Hab inspection - what a waste of time/money!

[sparky]

My dealer on my last a class ticked the box to say the smoke alarm was working ok on the inspection sheet we don’t have a smoke alarm in the van?

 

[Euro330]

After owning our m/h for 3 years I was persuaded by someone "with experience" that we should have a Hab inspection done as we hadn't already done so. The van is 2004 and as far as I was aware had no problems. So, £120 later I am in possession of a form that says there's no damp, all the appliances work, all the window blinds etc work, there are no gas leaks, the boiler draws x amount of amps and the fridge draws y amount of amps and another numberof other realitively useless facts. I have my own damp meter and a basic multi meter and together with the fact that there has never been a smell of gas I knew all this already!

I'm not saying that the inspection chap did anything wrong but I just feel like an idiot for commissioning the test in the first place. Unless you have to have this done for a manufacturers warranty then I simply don't see the point ( unless of course you cannot be bothered to buy a £15 da mp meter and a £5 multi meter).

Lesson learned though and I won't be bothering again.

Yeah I agrea, unless you are about to sell, then you can evidence the vans good condition. If not selling, yes a waste of money again unless you are wanting peace of mind.

 

[cornish boy]

I used to belong to an Association, and had similar arrangements, however we were an independent Association.

If you want an electrician to come round to your property, you will have the choice of NAPIT or NCC, does going by what you have commented on, say your house is among that group!! you mention.

I appreciate you have taken the time and trouble to check this out.

Flook

National Construction Council verses National Caravan Council

 

[Lenny HB]

Carthago's have the same type of construction but one owner had water ingress from the joint between roof and side wall. It was fairly obvious though, as he had staining on the inner fabric side wall.

That sort of leak is going to be obvious and only visually which anyone can spot. With vans like Carthago, Hymer, N&B where the inner wall is aluminium its impossible to do a damp check, damp meters don't work on aluminium.
So we are still getting ripped off when they insist we pay for a damp check to keep the warranty. At least by getting mine done in Belgium I only pay £60, UK dealers prices vary between £130 to £275.

 

[Westbarn1]

Lenny, where in Belgium do you get your damp check done.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Flook]

Flook, NCC stands for National Caravan Council. I am not sure what that would have to do with electrical work on your house. Perhaps you are confusing it with the NICEIC.

Beltie, your correct about the NCC, yes I thought it was the NICEIC for some silly reason, all these anacronims of NCC, NICEIC, DASA, NSAET, NAPIT, UKW and so on.

So my appologies if I confused or agrivated anyone, that was not my intention. Perhapse they should change the NCC (National Caravan Council ) to NC&MHC (National Caravan & Motor Home Council).

Still, and interesting thread though. Perhpse someone should try a thread about anacronims!!

Flook

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny, where in Belgium do you get your damp check done.

Campirama the Only Hymer dealer.

 

[Westbarn1]

Thanks, got some friends in Antwerp been meaning to visit?

 

[peterc10]

I used to belong to an Association, and had similar arrangements, however we were an independent Association.

If you want an electrician to come round to your property, you will have the choice of NAPIT or NCC, does going by what you have commented on, say your house is among that group!! you mention.

I appreciate you have taken the time and trouble to check this out.

Flook

Edit: Comment deleted as dealt with in post #66

 

[HUGGY]

My local main dealer charges £270 for a hab/damp check. I use a mobile independent who comes to me and charges £125. BOTH use the same AWS check lists ! . I accept that dealer has overheads etc, but I'm not gonna pay for them.
Whether you have a annual check or not comes down to peace of mind. To keep warranty valid you have to have it done. Most checks are basic common sense (except for gas) so, if out of warranty why not do it yourself.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

To keep warranty valid you have to have it done

Only on Brit vans others only need a damp check.

 

[Trev45]

That sort of leak is going to be obvious and only visually which anyone can spot. With vans like Carthago, Hymer, N&B where the inner wall is aluminium its impossible to do a damp check, damp meters don't work on aluminium.
So we are still getting ripped off when they insist we pay for a damp check to keep the warranty. At least by getting mine done in Belgium I only pay £60, UK dealers prices vary between £130 to £275.

Why is it so cheap in Belgium ? Presumably the hourly rate is much less than in the UK .

 

[Lenny HB]

Why is it so cheap in Belgium ? Presumably the hourly rate is much less than in the UK .

I think it's similar in Germany, probably because you are not in rip off Britain.

 

[Minxy]

When we were negotiating the deal to purchase our Carthago at the very end when we had the dealer on the 'hook' we asked for a first year hab check FOC ... as this would cost nearly £400 to us it was a lot of money, but to them it's just some workshop time, he ummmmmed and ahhhhhed .... then agreed! Obviously we still have to make the journey to/from them but we'd still have had to do that anyway.

 

[busby]

Why is it so cheap in Belgium ? Presumably the hourly rate is much less than in the UK .

Because so many Brit van owners are gullible,,BUSBY??

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Apache]

We bought our van new at a show . When it was almost a year old we decided to have a jab check by a local approved work hop ( cleared it warranty wise with Autotrail beforehand ) . A few months later I had a claim regarding seat cushion problem ( not something covered by the hab check ) Their response ? It’s out of warranty because you haven’t had the hab check done !
It was eventually sorted and warranty work done but it highlights the need for a hab check at least whilst still in the warranty period.
By the way I have access to a multimeter but don’t understand how it works or what to do with it ?

 

[Lenny HB]

It was eventually sorted and warranty work done but it highlights the need for a hab check at least whilst still in the warranty period.

You only get that problem with Brit vans, German vans don't require a hab check to keep the warranty, rip of britain again.

 

[Apache]

You only get that problem with Brit vans, German vans don't require a hab check to keep the warranty, rip of britain again.

That’s worth knowing, we’re thinking of going either Rapido or Burstner next if funds allow , thanks for the heads up

 

[peterc10]

That’s worth knowing, we’re thinking of going either Rapido or Burstner next if funds allow , thanks for the heads up

But remember Rapido is French, not German ......................... Best to check whether or not they demand Hab checks to maintain the Warranty.

 

[Apache]

Good point , Rapido is french

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

You only get that problem with Brit vans, German vans don't require a hab check to keep the warranty, rip of britain again.

But remember Rapido is French, not German ......................... Best to check whether or not they demand Hab checks to maintain the Warranty.

Just to clarify the above, if the German produced MH is bought in the UK via a dealer (or was first sold by a UK dealer) it will normally STILL need a hab check to comply with the warranty, this is usually the case with any MHs actually sold in the UK via a dealership regardless of what the terms are for their country of manufacture.

 

[MichaelT]

Just to clarify the above, if the German produced MH is bought in the UK via a dealer (or was first sold by a UK dealer) it will normally STILL need a hab check to comply with the warranty, this is usually the case with any MHs actually sold in the UK via a dealership regardless of what the terms are for their country of manufacture.

correct Dethleffs dealers will not just do a water ingress test they insist on a habitation check which I agree is a total rip off...

 

[peterc10]

Just to clarify the above, if the German produced MH is bought in the UK via a dealer (or was first sold by a UK dealer) it will normally STILL need a hab check to comply with the warranty, this is usually the case with any MHs actually sold in the UK via a dealership regardless of what the terms are for their country of manufacture.

Not correct Mel. My UK dealer, Becks, confirmed to me that my new Hymer did not require a hab check to maintain its warranty. I have never had one and yet got warranty work done OK. Hymer only require a damp check, and that is only to maintain their separate water penetration warranty.

Of course some less scrupulous dealers may tell their client otherwise, but they are not telling the truth.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just to clarify the above, if the German produced MH is bought in the UK via a dealer (or was first sold by a UK dealer) it will normally STILL need a hab check to comply with the warranty, this is usually the case with any MHs actually sold in the UK via a dealership regardless of what the terms are for their country of manufacture.

Hymer & Carthago certainly don't need a hab check only a damp check.
Do be aware British dealers will tell you they need a hab check when in fact they don't.

 

[Lenny HB]

correct Dethleffs dealers will not just do a water ingress test they insist on a habitation check which I agree is a total rip off...

Have you checked directly with Dethleffs or are you just going on what your dealer told you?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Minxy]

Not correct Mel. My UK dealer, Becks, confirmed to me that my new Hymer did not require a hab check to maintain its warranty. I have never had one and yet got warranty work done OK. Hymer only require a damp check, and that is only to maintain their separate water penetration warranty.

Of course some less scrupulous dealers may tell their client otherwise, but they are not telling the truth.

I did say 'normally' not 'mandatory' ... when enquiring about MHs/campers etc from overseas manufacturers I have always been told that a yearly hab check is required to maintain the warranty, and other owners have too.

I seem to recall that UK Hymer dealers sometimes insist that a check of the underseal is required yearly to maintain the warranty ... however as I understand it this is NOT mandatory.

 

[Minxy]

Hymer & Carthago certainly don't need a hab check only a damp check.
Do be aware British dealers will tell you they need a hab check when in fact they don't.

Can you please tell me where to find this information direct from the horses mouth (not that I don't believe you, as a I do), so that when we get to year 2 of our MH ownership I won't have to pay £400!

 

[MichaelT]

Have you checked directly with Dethleffs or are you just going on what your dealer told you?

I have tried several dealers and all only do the full monty at a special price for the owners club of £250. The chap that runs the club thinks he has done everyone a great service negotiating such a great deal for us members. In the handbook it does have a list of items to be covered in the habitation service in addition to the water ingress check but no more than you should get anywhere. Seems to be a closed shop.

 

[M-J]

Regardless of dealer requirements many owners like the piece of mind when having hab checks for various reasons, safety and resale values being the ones that spring to mind for me.

 

[Lenny HB]

Can you please tell me where to find this information direct from the horses mouth (not that I don't believe you, as a I do), so that when we get to year 2 of our MH ownership I won't have to pay £400!

My best mate has had 2 Cathagos a C-Tourer and currently an E-Line he hasn't had a hab check and had warranty work done. Current one brought from Go European they confirmed it wasn't necessary.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}