We are stuck need help **URGENT**

[Ernesto]

The discretionary fund is an interesting idea...but I'm struggling to think of a scenario where getting cash somehow to someone, is the answer? I can understand things go wrong, and mistakes are made, but who goes off in a motorhome/campervan without a credit card and a phone - and with these you can do just about everything these days?

For sure you need some backup.... a couple of paper printouts in case you lose your phone, or get robbed, but banks and travel insurance are there to cover these.

Maybe supporting a charity thats linked in some way with our hobby - is there one that uses motorhomes to give people that are struggling, a leg up, a break? Maybe sponsor free moho rentals to give struggling or deserving people a break

The one thing that this forum does better than anything else, is timely, helpful, expert advice. Post on here, and within 10 minutes usually, someone will offer help. Thats priceless and arguably better and more useful than cash

 

[Just smiffy]

Apparently this was their first trip to France, the first time we went we didn't have breakdown insurance, medical insurance, parked on motorway Aires , talked to blokes in black mercs and everything that is taboo on here which we hadn't got a clue about till joining here.
But I tell you one thing it was the best trip we have ever had 3000 miles through 5 country's.
And we wouldn't have been able to come on here to ask for help.

Ignorance is sometimes bliss chaser, the less we know the less we have to worry about, I think sometimes a newbie comes on here and reads “ bikes stolen fords nicked gassed in France immigrants in the shower cubicle robbed at night and where’s me Rolex… must frighten them to death….

 

[Yonder]

My guess is yes, it is still there. Only a guess though.....

Maybe nobody can find it due to that camouflage wrap....

 

[Nanniemate]

Ignorance is sometimes bliss chaser, the less we know the less we have to worry about, I think sometimes a newbie comes on here and reads “ bikes stolen fords nicked gassed in France immigrants in the shower cubicle robbed at night and where’s me Rolex… must frighten them to death….

I remember the first time to Paris a friend of mine said don't thousands go in thousands come out very few have accidents but the trip sounds more exciting after a close shave or near miss

Albert's words of wisdom have got me through many an scenario

 

[Nanniemate]

If you look closely that pool liner is actually see through.

And again ...

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[Gellyneck]

And again ...

I'm more concerned about why they're pumping out bilge water from the grounded cruise liner into the pool! Would that make two "dirty" things in the pool?

 

[chaser]

Any updates on this?

 

[poindexter]

Hi All!

I sent a text (which went through all right) to Poindexter yesterday morning, which in spite of my asking an answer, had no text back at all. I gave a ring yesterday evening to the towing enterprise , and I have been told the 17th was now cancelled on their time table (fair enough !!!) . I gave a ring this morning to the garage (shut for the whole week for hols)and I had the secretary, who didn't know if any contact had been made from the UK)
So as a result, I'm stepping backwards, and just said to both to give me a call if anything positive happens, or if nothing happens, and as a consequence if stuck with the vehicle stuck on their yard.
Now to you Lewis (as I know that anyone not connected with their profile can still read as a guest) : Instead of saying "Thank you" a hundred times which as I told you was not my point, behaving properly by giving me/us all an answer, would have been much better. Also, as I also think a bit (yeah sometimes I try to use that grey thing we have under our ...hair) , you might have had some terrible event in between, and you are in hospital, or you had a decease in your family ... or anything which would make me regret tough words, I still give you the benefit of the doubt, and will still wait for a possible answer someday. Of course if it happens in 6 months time, afraid a French trial might have taken decisions about your van. I will only have Jim to tell me your name and living place to be able to arrange things. I just hope that you are just "not being very nice" , and not injured or anything else much worse. Till then , I'm on holiday for good!

Hey Frankie, I have had the most awful month, please accept my apologies and recognise the deepest gratitude I have for your assistance.. You have been literally amazing and I cannot even begin to thank you enough for your help.

It all started with the van breaking down. We got back to the UK (Van still in France) to discover 2 days later that my (AirBnb) rental property had become infested with bedbugs. AirBnb cancelled all my bookings because of this. We had to get the place heat treated. The cost of fixing this and lost booking is ($$$$$). Thats fixed now.

Then during all this my father gets diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. He was unwell since he was vaccinated and never recovered. Then this. He has 3 months.

All of these distractions have caused other elements of my life to come crashing down. I don't want go into detail but it has jeopardised my business and safety net. It could all come crashing down hard.

I apologise for the lack of communication but I am having a real hard time right now. I have a pain in my right shoulder and my ears have started ringing constantly.

Im struggling.

 

[poindexter]

So, to summarise: Person leaves UK for holiday in France without ensuring adequate/correct insurance and recovery cover prior to leaving. Van suffers catastrophic failure, and person pleads to forum for help. French national steps in and goes above and beyond in assisting. UK person then queries French garage diagnosis/garage costs etc. etc. and wants van recovered to UK. UK person is then unresponsive to messages left by v.helpful French national regarding progressing repair/recovery.
Conclusion: Leave UK person to sort it out by themselves, as they clearly know better. Law of unintended consequences is at play here - perhaps sorting out the essentials prior to departing from the UK would have been a better way of spending their money than a dubious paint job on the van.... just saying..

OK so this is the latest. The garage in France quotes 8000 euros to repair the van. I don't know the French economy or the cost of goods and services. But to take one look at the engine and draw this immediate conclusion is suspect to me. Then what happens if it breaks down the moment I drive off the ferry in the UK? They have no motivation to do a decent job on it as they know I will never be back!!

I spoke to my mechanic in the UK. He said that for £5000 he will do a full engine replacement with a reconditioned engine. Same job. More importantly he said that before doing this he will do some diagnostics on the engine to understand the cause of the problem as maybe it will be something straightforward to fix.

Getting it back to the UK was fairly simple in the end.

TAKE NOTE: If you breakdown abroad, take a look on shiply.com. We got it back to the UK for £855. Door to door. Even if I need a full engine replacement it still works out cheaper to bring it back to the UK. I may still not need a full engine replacement.

I am eternally grateful for Frankie's assistance. Life has been very challenging lately however and I am still not even sure if I will still be standing come the new year.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Sorry to hear of your other issues as well as having to pay out potentially for a new engine.
Trust all goes well for you.

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[Elsie2010]

Hey Frankie, I have had the most awful month, please accept my apologies and recognise the deepest gratitude I have for your assistance.. You have been literally amazing and I cannot even begin to thank you enough for your help.

It all started with the van breaking down. We got back to the UK (Van still in France) to discover 2 days later that my (AirBnb) rental property had become infested with bedbugs. AirBnb cancelled all my bookings because of this. We had to get the place heat treated. The cost of fixing this and lost booking is ($$$$$). Thats fixed now.

Then during all this my father gets diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. He was unwell since he was vaccinated and never recovered. Then this. He has 3 months.

All of these distractions have caused other elements of my life to come crashing down. I don't want go into detail but it has jeopardised my business and safety net. It could all come crashing down hard.

I apologise for the lack of communication but I am having a real hard time right now. I have a pain in my right shoulder and my ears have started ringing constantly.

Im struggling.

So sorry to read this. Thoughts are with you and your family
I think the forum can take something from all of this, and that is to never assume or jump to any conclusions (myself included)
Let us all walk in others shoes before casting the first stone

As much as everything seems overwhelmingly stressful and upsetting, just know that every dark cloud moves on to reveal sunnier skies

All the very best

 

[chesterfield hooligan]

Just a small word to be careful with Shipley I do some recovery and there have been instances of cars getting lost on route with none trader's quoting on there, they are picked up never to be seen again.

 

[sueandjohn]

So sorry poindexter , for all your troubles . Please don’t be put off asking for help again if you need it . It just shows that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions not knowing the facts . It sounds like you’ve had a dreadful time and I’m sure everyone here wishes you a better time going forward

 

[yodeli]

Hi Lewis!
I'm quite happy you got your van back with a good deal. That's the most important thing as far as the van is concerned. Of course I feel for you. You had more than your lot with all these different troubles. Now focus on your family. Motorhomefun will still be there when things will ...somehow... calm down. Then, if you need some help of any kind or advice or just feel like chatting and having a good laugh the whole family will be at your side.

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[gus-lopez]

Hey Frankie, I have had the most awful month, please accept my apologies and recognise the deepest gratitude I have for your assistance.. You have been literally amazing and I cannot even begin to thank you enough for your help.

It all started with the van breaking down. We got back to the UK (Van still in France) to discover 2 days later that my (AirBnb) rental property had become infested with bedbugs. AirBnb cancelled all my bookings because of this. We had to get the place heat treated. The cost of fixing this and lost booking is ($$$$$). Thats fixed now.

Then during all this my father gets diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukemia. He was unwell since he was vaccinated and never recovered. Then this. He has 3 months.

All of these distractions have caused other elements of my life to come crashing down. I don't want go into detail but it has jeopardised my business and safety net. It could all come crashing down hard.

I apologise for the lack of communication but I am having a real hard time right now. I have a pain in my right shoulder and my ears have started ringing constantly.

Im struggling.

sorry to hear of all the problems & health troubles. thoughts are with you

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[poindexter]

Im back. My life is very different now. Fewer members of my closest family. A new van engine. Summertime around the corner. LETS GO MHF!!!!!!!!!! So excited to meet you soon.

 

[poindexter]

For anyone who wants to read the entire post, I'll summarise. Basically if your van has a massive engine failure abroad you are 100% better off shipping it back to the UK via shiply then getting the engine replaced locally.

I have a 2 year warranty on the engine replacement and it cost me 4 times less than the quote I got in France.

 

[L' Hobo]

Im back. My life is very different now. Fewer members of my closest family. A new van engine. Summertime around the corner. LETS GO MHF!!!!!!!!!! So excited to meet you soon.

View attachment 894081

At first glance I thought it was a picture of Medusa!

 

[poindexter]

yea hahahahhaha these engine replacements specialists are propper specialised. Hat off to them. They did a good job. She runs like a dream.

 

[poindexter]

sorry to hear of all the problems & health troubles. thoughts are with you

Its OK. This is that thing we call life.

Im training to do a fight for charity, its not my first one. Specifically I want to fund raise for English orphanages. Its a topic close to my heart. There will be a separate post on this soon once the date is confirmed.

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[pappajohn]

Were you told by your UK spanner man exactly what the fault was.
My guess a cracked cylinder block.
Anything less and it would be repairable.

 

[poindexter]

The technical term was the engine is F*CK*D. They said the same thing as the French garage. These engines when they fail like this its better to replace them than fix them. French Mechanic wanted 5 figures. No mate. Jog on.

 

[WESTY66]

At first glance I thought it was a picture of Medusa!

I was thinking davey jones

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hi poindexter, I just had to go back and read the thread again. Glad you seem to be on an even keel again.
Even nicer to read yodeli posts and realise/know now, that some karma has come her way.
You probably wont know but she had a breakdown/big problem with her own MH and Funsters have been able to help her out.

 

[poindexter]

Hi poindexter, I just had to go back and read the thread again. Glad you seem to be on an even keel again.
Even nicer to read yodeli posts and realise/know now, that some karma has come her way.
You probably wont know but she had a breakdown/big problem with her own MH and Funsters have been able to help her out.

Ahh thats amazing. So glad to hear that. I wish I could have helped.

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