Disapointed warranty cover

Hi all - 
Got my first year old motorhome from BC Motorhomes in Ayr which was quite a trek from Broadstairs in Kent! But - I really wanted the Stanton and there were very few going especially as it's no longer current. Really like it so happy with my choice. I like the compactness for driving.

Anyway, called my local dealer in Canterbury to see if they would look after me and was told that yes they will do the habitation check but any warranty work would need to go back to Ayr. Now that being a 480 mile one way trip seems a bit scary - I got in touch with BC and they confirmed that it is normal.

Not met this before - with my car this hasn't happened as the dealer will just charge the manufacture for any warranty work needed.

Is this what I should expect? Have tried to look to get in touch with Autosleeper but I cannot find any email or phone number anywhere - it's like they don't want to talk to end users at all. I also see from their terms that the extended body cover only applies to the first owner - not a great reference for their warranty is it.

Does anyone have an email address for AS I can use?

The return to selling dealer is standard practise throughout the industry not just Auto-sleeper.  Your base vehicle,  like your car , can go to any dealer of that manufacturer for warranty work but not your conversion part of your motorhome. You can though ask your dealer to arrange for work to be done at the factory in Broadway in the Cotswolds which is a lot closer for you.

Use the contact form on the website to contact the service centre..

https://www.auto-sleepers.com/owners/auto-sleepers-service-centre

The only phone number I have is for the service centre 01386 853511

I would strongly recommend that you do not try to contact A/S by email. For years they have had a poor reputation for responding to email enquiries, and I suspect that the reason they have removed contact details from their website is that they know that they are not set up (or staffed) to handle customer enquiries that way. Their business model is based on an assumption that the dealer will always be the first point of contact for customers.

In your situation, I would write to them, sent Recorded Delivery. They are required by law to publish a postal address on their website.

AS address isn't clearly visible on their website but scroll down to 'terms and conditions ' and you'll find it there.

I thought that AS warranties were not transferable, or is that just the damp warranty? If that is the case then the dealer warranty applies and you couldn’t take it to the factory workshop near Broadway.

BornAgain wrote:I thought that AS warranties were not transferable, or is that just the damp warranty? If that is the case then the dealer warranty applies and you couldn’t take it to the factory workshop near Broadway.

They are transferable (except the damp warranty) for a fee of £100 or so. Details are at back of service record.

When I had problems with my reversing camera on a new Broadway I was able to use a nearer dealer, however, he wasn’t too happy because (he said) AS determine the chargeable hourly rate to be used which was lower than his usual rate.

Its worse if the van is out of the A/S warranty.
The dealer we bought from in Somerset wanted me to get our local garage to do the work and they would sent my local man the bits!! No way I said, 'VW Van Centres  and no others.' 
Luckily the problem should have been spotted during their MOT and so they eventually agreed.
(Also with VW the work and bits are guaranteed.)
There again it all depends on the dealer we had no probs. previously with Welsh Border or Cotswold agents.
In hindsight its as well to get some sort of agreement on warranty work, in writing if possible, before finalising the deal.
We did have a verbal one of sorts but of course that had slipped their collective memory.
frederic

If you search for Autosleepers on Google maps, then click on them on the map it will show their address & phone number. I have called them a couple of times and they have always been helpful.

The AS Warranty conditions are in full detail on their website and there is indeed a £100 fee (plus VAT) for transferring the warranty but this must be done within 14 days of the acquisition of the vehicle. So, if this hasn't been done then the dealer warranty applies.
In my experience, dealers in general are not very good about advising on manufacturers warranty transfers.

I can confirm that the Autosleepers' Service Centre at Willersey will carry out warranty work and in my experience do a better job of it than a dealer, especially if its Marquis.  As you would expect, parts are more readily available at Willersey and they specialise in Autosleepers' repairs and servicing.  I also found it possible to get warranty work carried out on a specific item like the Thetford oven by going to a local Thetford dealer be it for a caravan or motorhome.

Thank you all for your replies.

I’ve just had a the 240V fridge element replaced by a independent Caravan & Motorhome Workshop as it was out of warranty 

I said that until now I had returned my motorhome to the dealer for the annual habitation and warranty work which has worked ok but expensive.

He informed me he could do warranty work.

So how does that work?

Terry

I can tell you, from first hand experience, that, if you have any warranty issues, then BC Motorhomes will be as useful as a chocolate teapot.

So, do as we did, and find a trusted, local workshop, for any conversion issues, and just write off your warranty. It's not a great warranty in the first place, anyway. 

Different altogether for the base vehicle warranty.

The six year damp warranty is the most important part. Damp ingress can be a costly fix.

Looking on the A-S website the message that comes across is your dealer is the place you turn to for after-sales service. Yes A-S has a service department in Willersey but it is small and isn't geared up for a high throughput of owners. When I was there last week I saw only one person in reception, Karen. I was just there for a habitation check, I booked by phone several weeks earlier as I also needed to book a CAMC site. I did email them a few days prior to setting off for the Cotswolds, just to confirm with them that they were expecting us and the time we expected to arrive. There wasn't a delay in me getting a reply that my booking was confirmed.

Previously I visited our dealer several times, for work on the EC700 system and also to sort out a loose tap. After they had two goes at the tap that kept coming loose, I booked a slot at Willersey and they replaced the tap with a slightly different model that has given no further bother.

Reception has two desks but I only saw Karen there, so I'm not surprised when I have to wait for the phone to be answered and people complain about the delay in email responses. It's a small setup there compared with the large number of dealers who offer warranty work, though It has previously been suggested that dealers aren't generously paid for doing warranty work.

I have gone regularly to the AS Service Centre over the last 3 years.  Three trips were for the habitation service when some warranty work was done but I have also made trips just for warranty work.  I went there through frustration with my Marquis dealer to whom I also made multiple trips for warranty work in the first 4 months.  The AS Service Centre sorted things out.  In the early days the AS Service Centre was busy indeed quite chaotic at times.  It seems to have quietened down since Karen has taken the helm.  My dealer is an hour away and the AS Service Centre at least double that but I find Willersey a much nicer place to visit, on my own or with my wife, and when we visit we usually combine it with a few days in the area for which there are plenty of CAMC options.  We are out of warranty now, other than for water ingress, and will have to decide whether we go back to the AS Service Centre for next year's habitation service.  The van will also be due its MOT and 4 year service.  It would be nice to find someone who will do all three.  The AS Service Centre used to do Peugeot servicing on specific days but they no longer do this.