Camper NE go bust

[JockandRita]

So pleased there's a good result for you.
They had a van conversion belonging to me on sale or return. Found out last week they sent it to the auctions last November without telling me. I've no chance of receiving anything back. People wouldn't believe what's been going on.

That is diabolical.

Sorry to hear about your predicament @wiljoy.

Jock.

 

[wiljoy]

They had it for sale at £29995 so you can imagine how much I would be due.
They sold it at auction for £21000. That's desperation.

 

[CazPaul]

They had it for sale at £29995 so you can imagine how much I would be due.
They sold it at auction for £21000. That's desperation.

Good lord so sorry you must be sick as a pig, is there no legal way of recovering anything at all?

 

[wiljoy]

Good lord so sorry you must be sick as a pig, is there no legal way of recovering anything at all?

Thanks. I haven't got a hope in hell. One thing for certain is I'll NEVER pay a cash deposit for a van and ALWAYS taken out finance for at least the first 6 months.
Careful who you trust
I never thought someone could stoop as low as these lot have.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

@wiljoy
Have you raken legal advice?

Its just that as a buyer at Auction you pay an indemnity fee to the auction house in case the purchase turns out to have been “misrepresented”

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[34127]

If you are the legal owner of the vehicle then should it not be returned to you as they did not have the authority to sell it. The buyer of the vehicle at the auction would then claim through the auction house for money paid.

 

[wiljoy]

I've been down all the legal route but as usual my claim is last in the pecking order.
When over 80 motorhomes vanish overnight you can imagine the monies lost by many people.

 

[Bustup15]

If you are the legal owner of the vehicle then should it not be returned to you as they did not have the authority to sell it. The buyer of the vehicle at the auction would then claim through the auction house for money paid.

An absolute shocker from start to finish. You would like to believe that those involved would end up inside!
But with regard to the auction house, if the MOHO was on a sale or return basis with dealer then surely they did have permission to sell it? I hope I'm wrong but don't get a good feeling for the seller here?

 

[Simon Select]

Firstly sorry for anyone who is caught up in this.

But it is also very disconcerting for anyone perhaps about to buy from any dealer. Most vans that will be sat on a forecourt are going to be financed somehow as I suspect few dealers will have sufficient capital resources of their own. So even if the dealer gives you a receipt for your payment, and a piece of paper saying you are the owner, how do you check and verify any other finance is cleared? How do you then secure your title to the vehicle so that this sort of fraudulent action can't be initiated?

We do have the capital.
Most car dealers in the UK have some form of Forecourt funding! Even main dealer groups will use it to some degree. If you imagine, you have to buy 30 motorhomes to have a forecourt display worth looking at. Go on an average of £50,000 per van x 30 (Most cases over 100 vehicles) That's into 10's of millions. It isn't a bad thing in the norm however as per this post it can go wrong.
Lots of manufacturers will offer 0% stocking lines to which any dealer would be foolish not to take as it keeps working capital which keeps a business trading!
When you sell a van that is on "Forecourt funding" the finance company will debit the money from the dealer for the total cost of the van when the vehicle has been delivered. Perfectly legal and above board. You are even allowed nowadays to sell a car privately with finance on it as long as you settle the balance within 24 hours.
Not every dealer is as lucky to have a big group behind them, we can buy in whatever we need without worrying but even a group the size of Howards has to be careful as you can get carried away and very quickly spend millions!

It is also a double edged sword now, everyone wants the best deal and is happy to screw dealer A down on price because dealer B will do it for xxx. All that happens is that the profit margins get cut and cut. The dealer has to pay for staff, warranty work, light, electric, advertising, prep on the vehicles etc. I think more and more dealers are going to struggle. Its a shame as there are a lot of good dealers out there who can and will try to offer a good level of service however when the mentality "Do me a deal, I need more for my part exchange, I will go to the other side of the country to speak to dealer XYZ"

If anyone does have an affected vehicle, personally I would speak to the finance company and ask them what happens? How do you go about keeping the van? Can it be re-financed. I would guess they are not going to go after "Retail money" (Which is what they would have originally financed it for) for a van that is 1 or 2 years old by now. I would imagine they would be only too happy to refinance based on current market value, which would mean in theory you wouldn't be too out of pocket. As a finance company will not want the hassle of chasing motorhomer's all over the place and then having to dispose of them.

If anyone that has bought one in the last year or thinks they will have been affected, please feel free to PM me with your reg and I will HPI to see what it says.

Simon

 

[Bustup15]

@Simon Howards Motorhomes @Lenny HB
Just a thought - when buying abroad new or used is there a method to check if there is finance oñ the vehicle and if so does the dealer clear it?

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[Simon Select]

@Simon Howards Motorhomes @Lenny HB
Just a thought - when buying abroad new or used is there a method to check if there is finance oñ the vehicle and if so does the dealer clear it?

Good question and I am not sure.
There will be a completely different set of rules and regulations I guess. May have some EU protection but you may not.....
I will endeavour to find out!

 

[KidsOnTour]

These stories are all shocking. We bought our van from them but seem to have luckily escaped unscathed. Fingers crossed for everyone else that you get your vans sorted or some money back

To those who used camperne where are you going to get your service and mot done now? Any recommendations? The guys that works on the maintenance side were amazing. Wish I had their numbers. Wonder if they’ve moved somewhere else..

 

[Bustup15]

These stories are all shocking. We bought our van from them but seem to have luckily escaped unscathed. Fingers crossed for everyone else that you get your vans sorted or some money back

To those who used camperne where are you going to get your service and mot done now? Any recommendations? The guys that works on the maintenance side were amazing. Wish I had their numbers. Wonder if they’ve moved somewhere else..

Try this company near Stanley - have done work for me in the past and very efficient and helpful. They mentioned a few of the ne camper staff approached them after closedown.

 

[old-mo]

Just read through this thread in it`s entirety...

"HORRENDOUS".......

How does one know this is not happening with other dealers/Company`s ??

It looks like H.P.i. is the only way that Joe public can find out up to a point... and that is obviously not guaranteed that finance has not been taken out on their Mo-home....

I might, when I buy my next NEW van approach the manufacturer of choice to see if they will sell direct to me,,,, after showing them this thread...

I know if possible it would only work on a brand new van..

Plenty of reputable repair workshops around that may take on any warranty work. A few "Funster" members spring to mind..

Not sure now that I want a new van after we move having read through that lot...

 

[wiljoy]

Try this company near Stanley - have done work for me in the past and very efficient and helpful. They mentioned a few of the ne camper staff approached them after closedown.

View attachment 306904

This company is part of Tyne Valley motorhomes. Changing company names isn't a very confident move for customer trust.

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[wiljoy]

Just read through this thread in it`s entirety...

"HORRENDOUS".......

How does one know this is not happening with other dealers/Company`s ??

It looks like H.P.i. is the only way that Joe public can find out up to a point... and that is obviously not guaranteed that finance has not been taken out on their Mo-home....

I might, when I buy my next NEW van approach the manufacturer of choice to see if they will sell direct to me,,,, after showing them this thread...

I know if possible it would only work on a brand new van..

Plenty of reputable repair workshops around that may take on any warranty work. A few "Funster" members spring to mind..

Not sure now that I want a new van after we move having read through that lot...

Tip of the iceberg Mo. The money involved is staggering. They owe me over £20,000 for a van they sold on SOR last November. I can't say much but the fraud involved is unbelievable. The amazing thing is how easy it was for them to refinace customer's vehicles worth many thousands of pounds.
Hope you're keeping well.
Wilf

 

[old-mo]

Hope you're keeping well.
Wilf

As well as can be expected, thanks Wilf...

Sorry to read of your woe`s... Sickening...

Makes me wonder if we are moving to a not so nice area now..

 

[Lenny HB]

Tip of the iceberg Mo. The money involved is staggering. They owe me over £20,000 for a van they sold on SOR last November. I can't say much but the fraud involved is unbelievable. The amazing thing is how easy it was for them to refinace customer's vehicles worth many thousands of pounds.
Hope you're keeping well.
Wilf

Have you tried to see if you have a claim against the Auction house?

 

[Bustup15]

This company is part of Tyne Valley motorhomes. Changing company names isn't a very confident move for customer trust.

No absolutely not.
It is an independent company and now nothing to do with Tyne Valley although they may do specialist contract work for them. It is part of the Hogarth Coach works group at Birtley I believe. Discussed the relationship to Tyne Valley with them only last week.

 

[wiljoy]

No absolutely not.
It is an independent company and now nothing to do with Tyne Valley although they may do specialist contract work for them. It is part of the Hogarth Coach works group at Birtley I believe. Discussed the relationship to Tyne Valley with them only last week.

My apologies. I'd rather it was still Tyne Valley.

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[wiljoy]

Have you tried to see if you have a claim against the Auction house?

Been down every road. To much money missing and far to much money being chased after.

 

[Bustup15]

My apologies. I'd rather it was still Tyne Valley.

Why? Tyne Valley is still there as well?

 

[Lenny HB]

Been down every road. To much money missing and far to much money being chased after.

Does it not count as a stolen vehicle or is it not seen that way because you gave it to them to sell on your behalf?
If it counted as stolen the police should be able to recover it and return it to you. I know you may have already tried this approach but worth a mention in case not.

 

[John65]

@wiljoy think I’d be calling round to Paddy’s house with a few lads. ( one night).

 

[Bustup15]

Does it not count as a stolen vehicle or is it not seen that way because you gave it to them to sell on your behalf?
If it counted as stolen the police should be able to recover it and return it to you. I know you may have already tried this approach but worth a mention in case not.

I was told both directors are now abroad?

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[wiljoy]

@wiljoy think I’d be calling round to Paddy’s house with a few lads. ( one night).

I gather Paddy has flown but his mate has supposedly helping the authorities.
I wouldn't stoop down to his depths. His life isn't over yet.

 

[wiljoy]

Why? Tyne Valley is still there as well?

Wasn't sure. Called in to see Jonathan a few weeks ago but didn't ask about the other operation. Always had time for him as he's built the business from scratch and is a very nice lad. I've never bought him.

 

[wiljoy]

Does it not count as a stolen vehicle or is it not seen that way because you gave it to them to sell on your behalf?
If it counted as stolen the police should be able to recover it and return it to you. I know you may have already tried this approach but worth a mention in case not.

Police VERY much involved. I'm classed as an also ran creditor. There's NOTHING left for anyone. They've certainty stripped everything out before finishing.
I'm still in regular contact with the authorities but never any good news.

 

[Mikeco]

Been down every road. To much money missing and far to much money being chased after.

In 2008 I was almost in your situation when I agreed a price with CamperUK to sell my Burstner, I bought a caravan from them so when the van sold they would owe me the balance of £22000.
Without my knowledge they sent it to CamperNE who eventually sold it and according to CamperUK they would pay direct but in three monthly instalments. Needless to say they never paid but CamperUK paid me instead and so they should as my deal was with them.
You have not been so lucky though.

 

[Lenny HB]

Police VERY much involved. I'm classed as an also ran creditor. There's NOTHING left for anyone. They've certainty stripped everything out before finishing.
I'm still in regular contact with the authorities but never any good news.

I was thinking that the person who bought it at auction bought a stolen vehicle and under those conditions I thought the police could repossesse it and return it to its rightful owner.

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