After sales support from caravan manufacturers

Mr and Mrs Riggall
Mr and Mrs Riggall Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited February 2016 in Caravans #1

In september 2014 my wife and I purchased a new lunar cosmos caravan.  A year after purchase i.e September 2015 we were involved in a road traffic accident when another driver failed to stop and drove into the back of our caravan causing serious damage.
 The Caravan Club Insurance Co were informed immediately.  The Caravan was taken into a repairer near to our home in Preston, Lancs.  Our insurers sent an assessor to assess the damage very quickly and he agreed the cost of the repairs with our repairer.  Five
months after this accident we still have not got our caravan back due to the fact that our repairer has been unable to obtain the necessary replacement parts from Lunar Caravans, and this despite the fact that this model of caravan is still in production.
 I am told by the insurers that this is not uncommon.  Obviously my wife & I are very unhappy. Being retired we use our caravan very frequently and this situation has put our lives and our caravanning hobby on hold.  We would be very interested to know if
other caravanners have suffered similar experiences.

We would also be interested to know what other caravanners feel about manufacturers' backup or aftersales service.

Many thanks.

 

Comments

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited February 2016 #2

    Think I would tell the other persons Insurance Company that you are going to hire one. Given the length of time it has taken. We once had a Caravan repaired at Lowdhams. Luckily we were able to use it but it took over 7 months. Part of the problem was that
    they failed to order the parts in the first place. You could also try phoning the factory and start making yourself very unpopular.

  • BugsyReece
    BugsyReece Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited February 2016 #3

    Hi, I can certainly empathise with you. Our Lunar took 6 months to be repaired, again due to the time taken to obtain parts. I was also advised that this is not unusual. I must say I am surprised that the Caravan Club or any other organisation do not include
    this in any of their surveys. Oh and where do Lunar Caravans come from? Oh yes, PRESTON!

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #4

    Hi, I can certainly empathise with you. Our Lunar took 6 months to be repaired, again due to the time taken to obtain parts. I was also advised that this is not unusual. I must say I am surprised that the Caravan Club or any other organisation do not include
    this in any of their surveys. Oh and where do Lunar Caravans come from? Oh yes, PRESTON!

    I don't understand the relevance of your  last comment.  Can you explain please.

    300 siggy photo 6b161378-22ab-47bd-97dd-22af5e8f67ba_zpsbtkpqljt.jpg

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #5

    Jill if you read the OP you will see where the  repairer isUndecided

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #6

    Sorry - I see what you mean now.    Crawls back into hole.  Embarassed

    300 siggy photo 6b161378-22ab-47bd-97dd-22af5e8f67ba_zpsbtkpqljt.jpg

  • lesbunny
    lesbunny Forum Participant Posts: 133
    edited February 2016 #7

    Your insurers will obviously be claiming from the driver that ran into you ( assuming they were insured ) so I would ask about loss of use cover & as others have said, maybe get the cost of hiring a replacement covered by the insurance companies.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #8

    Have you tried banging on Lunars door?

  • geneste
    geneste Forum Participant Posts: 10
    edited February 2016 #9

    I'm currently having a similar problem with my Lunar, the damage is not serious so it can still be used but I have been waiting for parts for almost 3 months  which I thought was bad but it seems not unusual. it reminds me of the British motor trade in the
    60s and 70s, unreliable products and service until the Japanese came into the UK market.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #10

    How about a placard at Lunars stand at BrumWink

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #11

    Have you tried banging on Lunars door?

    Write your comments here...At one time they would only talk to a dealer,I think it has got a little better now.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #12

    Have you tried banging on Lunars door?

    Write your comments here...At one time they would only talk to a dealer,I think it has got a little better now.

    Write your comments here...As the ops van is in the area of lunars factory  thats what i would be doing

  • sailorgirl2
    sailorgirl2 Forum Participant Posts: 153
    edited February 2016 #13

    In september 2014 my wife and I purchased a new lunar cosmos caravan.  A year after purchase i.e September 2015 we were involved in a road traffic accident when another driver failed to stop and drove into the back of our caravan causing serious damage.
     The Caravan Club Insurance Co were informed immediately.  The Caravan was taken into a repairer near to our home in Preston, Lancs.  Our insurers sent an assessor to assess the damage very quickly and he agreed the cost of the repairs with our repairer.  Five
    months after this accident we still have not got our caravan back due to the fact that our repairer has been unable to obtain the necessary replacement parts from Lunar Caravans, and this despite the fact that this model of caravan is still in production.
     I am told by the insurers that this is not uncommon.  Obviously my wife & I are very unhappy. Being retired we use our caravan very frequently and this situation has put our lives and our caravanning hobby on hold.  We would be very interested to know if
    other caravanners have suffered similar experiences.

    We would also be interested to know what other caravanners feel about manufacturers' backup or aftersales service.

    Many thanks.

     

    Write your comments here...Baldeagle,

    I have always found it best to deal with the man at the top in Lunar's case  the CEO is Brian Mellor appointed April2013  contactable at   brian@lunarcaravans.com.Often the man at the top is unaware of issues below him as he is protected by his senior staff.I
    suggest you email him or write to him care of the board of directors and express your issues and ask for his comments. He will be obliged to write back to you and investigate the problems. Good luck, it has always worked for me in the past. I even had an 18
    month old  demonstration MGTF replaced with a new one by adopting this approach. Stand your ground !!!! SG2

     

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #14

    Good, in fact very good answer from sailorgirl2 the name of the game seems to be strong willed, assertive but above all polite without losing you rag, good luck with the last point!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited February 2016 #15

    You might also speak to the owners club as they might know where to go to get action.

  • IanTS
    IanTS Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited February 2016 #16

    JVB66's suggestion isn't too far from the mark.  I produced a list of problems I had with my wife's Peugeot 205 and printed this with the slogan "As the lion goes from strength to strength..............does the customer become fair game?"  Peugeot slogan
    at the time was  "The Lion goes from strength to strength"

    When I was at the motor show, I made sure that my printed listing got into Peugeot staffs' hands.  When I got home, my wife told me that Peugeot had already telephoned to resolve the problems.  I'm not suggesting this is the way to go but it was for me.

  • IanTS
    IanTS Forum Participant Posts: 13
    edited February 2016 #17

    I used to handle motor claims many years ago, and reading this thread, it reminded me of when I settled quite a number of claims by providing a replacement rather than repair.  These were mainly where there was going to be a large loss of use claim, sometimes
    arising from manufacturers being unable to provide spare parts in time.  I would contact the Third Party insurer giving them the facts.  In most cases they were appreciative of the notification and also agreed that we could replace rather than repair.  When
    there is a saving to be made, agreement can be reached.

    My recommendation is to notify your insurer as soon as possible if there is a liklihood of long delays and if you have good reason to hire for the full term of the repairs.  Your own insurer, unless they have provided loss of use cover, will only be responsible
    in the first instant for the cost of repair and will look to the Third Party insurer for recompense.  Not all claims departments will take the initiative to put a proposition of replacement to a Third Party insurer early in a claim.

    You should always remember that it is your duty in law to mitigate or minimise your losses.

  • Chris Ardis
    Chris Ardis Forum Participant Posts: 55
    edited February 2016 #18

    I suspect that as this Lunar is being repaired near Preston that the required parts have been ordered through the local dealer, Campbells of Lostock Hall and their service department at Leyland. Both less than 2 miles from the Lunar factory. Quite frankly
    they have never heard of 'Customer Service'. A fault I reported in June, 6 weeks before a booked service on 4 August, was not rectified at that service. When I telephoned to report that the fault was still there on my next trip away I was told that parts would
    be ordered to cure the problem. They were eventually fitted incorrectly on 15 December. I am so disgusted with Cambells and Lunar that I have changed to a Bailey from a more customer freindly dealer, Bardsea Leisure, Ulverston, Cumbria.