Is a "Hab Check" simply a scam?

[Colinc]

Just had one done as part of the first service of our van. Cost me £190 just for the "hab check" bit.

Now the service of the van itself makes perfect sense. They change or top up the various oils and fluids and check things like brakes that I can't do myself (well not easily anyway). So, like my car, I will always get that done.

But the "hab check" just seems that they run around the motorhome lights and systems to check they are working. And I could do that myself in under 30 mins. In fact I effectively do this whenever we are on the road as we then use them all the time. Ours is a panel van so they didn't do the moisture meter bit of the test as no need. I could easily do that myself anyway with a cheap moisture meter from B&Q. The list of tasks explicitly says that no "servicing" is done in a "hab check" - unlike the main van service.

So has anyone actually had anything really useful out of a "hab check"? Something that they wouldn't have picked up just by using the motorhome? Or is this just a scam by the dealers to get some annual easy money? You don't "hab check" your house, for example.

 

[Fisherman]

Just had one done as part of the first service of our van. Cost me £190 just for the "hab check" bit.

Now the service of the van itself makes perfect sense. They change or top up the various oils and fluids and check things like brakes that I can't do myself (well not easily anyway). So, like my car, I will always get that done.

But the "hab check" just seems that they run around the motorhome lights and systems to check they are working. And I could do that myself in under 30 mins. In fact I effectively do this whenever we are on the road as we then use them all the time. Ours is a panel van so they didn't do the moisture meter bit of the test as no need. I could easily do that myself anyway with a cheap moisture meter from B&Q. The list of tasks explicitly says that no "servicing" is done in a "hab check" - unlike the main van service.

So has anyone actually had anything really useful out of a "hab check"? Something that they wouldn't have picked up just by using the motorhome? Or is this just a scam by the dealers to get some annual easy money? You don't "hab check" your house, for example.

I am sure some will disagree, but I reckon they are a con personally, and £190 is on the cheap side. They normally set you back over £200. But they are conditional for your warranty. I have my own damp meter, and I do six monthly checks for dampness. As you say most of what they check you are using regularly. You can watch videos on YouTube showing you how to do one yourself. But do check your CO2 detector, that’s a very important thing particularly if you heat your van with gas.

 

[1807truckman]

I've never had a habitation check done on any of the motorhomes I've owned, to comply with the warranties all that needed to be done was the damp check.

 

[Fisherman]

I've never had a habitation check done on any of the motorhomes I've owned, to comply with the warranties all that needed to be done was the damp check.

That’s correct, I was quoted £140 for a damp check.
How on earth is that justified.
I can check my van for water ingress in about 10-15 minutes.
This is simply an easy earner for the dealers.
I read on another forum that Hymer dealers are charging £350 for a hab check.
They really are out of order.

 

[colinm]

PVC's can and do leak, have a guess as to how I know.

 

[RSD7a]

Just had one done as part of the first service of our van. Cost me £190 just for the "hab check" bit.

Now the service of the van itself makes perfect sense. They change or top up the various oils and fluids and check things like brakes that I can't do myself (well not easily anyway). So, like my car, I will always get that done.

But the "hab check" just seems that they run around the motorhome lights and systems to check they are working. And I could do that myself in under 30 mins. In fact I effectively do this whenever we are on the road as we then use them all the time. Ours is a panel van so they didn't do the moisture meter bit of the test as no need. I could easily do that myself anyway with a cheap moisture meter from B&Q. The list of tasks explicitly says that no "servicing" is done in a "hab check" - unlike the main van service.

So has anyone actually had anything really useful out of a "hab check"? Something that they wouldn't have picked up just by using the motorhome? Or is this just a scam by the dealers to get some annual easy money? You don't "hab check" your house, for example.

Had one done (on a PVC) years ago by a mobile guy. I finished up having to help him find his way around the van! Never done one since. It's mostly common sense. If not a scam, then at best largely unnecessary, in my view.

 

[trevskoda]

95% of stuff in life is a scam if you are daft enuff to follow it, mainly common sense rules the roost & learning through life how things work, I had to as nobody here has a fecken clue.

 

[Fisherman]

95% of stuff in life is a scam if you are daft enuff to follow it, mainly common sense rules the roost & learning through life how things work, I had to as nobody here has a fecken clue.

Life is all about choices Trev, and depending on your wealth or lack of it determines what choices you have, or have not. But there are somethings that when you look at them are an obvious rip off, and also unnecessary. And I reckon these hab services are both a rip of and unnecessary.

The fact is you can do your own damp check, if you have a gas leak you will smell it, if your boiler is sending CO2 into your van the detector you have checked out will detect it, by simply using your van you are in effect testing your equipment.

Do your own checks, and spend the money on something else.

 

[witzend]

Several years ago the need for main dealers to do servicing to maintain a warranty was done away with as unfair practice the only requirement was the use of oem parts or equivalent. So surely the same should apply to a Hab check

 

[trevskoda]

What point would there be for me on my self build van, maybe folk with a hundred thu or more van and esp if they are the non hands on brigade, then yes.

 

[Fisherman]

What point would there be for me on my self build van, maybe folk with a hundred thu or more van and esp if they are the non hands on brigade, then yes.

That’s fair enough Trev, but if I had a £100,000 van, I would still do my own checks.

 

[trevskoda]

That’s fair enough Trev, but if I had a £100,000 van, I would still do my own checks.

So would I, but many folk like my brother cannot change a car wheel never mind know what damp or other problems are.

 

[Herman]

Isn't there a difference between a Hab Check and a Hab Service, I image they would service the boiler, fidge, fire and the gas system, treat the water system, check vents in which case £200 would probably be justified.

 

[witzend]

What point would there be for me on my self build van, maybe folk with a hundred thu or more van and esp if they are the non hands on brigade, then yes.

But they still complain about being ripped off by main dealers service charges but carry on using them when their not required to. Any arguments thats what we pay legal protection when we insure the van for

 

[Moped]

We have a 2020 model coach built van with a GRP internal lining and with no wood within the wall and roof body construction. I was told by Swift that a damp test was not required for the walls and roof of the vehicle as there is absolutely nothing to rot in these areas that could be affected by water ingress. The only damp test required was to the van floor.

So what is the point then of the 10 year damp warranty to the walls and roof of the van if damp does not matter in these areas?

In addition, we were still charged the full habitation service cost even though damp testing is not required to walls and roof.

Could somebody please explain this rational?

PS just to add that (rightly or wrongly?) we are comforted by the fact that Swift absolutely have no concerns about water ingress to the van body. It is something we do not have to concern ourselves with during the life of our ownership. We are a bit puzzled as to why Swift don’t make more of this in their sales pitch. This only came to light when the service agent explained this to us.

 

[Moped]

Isn't there a difference between a Hab Check and a Hab Service, I image they would service the boiler, fidge, fire and the gas system, treat the water system, check vents in which case £200 would probably be justified.

We were advised that the habitation check/service (call it what you will) takes something like 3-4 hours so they must do something in that time (even if damp wall and roof checks are not required). Not just sit around drinking coffee at my expense. The charge was £165 + VAT which for 3 to 4 hours of a service agents time does not seem unreasonable to be fair.

 

[Fisherman]

We have a 2020 model coach built van with a GRP internal lining and with no wood within the wall and roof body construction. I was told by Swift that a damp test was not required for the walls and roof of the vehicle as there is absolutely nothing to rot in these areas that could be affected by water ingress. The only damp test required was to the van floor.

So what is the point then of the 10 year damp warranty to the walls and roof of the van if damp does not matter in these areas?

In addition, we were still charged the full habitation service cost even though damp testing is not required to walls and roof.

Could somebody please explain this rational?

I am shocked at swift stating that due to no timber no damp check is required. living in a damp home is unhealthy. It creates fungal spores within insulation that when breathed in can cause problems. It can have a distinct odour that is unpleasant. It will stain the internal boarding inside your van. Soak upholstery and furnishing. My current van is a roller team with no timber construction, but a full damp check is mandatory for warranty purposes.
Also I would take a closer look at your warranty.
I had a problem with my fridge. I was told by roller team I had a five year habitation warranty and a ten year water ingress warranty.
When I reported my fridge issue my i was told it only had a two year warranty. Luckily the fridge was 2 years 11 months old and covered by a thetford three year warranty saving me £197.
When I looked carefully the dealer was correct, but when I looked at the 10 year water ingress warranty by year 5 I had to pay 50% of the cost, and in year 10 this rose to 80%.
So my advice is check your warranty with your dealer, give them scenarios and ask if you were covered. If you are not satisfied then consider stopping the checks, and do them yourself. Remember check your CO2 and smoke detectors.

 

[Fisherman]

We were advised that the habitation check/service (call it what you will) takes something like 3-4 hours so they must do something in that time (even if damp wall and roof checks are not required). Not just sit around drinking coffee at my expense.

They must be playing cards then. Honestly it should not take anything like 3-4 hours to check out your van. It’s simply them trying to justify the charge. If you took your van in, sat for an hour, then were presented with a bill for £250, you would ask questions.

 

[Colinc]

Thanks all for your replies. My conclusion is that hab checks are a waste of money for me - and I won't have any more done.

I've checked my warranty and they only actually cover water ingress ... and with a panel van they didn't actually check. Even if it was a motorhome-type then not only do you need an annual hab check but also not allow anyone but dealers to fit anything to the motorhome. Sounds like a cartel/closed shop deal to me.

Warranties for the heater, fridge, etc are with original manufacturer and so not part of this consideration.

This may not be the conclusion for every situation. Maybe your motorhome has higher risk of hidden faults that can only be found by an annual check. Personally I would think twice before buying that brand of motorhome in the first place. Maybe that is a good question for the dealer - "why does this van need such an expensive annual check? why is the quality not better in the first place? what build problem is it seeking to resolve?". The only answer to those questions at the moment seems to be that all dealers and brands do it.

I am sure they didn't just drink coffee while checking my van, but I think they might as well have done. All they tested was already known to be working by me. Actually I had already replaced the water pump that had stopped working when in southern France .. a long way from the dealer. Took me about an hour to replace whilst parked in a lay-by.

 

[Moped]

I am shocked at swift stating that due to no timber no damp check is required. living in a damp home is unhealthy. It creates fungal spores within insulation that when breathed in can cause problems. It can have a distinct odour that is unpleasant. It will stain the internal boarding inside your van. Soak upholstery and furnishing. My current van is a roller team with no timber construction, but a full damp check is mandatory for warranty purposes.
Also I would take a closer look at your warranty.
I had a problem with my fridge. I was told by roller team I had a five year habitation warranty and a ten year water ingress warranty.
When I reported my fridge issue my i was told it only had a two year warranty. Luckily the fridge was 2 years 11 months old and covered by a thetford three year warranty saving me £197.
When I looked carefully the dealer was correct, but when I looked at the 10 year water ingress warranty by year 5 I had to pay 50% of the cost, and in year 10 this rose to 80%.
So my advice is check your warranty with your dealer, give them scenarios and ask if you were covered. If you are not satisfied then consider stopping the checks, and do them yourself. Remember check your CO2 and smoke detectors.