At your service?
Is it too much to expect that, when we take our motorhome back to the dealership for its first service and habitation check, that the dealer actually carries this out on its premises and does not drive our motorhome 2.3 miles to a family-run garage that services motorhomes, horseboxes, trucks, etc?
I took our motorhome to the dealership from where it was purchased for its first service and habitation check.
I got to there at 8.30am as requested and was told it should be ready by 2pm.
I rang the dealer before leaving home to ensure it was ready but it was not, and was told it would now be 3.30pm.
Again I rang before I left and it then said it should be ready by 4pm.
As it’s a 30-minute journey, we left for the dealership. On arrival we were told there was a further delay, and we could sit in the waiting room and have a coffee. We were waiting for about one hour.
At 5pm it said the vehicle was ready and it just had to do the paperwork.
The vehicle had an oil and filter change, although it had only covered 2,000 miles since the purchase, and had also failed its habitation check with a 50% fail in one area. The vehicle is only one year old.
A couple of weeks later, I decided to put the motorhome battery on charge.
On opening the bonnet I noticed a small sticker by the VIN plate from a company that I had not heard of, stating that the oil and filter were changed on the date of the service.
This dealer has obviously sub-contracted out my motorhome to a third party, for the service, without my knowledge and all for the princely sum of £402 (including a habitation check).
On looking at the third party’s website, it seems eminently qualified to carry out both the service and habitation check, so maybe I will take it directly there next time.
Moral of this story for the readers of your great magazine, and it may seem strange, but ask the dealer where the vehicle will be serviced.
Ian Stockwell
ED Many dealers do not have their own in-house facilities for servicing base vehicles and carrying out MoTs, so these are often contracted out to local garages. It is a common practice but, if it concerns you, then do ask when booking in. Also, bear in mind that, until the motorhome is out of warranty, you may have to use approved centres for annual services and repairs.