for 7 days, from Tuesday 08.30 until Monday 16.00. (5 working days) It has no Aldi heating so we can’t stay in it, it’s too cold, they have no cars so the train was the only option or a hotel. They said Camera 1/2 day, Battery and pig tail 1/2 day, Habitation 1 day, sat nav reloading a few hours, the rest of the time sorting out the heating issue. I presume to find the issue and get parts delivered. Collect Monday 16.00
Which is a pain because we will arrive at 14.36 last train until peak at 17.36. It’s not a great place to get to.
That’s why I’m asking are there swift dealers in Stoke on Trent who do motorhome habitations and servicing?
It’s not the cost it’s the time and messing around.

 

[iandsm]

I’ve always thought that it’s a bit rich, the manufacturer tells you their camper is top notch and superb etc. then one you have paid a lot of money for it they want you to pay a dealer an extortionate price to check the most basic thing, that it doesn’t leak or isn’t damp. Surely if the claims they make about quality were true there would be no question of a lack or damp, ever.

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[nicholsong]

I presume that people who rely on checks and warranties would never buy a secondhand MH over 3 years old.

The difference in prices could pay for a lot of repairs. Our Arto at 6 years was half the price of new and we have spent very little on it in 15 years. Also it has only depreciated about £7K in nominal £s, not much compared with a new MH.

 

[our poppy llll]

I’ve always thought that it’s a bit rich, the manufacturer tells you their camper is top notch and superb etc. then one you have paid a lot of money for it they want you to pay a dealer an extortionate price to check the most basic thing, that it doesn’t leak or isn’t damp. Surely if the claims they make about quality were true there would be no question of a lack or damp, ever.

Sorry to change the subject, but my post was really trying to find out if there was a way I could have the Habitation checks done a little closer to home, like Stoke on Trent, obviously after spending £96.600.00 on a new motor one year ago I’m going to maintain its warranty even if it costs, but if I could have it done closer to home, it would save mileage, fuel, time, messing around and have a financial benefit too. I don’t think many people would pay near in £100k and not maintain a warranty. It’s all the extra time and cost of travelling to and from Lowdham I was complaining about,,plus I do think near £400 for a check is high. But I would never think, I’m not paying it…just checked again, the habitation service is £345.00 not 395.00 I read it wrong..

 

[Old Gibber]

Sorry to change the subject, but my post was really trying to find out if there was a way I could have the Habitation checks done a little closer to home, like Stoke on Trent, obviously after spending £96.600.00 on a new motor one year ago I’m going to maintain its warranty even if it costs, but if I could have it done closer to home, it would save mileage, fuel, time, messing around and have a financial benefit too. I don’t think many people would pay near in £100k and not maintain a warranty. It’s all the extra time and cost of travelling to and from Lowdham I was complaining about,,plus I do think near £400 for a check is high. But I would never think, I’m not paying it…just checked again, the habitation service is £345.00 not 395.00 I read it wrong..

I know with my motorhome, I can take it to anyone with NCC approval to have the habitation check done, and it will be accepted by the dealer and manufacturer. I use a mobile agent who comes either to my home or to the storage site. I paid £180 in November for a full hab check.

 

[Old Gibber]

Is the 'warranty' really worth anything?

Yes it is. I had a new Bailey Alutec that leaked through the roof and at the same time, all the grp lining inside at the front was starting to ripple and bubble. Both problems were sorted without fuss by dealer under warranty, and I got the van back better than new after 3 weeks.

 

[our poppy llll]

I know with my motorhome, I can take it to anyone with NCC approval to have the habitation check done, and it will be accepted by the dealer and manufacturer. I use a mobile agent who comes either to my home or to the storage site. I paid £180 in November for a full hab check.

Your mobile agent where are they based anywhere near Stoke on Trent? If yes do you have their contact details?

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[Old Gibber]

I presume that people who rely on checks and warranties would never buy a secondhand MH over 3 years old.

The difference in prices could pay for a lot of repairs. Our Arto at 6 years was half the price of new and we have spent very little on it in 15 years. Also it has only depreciated about £7K in nominal £s, not much compared with a new MH.

My 2 year old motorhome is still worth more than I paid for it, and with the previous new one which I had for 3 years, I sold it for more than I paid for it. I've had my car for over 4 years now and it has only lost about £4k. Its still under warranty, and this year was the first year I have had to pay for it being serviced. Its still on its original tyres, so so far has only cost me that one service.

Times have changed.

 

[Old Gibber]

Your mobile agent where are they based anywhere near Stoke on Trent? If yes do you have their contact details?

Sorry no. Google mobile agents, a few should pop up in your area.

 

[Imala615]

I think Spinney at Holmes Chapel are a Swift dealer

I have had 3 vans off spinney and yes they do all the hab checks etc ,service is good and usually a courtesy car , they also have a depot at staffordshire both close to Stoke .
https://www.spinney.co.uk/about-us

Caravans & Motorhomes Stoke-on-Trent

Spinney Offers New Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Around Staffs & the North West Including Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Visit or Get in Touch Today.

www.spinney.co.uk

 

[Stinkie]

It’s booked in for 7 days, from Tuesday 08.30 until Monday 16.00. (5 working days) It has no Aldi heating so we can’t stay in it, it’s too cold, they have no cars so the train was the only option or a hotel. They said Camera 1/2 day, Battery and pig tail 1/2 day, Habitation 1 day, sat nav reloading a few hours, the rest of the time sorting out the heating issue. I presume to find the issue and get parts delivered. Collect Monday 16.00
Which is a pain because we will arrive at 14.36 last train until peak at 17.36. It’s not a great place to get to.
That’s why I’m asking are there swift dealers in Stoke on Trent who do motorhome habitations and servicing?
It’s not the cost it’s the time and messing around.

I think Lowe and Rhodes in Fenton are Swift dealers. A friend bought his van from Don Amott in Derbyshire but takes it to Lowe and Rhodes for servicing.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

I can imagine not many vans fail a hab check until the warranty has ended

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[busby]

Correct, our Swift caravan also needs an annual service and damp check to preserve the 10 year water ingress warranty. Best bit is they only check the floor not the ceiling or walls.

Additionally each service has to be carried out within a specific window either side of the purchase anniversary date. And further the sixth one (ours this year) has to completed before the actual sixth anniversary date, not a day after.

This was only relaxed during COVID when dealers were closed.

£250 a pop....

Easy money...Glad I don't need to have Hab Check.BUSBY.

 

[our poppy llll]

I think Lowe and Rhodes in Fenton are Swift dealers. A friend bought his van from Don Amott in Derbyshire but takes it to Lowe and Rhodes for servicing.

Tried them they only service the ones the sell, they are too busy.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

I think what negates the initial advantage's of Britstops is:
1. A lot of pubs are up for you staying in they carpark if you spend money regardless of a membership to Britstops.
2. Pub food is now way more expensive than staying on an average campsite.
3. The membership fee of Britstops is extortionate now......for what really is a map of pubs.
4. Britstops are now stealing money from former members using loopholes in our banking rules.

 

[our poppy llll]

I have had 3 vans off spinney and yes they do all the hab checks etc ,service is good and usually a courtesy car , they also have a depot at staffordshire both close to Stoke .
https://www.spinney.co.uk/about-us

Caravans & Motorhomes Stoke-on-Trent

Spinney Offers New Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Around Staffs & the North West Including Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Visit or Get in Touch Today.

www.spinney.co.uk

I had 2 vans off Spinney, but like Lowe and Rhodes do they only service the ones they sell.
So far, Lowe and Rhodes, the Hymer centre at Stafford both have said no..

 

[Imala615]

I had 2 vans off Spinney, but like Lowe and Rhodes do they only service the ones they sell.
So far, Lowe and Rhodes, the Hymer centre at Stafford both have said no..

Worth a phone call,

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

Times have changed.

Not for some

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I had 2 vans off Spinney, but like Lowe and Rhodes do they only service the ones they sell.
So far, Lowe and Rhodes, the Hymer centre at Stafford both have said no..

Not being funny here but........
If these authorised dealers will only do the service and hab check on the vans THEY have sold, then they must be seriously shifting some vehicles to keep a workshop busy over 5 or 6 days per week, every week.
Either that, or the speed at which they work is painfully slow, deliberately, in order to keep it functioning but at a huge cost to the consumer as the already high hourly rate is stretched way beyond what is reasonable.
Call me cynical if you wish, but the UK car main dealers as far as I can see, and who shift far more cars I suspect than motorhome dealers shift motorhomes, are all able and willing to undertake manufacturers warranty work whether they sell the actual vehicle in the first place or not.
I cannot seriously understand how a motorhome dealership which puts its name to a certain marque of van , is allowed to decline warranty work on said vans just because they didn't sell the actual van in the first place.
Yes, taking a , say, swift to a hymer dealer is obviously not the same marque, but a swift for example surely can be dealt with by any swift agent EVEN if that dealership didn't sell it in the first place.
A manufacturers warranty is a manufacturers responsibility, and the dealers are acting on behalf of said manufacturers marque as their representative and approved agents.
A condition of taking on a dealership I am sure would have been outlined at the time of the contract between manufacturer and authorised agent.

 

[Beltie]

I can imagine not many vans fail a hab check until the warranty has ended

I've had a couple of issues with mine, found by the dealer and rectified under warranty without argument.

 

[chaser]

Your mobile agent where are they based anywhere near Stoke on Trent? If yes do you have their contact details?

Have you tried these. Always used to have a good reputation don't know what they are like now.

https://www.spinney.co.uk/all-new-motorhomes?paid=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search%20%7C%20Generic%20%7C%20Sales&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiMmwBhDmARIsABeQ7xRnxiCyjkeLuIunZ9i9pV87vxNE5Eb0n4WgM6DCE6XElY9Oj1ZIOtEaAtjZEALw_wcB

 

[Pausim]

To keep my 10 year water ingress warranty I only have to have an annual damp check not a full habitation service. I think the habitation service was only needed until the 2 year full warranty expired. I can’t see what checking the lights and other internal services has to do with the body leaking. Would it be terribly cynical of me to suggest that a trade organisation might introduce such an idea to create work for it’s members?

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[Miggs]

Just Google your closest AWS approved mobile hab checker. Mine comes to me and costs me £155 and 2 cups of tea!

 

[landranger]

So poppylll is 1 year old, and 2 days, she is being given her first habitation service, they’ll be looking at everything on her! cheeky eh, she is having pig tail number 2 fitted, a new reversing camera, the Sat Nav up graded reloaded, the Batteries checked over, and the Aldi heating system repaired, all under warranty. Except the habitation which I pay for.
Whoo hoo she’ll come back on Monday all tip top.. on Tuesday/Wednesday n Thursday I’ll start to load her up with all those essential things we need, Saturday top her up with food and water, then after a good nights Sleep, a final check, passports, five runs to the loo, we’ll be off.
But! I will be thinking, how much! All the way to Newhaven, how much! A habitation costs how much? Just short of £400 squid.. heck that’s in 10 years near on £4000 squid for looking to see if it’s leaking!… so I have been thinking, not an easy task after you destroyed breakfast!
Can it be done closer to home. I’ll tell you why.
The drive from Home to Lowdhams, 2 hours 10 minutes, 72 miles 14 litres Diesel £21.00 Train to Stoke 1 hour 45 mins, standing on the station at Lowdhams 10.25 to 11.56. There’s no 10.36 train!
£24.00 train ticket, Taxi Stoke - Home £10.00. Take away £20.00 taxi back to Stoke train station £10.00 Train back to Lowdham £24.00 Diesel to Stoke £21.00. Takeaway £20.00.
Breakfast and lunch at Lowdhams cafe: £9.00 tea and toast & £14.00 a sandwich and tea .. phew!

In all about £548.00, now I’m not tight, I have plenty of pocket money. But we have a few closer MOHO dealers, before the 1st service April 4th 2025 and second habitation check! I’m gonna find a local Swift dealer to service and hab check my poppylll for me.
Any suggestions of where to go will be much appreciated..

Sending a PM

 

[our poppy llll]

Oh dear what an awful day, went to Lowdhams to pick up Poppylll, it was a nightmare. The booking agreement was collect at 16.00. Closes (16.30) That’s ok but the trains from Stoke to Lowdham is 1 hour 40mins, they run 11.33. 12.33 14.56. 15.56
Gets in. 13.13. 14.13. 16.36 17.36
So we had to get the 12.33 to be there 14.33 have lunch and get poppylll.
So we rang, 10.00 11.00 11.30 we have to get a taxi to the train station, if it’s not ready we can’t stay anywhere, so shall we come tomorrow instead at 13.13? Please advise if not to come! At 11.40 they said it’s still being worked on but will be ready for 16.00, we wanted it because we have lots to do..got to train station 12.30, it was delayed 6 mins so alls good. Don’t forget it’s 5 mins from Lowdham to Gunthorpe where Lowdhams is situated.
So got on the choo choo.. it got as far as Derby. Where we sat for 40 minutes, ladies and me! We are sorry to inform you that we have no guard for the train and those heading to wherever can get off and catch a train to.. so I ask what about getting to Lowdham, oh you’ll have to wait for the 14.33 train, where? Beeston ok how do we get to Beeston, right stay on this train. This train then gets a guard so off we trot, to be informed it’s now terminating at Nottingham and not stopping at Beeston, so we have to wait for the 15.56 from Stoke. It’s too late, So we get off at Nottingham get a Taxi to Lowdham. £30.00! We get to Lowdham 15.30! Have a sandwich and get poppylll at 16.30. So we come all the way back to 16 miles from Stoke on the A50 and there’s an accident. We sat waiting for 40 mins..
Now you see why I want to have servicing closer to home..
Anyway, whoo hoo, everything is working, got 2 gas bottles connected, reversing camera woking, new battery, and the heatings working.. sat Nav reset.. time to pack and we are off to Newhaven on Sunday.

For anyone who has a Kontiki or similar, with all the highly sophisticated paraphinelia, when your battery goes flat, the systems like ABS, hill descent, lane keeping and your sat nav, needs resetting. Green Flag or Fiat assist know what they are doing as do your dealership.

 

[VXman]

I understand but how does having an annual check make any difference?
Most leaks will leave a stain
How do you explain that to a buyer?

Well my damp check revealed a problem that wasn't visable and I wasn't aware of any issue. Probably wouldn't have been until it was really bad so I guess that's an example of why having checks done is a positive thing.

 

[VXman]

Is the 'warranty' really worth anything?

Well, they fixed the issue which would have cost probably £500 if not under warranty.

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