Bristol Adria dealer bust ... warranty?

[Clunegapyears]

We had an email from Family Travel Centre in Bristol today that they have ceased trading with immediate effect. This is really sad as we used them for all work with our Bessacarr and then we bought our Adria from them in October 2016. We really liked the staff and received excellent service from them. We wish them the very best in sorting the business out and for the future.

However, it leaves us with potential warranty work problems. We accept that we will loose the ‘free’ hab and engine service for 3 years, which was part of the purchase contract. Of more concern is getting warranty work done. According to a forum, James found, other Adria dealers are not interested in warranty work unless you bought your motorhome from them. Adria U.K. apparently have not been helpful.

Grrr. My thoughts are that the 3 year warranty is with Adria UK and it is up to them to identify a dealer that will take on additional work ... but ...

Any suggestions?

 

[phillybarbour]

This happened to me with a Burstner in 2009. I went to another dealer close to me and explained asking would they support the van but before I needed anything doing. They agreed and all was well, I them bought a new van from them in 2013 partly due to their support.

Hope you get it sorted.

I thought that dealer was doing ok.

 

[maingate]

You can get a car warranty done anywhere as long as they use original makers approved parts. I see no reason why it should be different for a motorhome. It's a shame you will be out of pocket but it could have been worse. Some customers might have motorhomes in for repair and may struggle to get them back and then they will have to find another repairer.

 

[Deleted member 9849]

You can get a car warranty done anywhere as long as they use original makers approved parts. I see no reason why it should be different for a motorhome. It's a shame you will be out of pocket but it could have been worse. Some customers might have motorhomes in for repair and may struggle to get them back and then they will have to find another repairer.

Even worse if anyone has put a substantial deposit on a new van and is awaiting delivery.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Don’t deposits go into an escrow account? But agree about people with vans awaiting repair etc.

I will try to ring some Adria dealers over the next few days ... I want to book hab service etc for Sept, if they know they get our other work, they may be more amendable to the warranty work. My concern is how busy all the workshops now are ...

 

[st3v3]

I'm not really sure what could help - but if you feel you're trying to get answers from them and they are ignoring you I can try and call in, politely of course. There are bound to be staff still working there with the receivers or whatever...

Good luck sorting it out!

 

[colinm]

With most products if the retailer goes bust then it is the manufacturer who has to cover warranty, in case of base vehicle this shouldn't be a problem as Fiat covers it anyway, for other parts one would hope Adria UK would act as agent to find another dealer to repair, if they don't then you'll be the guinipig that lets everyone else know never to buy a Adria.
You may well find Dometic, Thetford, Truma, will honour any warranty for their parts.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Positive update

Being in Greece, we stopped at the only Greek Adria dealer, just west of Athens. We received amazing service there. They fixed the swivel of the passenger seat. Gave us a Can of spray oil for sticky locks. And walked around the van and spotted a couple of other little issues that we had not noticed. This cost us all a €15.
I also showed them a warranty issue with the van, where the veneer on the door has faded. They are concerned that Adria UK would not pay them as they are affiliated to Adria Italy. We finally found a telephone number for Adria UK Concessionaires and I spoke to Ben who is in charge of warranties. My question to him was, since I can’t get warranty work done in the UK (I’ve been refused by Chelstons), could I get it authorised to be done in Greece. He told me he had spoken to Bristol Caravans only the other day. This company is happy to do servicing and warranty work.
Interestingly, Bristol Caravans is on the same farm as a Camping and Motorhome Club CL. This is just round the corner from our two houses and friends. And we have used the CL before. So the upshot is, we have booked in for a hab and engine service in September and onto the CL. And I have emailed them the picture of the problem door. I suspect they may be a little more stringent on agreeing warranty work than perhaps Family Travel Centre might of been.
But I am very relieved that Adria UK have sorted a firm who will agree to warranty work.