Armitages A Frame - Smart Car Fire - Locksmiths Bad Luck Strikes again.

Your right! this is the point they did the adjustments and checked everything before I left..
 
a frame

you
there are thousands of smart cars being towed on afr mes. its possibly the most towed car ever been made. saw loads this winter in spain being towed .saw some today on bodmin moor heading down into cornwall. better to stop the scare mongering . lets just stick with the truth. looks like a fault with the brake cable tube . i normally use bowden cable works a treat .as for changing the front of the car . seems abit unlikely . be hard to be illegal even if they did. contact your insurer and have you legal assistance to help you. everybody can make mistakes .nobody is perfect all the time. with yours and the police statements given the time scale of things it should be sorted quick ,hope its al over soon.
Hi. vwalan I agre with your coments on the a frame i use one with no bother as you say it needs to be correctly connectedto the motorhome and the carby the user and these anty a frame people need to think before making coments.
 
a frame

hi locksmith
having read your post on this matter can i just say the way you have been treated in my oppinion is disgusting, if they did the work and they checked everything then surely they are responsible.

get onto your insurance and get copies of statements made to the police, highway agency ect.
might be worth passing this onto honest john in the telegraph and the caravan club, the more publicity you get the better.
i wish you well with your efforts to get justice.

tranivanman
 
I agree, they did the demo, set up and the checks I watched and checked the neutral was selected and the hand break was off I put the bungee on as he showed me and then he did all the final double checks as I'd not done it before, I was told not to worry, when I do it on my own I will be fine if I follow the list of procedures printed on the A Frame, that was the last time I went in my car.... I then did three towing circuits of the large car park breaking hard about 6 - 7 times but after the first circuit and braking it seemed hard to pull away! the engineer was no where in sight so I carried on around the car park braking and pulling away doing another 2 circuits he then appeared and waved me over and directed me to a stop in front of the main building much to the annoyance of the other workers as I was blocking the big doors and they was trying to put trailers away ready for the Royal Holiday break. I got out and told him it seemed to drag when pulling away but he said I was not used to towing the car on the back and I needed to give it more welly, he then tightened the A Frame cable went in the car and checked and pulled the bungee.. he asked if I had any spanners and said I should check the cable tension 2-3 times on my way home, he then shook my hand and said good luck and goodbye...... It seemed a very short time later we then stood on the side of the A1 helplessly watching my Smart Car burn having saved the Motorhome.
 
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Well after all the recent threads about the use of A-frames - their legality and safety - does anyone else REALLY want to use one of these?

If ever proof was needed that they're a bad idea, here it is :(

The other unfortunate part of the saga is that Locksmith used a debit card to pay.

All consumer groups will tell you that you must use a CREDIT card to pay for high value goods and services - that way if a supplier defaults, as appears to be the case here, the credit card company is liable.

Take heed!

If its a Visa debit its the same as a credit card
 
I have heard very little on the safety side of towing with an A frame till I posted this on here but more as to whether or not it is legal. After talking to Armitages prior to having the A frame fitted I decided to go with them because they had all the answers. I have also just read a sheet of fitting the A frame, handed to me when I was leaving Armitages that say's they are not responsible for damage caused from an A frame being fitted incorrectly by a customer, this I except.
It now seems they do not except responsibility for their own fitting either, this is unacceptable.

Negligence is negligence & they cannot abrogate their liability for negligence. If they have fitted the A frame wrongly then they ARE liable no matter what they claim.

PS most disclaimer signs such as those seen in supermarket car parks, garages etc are unlawful and meaningless
 
Also check as it was proposed that ALL cards including debit be subject to section 75 of the CCA 1974 - 2006
 
A frames

Really bad luck that, but I NEVER trust A frames.

We always trailered our smart car, would never use a frame, a trailer is cheaper, easier,safer, and doesn't subject the car to the additional mileage.

Hope it all sorts out well for you.
 
If its a Visa debit its the same as a credit card

This could well be the case as when I hire a car in Germany, the conditions state that I must produce a credit card (something I don't have) but I have used my Visa Debit card each time (the last three years) and it has never been questioned.
The above quote explains why.:p
 
If its a Visa debit its the same as a credit card

I don't believe this is true - the act in question is the Consumer Credit Act and imposes a liability on companies that provide credit facilities such as credit cards.

A debit card is a very different device - any transaction made with a debit card authorises the amount to be debited directly to a bank account. It is the electronic equivalent of writing a cheque (hence the proposed demise of the cheque as a means of payment).
 
This could well be the case as when I hire a car in Germany, the conditions state that I must produce a credit card (something I don't have) but I have used my Visa Debit card each time (the last three years) and it has never been questioned.
The above quote explains why.:p

This is not correct - for the purpose of providing surety for a car hire company, either a credit or debit card will do.

It provides a means for the hire company to be paid if the hirer fails to return the vehicle at the agreed time.
 
This is not correct - for the purpose of providing surety for a car hire company, either a credit or debit card will do.

It provides a means for the hire company to be paid if the hirer fails to return the vehicle at the agreed time.

My debit card can't be used like that because it needs a PIN to be entered and can't be pre-authorised.

Credit card can be swiped and signed (on paper or electronically) so can be used
 
Not sure what is right here but Ill be able to ask some question's today and let everyone know the outcome.

Monday morning let the fight begin!
 
a frame

hi and good luck with your fight for justice.

i'm sure you have the support of many people on this site.

best wishes to you both.

tranivanman
 
i'm sure you have the support of many people on this site.

Lets hope that translates into lots of concerned emails as well. Overflowing in-box would be a good sign of our support

info@armitagetrailers.com

The General Manager
Armitage Trailers
Unit 11
Ferrybridge Business Park
Fishergate
Ferrybridge
West Yorkshire
WF11 8NA

Dear Sir,

etc etc etc

yours sincerely

My Real Name
 
hi and good luck with your fight for justice.

i'm sure you have the support of many people on this site.

best wishes to you both.

tranivanman
Thank you, have been waiting for Barclays and Insurance company etc. As I'm at home ( My terminally ill Wifes Carer) I have to much time to sit staring at the phone but I have been waiting since 9.30 for two call backs but nothing ............ dum de dum de dum
 
I don't believe this is true - the act in question is the Consumer Credit Act and imposes a liability on companies that provide credit facilities such as credit cards.

A debit card is a very different device - any transaction made with a debit card authorises the amount to be debited directly to a bank account. It is the electronic equivalent of writing a cheque (hence the proposed demise of the cheque as a means of payment).


I'm sorry your wrong. In the case of the VISA debit cards it is correct Read their T's & C's
 
My debit card can't be used like that because it needs a PIN to be entered and can't be pre-authorised.

Credit card can be swiped and signed (on paper or electronically) so can be used

Not correct we often pay via Visa debit card over the phone as well as on-line. In the case of a telephone purchase the trader simply presses a button confirming we are not present
 

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