I did a post on this when I took caravan for its 1st service and in there I put
How rude they where.
Well it gets worse. After leaving it with them for a week, as it is just over an hours drive for me.
you can not make up the following, when I dropped it off I told them about a few minor issues ( great built caravan) I would like to be fixed.
- Alco light not working ( little green/red) on stabiliser.
- Wrong colour vent in shower should be white not brown.
- Panal next to shower loose or unstuck.
- veneer come of lower edge of cuboard.
- cuboard dropped a little in kitchen area.
- Dent on roof around solor panal.
Thats it so easy
THEN CAME THE HORROR.
So I arrived to collect my pride and joy, met the service guy, he tells me they have fixed the alco light, the panal near shower, the veneer, then said we cant fix cuboard ( sent photos to swift) to ask them for advice, told me they forgot to order new vent cover and asked can we post it to you so you can fix it, then told me dents are from hailstones!.
So I accepted but was annoyed as I told him of my 1hr trip, he didnt seem bothered. He then said you caravan is ready to collect at bottom service area I will meet you there. To my horror after waiting 20 mins he didnt show so I walk back and he is there with other people and said he would be at least another 20 mins, I said forget it!!.
I was so angry I hooked up and drove home.
To my horror the van was not cleaned inside or out, there was dirty hand marks all over the cream doors, mud on carpet, glue all over shower door, glue all over toilet door handles, saw dust all inside cuboard over the plates, all the switchs in fuse box not even turned back on Then to comound it they havent even stamped the service book! .
I guess you can say why didnt you check this before you left but I was angry that I couldn't wait any longer.
So the question is what has £225 actually paid for???
Long post I know.
------------- Loads of CC sites to many to mention.
We found the same elsewhere when ours was new, trouble is you don't feel confident to take it back for any warranty work because it comes back with added problems, we had to and I felt my van had been violated.
Do you know you don't have to take the van back to where you bought it for a service? (most dealers will encourage you to think you do)as long as the workshop/engineer is caravan council approved it can be any where even a mobile engineer.
Warranty work generally has to be approved and done where you bought it but not always.
We too had the same experience after our van had its first service earlier this year (not the same place as you though) and you nailed it Janx, we felt the van had been violated also. It was a very upsetting experience. The place we had it serviced was the same place we purchased and never expected that kind of service in a million years. Suffice to say we have decided that any other warranty work we'd have done elsewhere! The sales section of the business is brilliant and they've been really helpful throughout our year of ownership until it was time for our van to be serviced and then it just went downhill from there. We had a larger heki rooflight put in, replacement bathroom mirror and kitchen sink and the mess created from doing all this was just left. It got in every cupboard, was on every work surface, in the sinks, the floor....everywhere!!! They even left muddy footprints in our bathroom. Mortifying!! That's what we got for paying out over £200 for the service and then the cost of adding the larger rooflight!!!! Never again, once bitten twice shy!!
Begs the question - why go back for a second dose of crap?
I get ours warranty-serviced by a mobile CC approved mechanic. Stamps the book, does all the damp readings on a chart, the lot. And, its a hell of a lot cheaper as i've no travelling.
At a dealers you are likely to deal with an employee, some don't care as they still get paid at the end of the week. Mobile will most likely be their own business so caring keeps you in business.
I love having a chat with my customers and have met some lovely people.
------------- LB Caravan Services
Mobile service and repairs
07902012609 / 01948662374
I can't really understand why you are so annoyed with Rydale caravans because reading the replies from your previous thread on this issue after the way you was treated initially the advice was crystal clear. This is where forums have their merits which helps to save others from receiving poor customer service but if you don't take that advice and decide to go ahead anyway and pay them £225 knowing full well that their attitude was diabolical then you really only have yourself to blame.
I cannot sympathise at all with you regarding the service received because it's people like yourself that encourage these companies to laugh all the way to the bank and make a laughing stock out of more potential customers so in all fairness your original thread was absolutely pointless to say the least.
I hope people will read your previous thread (below) regarding Rydale caravans as your disappointment could have been completely avoided if you had taken your caravan elsewhere but you obviously ignored the possible downfalls so becoming victim again is not surprising.
Bit harsh Tango, I think the first post was about the experience when the caravan was dropped off for its service (by which time your kind of committed having made the trip) and the 2nd post was about when it was picked up - same issues.
The OP probably should have carried on with the first post to update everyone but I think the gist of it is the service was poor when the van was dropped off for a pre booked service and was no better on completion/collection.
I doubt the OP will return and if a few others take heed then the forum has worked.
Thats a harsh reply Tango :( , I took my van back there because I had 2 warranty issues that needed fixing.
I rang various mobile fitters and admit they are cheaper BUT couldnt do my warranty parts unless I paid for them.
the bottom line is they was very bad at the service and I just cant get my head round what £225 paid for.
also I have rang them 3 times this week and still not got a return call back !
------------- Loads of CC sites to many to mention.
I provided a link so did you contact the Swift group and complain to them about the bad manners and poor service you received the first time?
The trap here is that they think they have you by the short and curlies merely because you have a warranty with them but that's no excuse for parting with your hard earned cash for lack of customer care and I would have personally made that absolutely crystal clear with Rydale Caravans if it was me.
Some may think that my reply was harsh but at the end of the day it's not my money it's yours but the fact is if you're not happy with the service, attitude, arrogance or whatever then why should you even have deal with them at all?
A warranty is a contract but if the company doesn't deliver what they promise then they are in breach of UK trading law so if you are still not happy then make a formal complaint to the trading standards as you have every right to do so. That will probably wipe the smirk off his face and then you get exactly what you paid them for.
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Topic: rydale caravans after service a disgrace!
