Tale of sorrow and frustration - help/suggestions advice needed

[zantiagreen]

2 years ago I bought a panel van and with inheritance money from my Mum I had it converted.:dance:

I found a conversion company 60 miles away but figured I would only need to go there three times - once to drop off, once to see progress and once to pick up. Was advised it would take 6 weeks (small van!)

6 months later after much in the way of excuses, no contact by email and over 10 visits :drive::drive: (at £40 in diesel each visit) to chase I eventually picked it up. Everything looked OK apart from cushions which were too thin> So on the proviso I would bring it back after my holidays I paid up.

On holiday I noticed a few snags , some minor and some major (fridge not working electric not charging on hook-up and also the cooker they fitted was so big I could get the toilet out of the cupboard to actually use it).:hammer::hammer:

After much to-ing and fro-ing (what a funny phrase that is written down!) and not getting very far, in February I decided to cut my losses and try somewhere else.

Found a closer conversion company and went round to see him. Said he was busy and couldn't fit me in until June and it will take 2 weeks - I was OK with this as you're only usually busy if you're good and I met some fellow wilders from this forum who had come to pick up their van and seemed pleased with it. I had found him from people recommending him on a forum
I explained how I had been messed around already and if he couldn't do it then say so and I would find someone else.

OK not much more:

Sent email saying I could drop off on 21st June and rang him on 18th to check it was OK. He explained there had been a bereavement and he needed to put me off until 5th July. I explained I absolutely had to have it for end of July as I'm going to a festival for a week and needed to be able to use my toilet during the night (Old age does get to everyone LOL)

Today I get a phone call saying I can't bring it round and can I bring it in on 9th August and leave it with them for 3 weeks !!! :mad2: This is the last weekend of my holiday - durrrrrr :mad1::mad1:

So apart from getting upset through sheer frustration and wondering whether I have SOFT written across my forehead I don't know what to do. I hate confrontation!


SO - I have the following to consider
1. Do I leave it until 9th August and just bear it
2. Do I find someone else - I may have to wait until longer than 9th August
3. Can anyone recommend a company in the North of England who may at least be able to get my fridge/electrics working for the holiday?
4. I'm willing to travel to get this sorted - but how long can it take
5. I can't even sell and get rid as it's not in a fit condition !!

I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions or just a shoulder to scream on!!

Thanks for reading this far
Jill

 

[Louise]

Sorry to hear you have been through this, I see you live in Halifax, I don't know who you've used but maybe you could try these:

G&LCarCentre | Used Cars And Motorhomes For Sale In Kendal, Cumbria - these converted my van (not for me but a previous owner) but have since done my habitation check!

Tents - Kendal Camping Centre - Tents Cumbria | Camping Equipment | Motor Home and Caravan Accessories | Motor Home and trailer hire in cumbria | Snow Chains for cars | Rud Soft Spikes | Car Chains | Shoe chains, shoe spikes | Campervan Converters | also do van conversions!

Good luck, I will ask around to see if I can get you some help.

 

[tadpole58]

sorry to hear about your problems.

I don't know if these guys could fit you in but we were happy with the work they did with us and they are quite close to you (Barnsley). Kestrel Van Conversions | Campervan Conversion Yorkshire

 

[QFour]

First thing you should do is take pictures of all the bits that don't work. Ring the original guys and tell them they have 14 days to put it right or you will see them in court. If you don't get a respose then you go to moneyclaim online and fill in your form. Pay your money and take them to court. After I repaired our NEW MH I took the dealer to court and they paid out £2000 for the repairs that I had done and work I had done.

Taking pictures of the problems and asking someone to fix them is what you SHOULD do. If they don't fix it you tell them you are going elsewhere and they can pay to put it right. It's Ok to say you don't like confrontation know one really does but you do have to stand up for your rights other wise as you say if someone cut you open they would find the word mug all the way through. You can of course go to Citizens Advice and explain whats happened but you will have to give the original company the opportunity to put it right.

As for the other guy. Well lets face it he doesn't really want the work does he. Fixing someone else's mess why would he want to bother.

Time to move on. By a Porta Pottie find somewhere it fits and go and enjoy your MH. Buy a book on MH Electrics and a meter from Amazon and take them with you.

Wait till the end of the summer and go for the throat and stop being Mr Nice Guy .... :mad2::mad2::mad2:

..

 

[hextal]

Just to ask a possibly strange question, does it need to go to a camper converter?

There's nothing particularly unusual about the van in general terms. Id say the only area requiring more specialist knowledge is the lpg system if you have one. Everything else could likely be sorted by normal tradesmen. Auto electricians, joiners etc etc.

Probably cost you less and have a shorter waiting list

Just a thought.

 

[n brown]

i had one of these recently- the woman was told 10 days to convert.
10 weeks later,having handed over most of her budget,she went and snatched it back. she brought it to me and it was quite shocking ,and i've seen terrible work. worst thing was the fridge exhaust wasn't vented to outside, wasn't fixed in,and had rubber pipe with no clips !
so - sorry to hear your woes,but i there's only you in the van,then a cheap pottie from Go Outdoors with a throw over it,and an extension with a cheap battery charger will charge the battery till you get fixed

 

[Randonneur]

Hi, if you don't mind me asking who were the original company who worked on your van?

There is a reason I'm asking as we had sub standard work done on our van by a company oop norf from us last year.

 

[QFour]

There are only TWO people who should work on your pride and joy.

You

and

Someone who comes very highly recommended by more than one person

..

 

[Arnold]

Hi, UKpoptops in Washington took three weeks instead of five days but they did a good job. There were two things needed sorting after I got it back which they did while I waited on a day we agreed at no extra cost. Male sure you get in writing whatever you are getting done, the cost you agree and the date it will be complete. Happy to provide any further help if I can.

 

[zantiagreen]

Hi, if you don't mind me asking who were the original company who worked on your van?

There is a reason I'm asking as we had sub standard work done on our van by a company oop norf from us last year.

It was East Coast Campervans in Scarborough. I wasn't disappointed with the quality of their joinery and it looked nice but I;m starting to wonder if the chap was actually qualified to do electrics and gas!

 

[tribute11]

It was East Coast Campervans in Scarborough. I wasn't disappointed with the quality of their joinery and it looked nice but I;m starting to wonder if the chap was actually qualified to do electrics and gas!

Might be worth asking if the chap working on the van was registered with Gas Safe as he and the company should be.

 

[zantiagreen]

Sorry to hear you have been through this, I see you live in Halifax, I don't know who you've used but maybe you could try these:

G&LCarCentre | Used Cars And Motorhomes For Sale In Kendal, Cumbria - these converted my van (not for me but a previous owner) but have since done my habitation check!

Tents - Kendal Camping Centre - Tents Cumbria | Camping Equipment | Motor Home and Caravan Accessories | Motor Home and trailer hire in cumbria | Snow Chains for cars | Rud Soft Spikes | Car Chains | Shoe chains, shoe spikes | Campervan Converters | also do van conversions!

Good luck, I will ask around to see if I can get you some help.

Thanks Louise

At the moment Kendal is looking quite close LOL

 

[zantiagreen]

sorry to hear about your problems.

I don't know if these guys could fit you in but we were happy with the work they did with us and they are quite close to you (Barnsley). Kestrel Van Conversions | Campervan Conversion Yorkshire

Thanks for the recommendation - I may be ringing round on Saturday!

 

[zantiagreen]

There are only TWO people who should work on your pride and joy.

You

and

Someone who comes very highly recommended by more than one person

..

Agree wholeheartedly but I don't have the skills and I have yet to find any place which has been recommended by more than one person - we're all subject to internet blagging!. I guess I jumped into the conversion thing without knowing enough people to ask advice from.

Soooo pleased i joined this forum :dance:

 

[zantiagreen]

Just a bit more background information - I did give the company several chances to put things right and they did little jobs whenever I took it over but it was too expensive for the amount of work I was getting done. I told one of the sympathetic (and unpaid) assistants in the business who was there more often than the owner that I was thinking of taking legal action but he informed me that the owner was working for another business most of the week, only had one van on his books and would probably close down the business if anything was taken to court.

Just longing to be on the road

 

[whitevanwoman]

Hi Jill, sorry about the bad luck.

I live about half hour drive from Kendal so give me a shout if you need someone to ferry you to train stations etc if you are decide to go with one of the Kendal converters. And there's a bed here too if you need an overnight stay.

My van isn't properly converted, it's a work in progress, 2 and a half years so far, because I keep using it instead of working on it. Most of the work has either been done by me with advice and help from forum members in person or online. I'm surprised how well I've managed with just a camping stove, bottled water, battery lights and a bog in a bucket! Especially in summer when not much heating or lighting is needed. So maybe you could manage to use it as a mobile tent for your holiday if it's not sorted by then. Think laterally about problem solving and invest in some solar lights, and maybe a suitcase solar panel. Wet wipes instead of washing, pop bottles for water, bbq for cooking, paper plates etc - just like being in a tent but without the hassle of pitching and striking it.

I was just about to list a portapotti on eBay, hoping to get a tenner for it, but will keep it for you if you want it. Its hardly used, clean etc. Just offer me a donation towards my diesel fund. I could get it to Beale's (shop) in Keighley as my neighbour works there.

Good luck, for what it's worth, I agree that you should get firm with the original company, ask for corgi inspection certificates etc. I understand how hard that is as I'm a real soft git and just walk away from confrontation but they've ripped you off, effectively stolen money from you so don't let them do it to anyone else.

There's an online organisation based in Bury who can probably advise and support called Fightback 4justice - they help people challenge all kinds of unfairness from benefits to parking tickets. They have a forum and also a Facebook group.

 

[zantiagreen]

Hi Jill, sorry about the bad luck.

I live about half hour drive from Kendal so give me a shout if you need someone to ferry you to train stations etc if you are decide to go with one of the Kendal converters. And there's a bed here too if you need an overnight stay.

My van isn't properly converted, it's a work in progress, 2 and a half years so far, because I keep using it instead of working on it. Most of the work has either been done by me with advice and help from forum members in person or online. I'm surprised how well I've managed with just a camping stove, bottled water, battery lights and a bog in a bucket! Especially in summer when not much heating or lighting is needed. So maybe you could manage to use it as a mobile tent for your holiday if it's not sorted by then. Think laterally about problem solving and invest in some solar lights, and maybe a suitcase solar panel. Wet wipes instead of washing, pop bottles for water, bbq for cooking, paper plates etc - just like being in a tent but without the hassle of pitching and striking it.

I was just about to list a portapotti on eBay, hoping to get a tenner for it, but will keep it for you if you want it. Its hardly used, clean etc. Just offer me a donation towards my diesel fund. I could get it to Beale's (shop) in Keighley as my neighbour works there.

Good luck, for what it's worth, I agree that you should get firm with the original company, ask for corgi inspection certificates etc. I understand how hard that is as I'm a real soft git and just walk away from confrontation but they've ripped you off, effectively stolen money from you so don't let them do it to anyone else.

There's an online organisation based in Bury who can probably advise and support called Fightback 4justice - they help people challenge all kinds of unfairness from benefits to parking tickets. They have a forum and also a Facebook group.

Thanks for your kind offer. I actually have a portapotty for the van but I have to go outside and bring it into the side entrance in the middle of the night instead of sliding it out through the internal door which was the original intention - until the cooker which was fitted filled in too much of the gap!

Didn't mean to give the impression I have no facilities. I used it as a tin tent for a few months before finalising the design which I wanted which it why it's so disappointing compared to what I was promised and how much I spent of my Mum's money. I don't have any skills to do any of the work myself other than sewing some curtains together!

I will bear in mind your pick-up offer if I decide to come up to Kendal. To be honest I'm not bothered how far I have to travel as long as I don't keep having to go backwards and forwards LOL

 

[Louise]

Hi Jill, sorry about the bad luck.

I live about half hour drive from Kendal so give me a shout if you need someone to ferry you to train stations etc if you are decide to go with one of the Kendal converters. And there's a bed here too if you need an overnight stay.

My van isn't properly converted, it's a work in progress, 2 and a half years so far, because I keep using it instead of working on it. Most of the work has either been done by me with advice and help from forum members in person or online. I'm surprised how well I've managed with just a camping stove, bottled water, battery lights and a bog in a bucket! Especially in summer when not much heating or lighting is needed. So maybe you could manage to use it as a mobile tent for your holiday if it's not sorted by then. Think laterally about problem solving and invest in some solar lights, and maybe a suitcase solar panel. Wet wipes instead of washing, pop bottles for water, bbq for cooking, paper plates etc - just like being in a tent but without the hassle of pitching and striking it.

I was just about to list a portapotti on eBay, hoping to get a tenner for it, but will keep it for you if you want it. Its hardly used, clean etc. Just offer me a donation towards my diesel fund. I could get it to Beale's (shop) in Keighley as my neighbour works there.

Good luck, for what it's worth, I agree that you should get firm with the original company, ask for corgi inspection certificates etc. I understand how hard that is as I'm a real soft git and just walk away from confrontation but they've ripped you off, effectively stolen money from you so don't let them do it to anyone else.

There's an online organisation based in Bury who can probably advise and support called Fightback 4justice - they help people challenge all kinds of unfairness from benefits to parking tickets. They have a forum and also a Facebook group.

Citizen advice is a good place to start on the legal process as they are free. If work is as bad as this then the company are going to close any so I wouldn't leave it too long before you find the right legal advice.

 

[QFour]

It was East Coast Campervans in Scarborough. I wasn't disappointed with the quality of their joinery and it looked nice but I;m starting to wonder if the chap was actually qualified to do electrics and gas!

If he's not then he should be reported as he is putting lives at risk. Not just yours but anyone who happens to be near you if it goes pop. At the end of the day thats why we have GasSafe and he should be a member. If you are not happy with the work then report him before he kills someone.

 

[Sand55]

I wouldn't worry about complaining and taking action against him, at all. He deserves it, IMHO.
You were told he would proberbly shut up shop, if any one did such a thing. Wow !

1). I would be extremely angry and frustrated, if it was me, and he did such a thing. All too easy to make mistakes, and not try to remedy them, within a decent time frame. Grrr.

2). Still grrrr, .....how easy just to pack up like that ! It also seems to have been said as to infere you would be to blame for stopping him doing more.

3). Good idea if he does, as it stops others being put in a similar situation.

I hope you get things sorted sooner than later, and have a good holiday away in your van. You will get there eventually, but I can totally understand your upset, and frustration.

Good luck, Sand.