Can anyone recommend a service engineer / workshop in the Pontefract area of West Yorkshire.Havn`t got the van yet but want to be prepared & interested to see whats available & peoples experiences.
Here you go Pete, Wandahomes. They are just off the roundabout of the M62 at Ponte and A1. Used them 3 or 4 times, very good on servicing IMHO http://www.wandahome.co.uk/
Have a look on the Approved Workshop Scheme Database for service centre's or mobile workshops in your area. But be advised, some workshops are falsely carrying the Approved Workshops Scheme accreditation as the haven't bothered to pay for their staff to complete the courses. If in doubt, i.e. they say that they are Approved by they're not on the list. Ask the service centre manager to show you their 2010 compliance certificate.
Unfortunately it's a big problem at the minute as the approved workshop scheme manger couldn't run a bath, let alone a national scheme like this. To give you an insight, many of the dealers say that they have the approval of the manufacturers, i.e. Swift, Bailey or Explorer etc. etc.
But, that manufacturer's approval doesn't give your service centre staff a gas, electrical or city and guilds qualification's. The only reason why the manufacturers approve of them is because those Dealers Sell their caravans, simple as. Whereas those that do have approved workshop status have to have completed all of the qualifications and courses that are required to meet the schemes standards. Which costs allot of money, which is also why many of the dealers don't want to pay it.
But if you're happy for them to treat you like that then that's your choice..
So, here's the conundrum: Do you take it to a Dealer that hasn't got a compliance certificate just for a possibly untrained person to crawl all over it; or do you get an Approved Mobile engineer to come to your house so that you can watch what they do....?
Like I always say, it's your van and your money.
------------- We have Approved Mobile Workshop Status
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Topic: Caravan Servicing Pontefract
