We bought a 2012 swift caravan from these people and when the wheels locked and the brake away cable was found not to have been secured they could not be bothered to respond to my repeated requests as to why they did not do a safety check on the van. We feel that dealers like these look on caravaners no longer as customers but only as cashcows. Never again Catterick caravans
I won't use them again. Promised phone calls didn't happen. Water pump leaked after service. Not convinced the pre delivery inspection was done correctly.
No Ropers and Catterick Caravans are separate companies.
I have had experience of Ropers directly and heard non too complimentary reports on the service from Catterick Caravans not only by posters on here but by direct dealings with a neighbour who bought a brand new Elddis 2013 model van from them for 18thousand quid and is extrememly dis-satisfied.
I can't believe how we let caravan dealers get away with such poor standards of service. If your car doesn't work and you've spent 18 thousand quid on it you get it back to the dealer, give him hell and he EXPECTS to fix it quickly.
Caravan dealers seem to think they are doing you a favour by fixing your faulty van you spent 18 thousand quid on as and when they have the parts, have the authority from the manufacturer to carry out repairs or a whole host of other excuses.
If you took your Ford car back to the garage because something didn't work you'd expect the dealer to have the spare part in stock or at the very worst get it for you the next day.
With caravan dealers they find it perfectly normal to take a couple of weeks to get the spare part for you and then will at their leisure arrange to have your van in so it can be fitted.
WE PUT UP WITH THIS TERRIBLE SERVICE - so we have only ourselves to blame.
Sounds pretty typical of caravan dealers I'm afraid. I'm sure there are still some good ones around, but the majority seem to be cowboys these days. We bought our van from a different dealer and it had numerous faults and it was obvious they'd lied about doing a PDI inspection (they even ticked the 'check smoke alarm' box on the inspection sheet, even though the smoke alarm didn't have a battery and was faulty anyway!). Never again! Might just as well buy privately and save a few grand.
Depends who you speak to at Catterick.I have had really good service during the past 12 months. Before that ,one or two problems,but can't complain now.
I think the PDI check is an issue with many dealers,although the buyer is charged for it ,they don't do it thoroughly enough.How hard could it be?
The 2012 swift challenger was about 5 months old when we bought it from Catterick Caravans so we don,t know if a pre delivery check was done. Thanks ted
An old couple on the site I'm on bought a 2012 caravan from Catterick last year and there after sales service has been disgraceful. Last year the bathroom sink coating came off in parts and the front cracked also the shower developed a crack. They had to take it back themselves as were told there would be a charge for collection and drop off. Now this year the front centre window has fell apart. They are now having to fight for that to be repaired
Quote: Originally posted by teddydoc on 19/8/2013
We bought a 2012 swift caravan from these people and when the wheels locked and the brake away cable was found not to have been secured they could not be bothered to respond to my repeated requests as to why they did not do a safety check on the van.
I'm not quite understanding this post. As I'm reading it suggests the breakaway cable was not secured to car. Even if cable was dragging along the ground while caravan was towed at speed & caught up in the road it should not pull the brakes on because the direction of pull would be wrong, I think(I stand to be corrected on this).
But anyway, even if unsecured breakaway cable did pull the brakes on it is ultimately driver's responsibilty to ensure caravan is correctly hitched to car. Even if an employee of the company hitched up the caravan it would be difficult to prove negligence if he insited he hitched up 'van correctly.
If the above is the correct scenario, a 'safety check' on the van prior to delivery would not have avoided the situation as described.
There are two ends to the breakaway cable.
At one end, you attach it to the car.
At the other end I believe that the OP is alleging that it wasn't connected to the 'van.
However, this still doesn't answer the question as to how the brakes locked.
There is a further post from the OP entitled "Dealership dispute, dated 18/9/2013" where he states that previous complaints made to this Company has been brought to a conclusion and he is happy with the outcome.
It would seem that the OP has had a running series of complaints regarding this particular caravan sales Co. (please note I do not mention the Company.)
------------- How come when some people visit the fountain of knowledge, they only gargle!!!
Quote: Originally posted by emmitdb on 22/9/2013
Greetings,
There are two ends to the breakaway cable.
At one end, you attach it to the car.
At the other end I believe that the OP is alleging that it wasn't connected to the 'van.
However, this still doesn't answer the question as to how the brakes locked.
So its not connected to the car and he suggests it was not connected to the van - so what was it connected to?! How come he still had it? Presumably, its on the floor? :-)
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
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Topic: Catterick caravans
