Getting a caravan back from the Alps

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 Ciro 25 Jul 2019

Too long, don't want to read: How do I get a caravan that's in Austria, back to the UK, with the least amount of hassle?

My folks have been rather done over by their insurance, and as a result they are back in the UK and their van is still in Austria, potentially slated to be scrapped.

They were on a campsite in Myerhofen, when my dad suffered a bit of a mental health crisis and needed to get home. 

The insurers initially said they would repatriate my dad, but they couldn't take the car and caravan as my mum was there and had a valid driving licence and insurance.

My sister drove out to them and took charge of negotiations, and got the insurers to agree that as my mother has never towed a van on the continent, and was needed to take care of my father back in the UK, their initial offer was unfair.

They agreed to repatriate my folks by air, and arrange for the car and caravan to follow. So my parents returned by air (dad now thankfully doing much better) and my sister drove back to the UK. 

The caravan was picked up and towed, without issue, to the depo from whence it should be driven back to the UK.

So far so good.

Next thing, my dad gets a call (not my sister) saying the caravan chassis is twisted out of alignment and is not safe to tow, that it is 20cm too long to be transported by trailer (policy exclusion), and that he either has to pay for it to be put in storage until he's fit to collect it or agree to let them scrap it. To avoid any further stress he signed the consent form and sent it back before any of us knew what was going on. A few belongings were loaded into the car and it was returned to the UK.

I figured that was a done deal, and there wasn't much we could do, short of suing later when he's feeling better.

However, now it turns out the company who refused to tow it back have "expressed an interest" in the van, and would like to know if they can keep it, instead of scrapping it.

I'm f*cking livid. I was angry enough when it looked like they were making shit up to avoid the work, now it seems they were actually planning to profit from doing them over.

On the other hand, at least the van hasn't been scrapped.

When the car was in Austria I could have flown out on a Friday night and been back to work by Monday morning, but now (as I don't have a towbar on the van) I would have to drive to Scotland, pick up the car and drive all the way down and back... It'd be a week off work and we're really busy right now so that wouldn't go down well.

Anyone any experience of getting a large (7.2m) caravan transported long distance, or any smart ideas?

Maybe someone would like a holiday home in the Alps for the summer, in return for bringing it back 😁

 JoshOvki 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Instead of going to Scotland to get the car can you hire one or do you have a mate that had a car with a towbar?

Plan B, drive over, set fire to it, come back. Only worth the scrap metal the bast*rds got your dad to sign it over for.

Post edited at 18:18
 balmybaldwin 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Sounds like you need to make a formal complaint and get the insurance ombudsman involved.

At worst you should be offered enough money for the caravan to replace it (i.e. not just the scrap value.)

I personally would allege fraudulent behaviour by whoever has assessed the van - it's either got a twisted chassis and can't be towed OR it's desirable for the company to keep not both.

Ask for copies of the engineering report the insurer have had carried out. I would also get a power of attorney agreed with the insurance company so you or your sister are dealing with this rather than your dad

ETA: Get a letter drawn up withdrawing consent for scrappage and get your dad to sign it and then get it to the insurer pronto to prevent them moving further without consulting you

Post edited at 18:21
 marsbar 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Bastards.  I don't have any particular ideas but I hope you can find someone to fetch it. 

OP Ciro 25 Jul 2019
In reply to balmybaldwin:

Thanks, my sister is back in negotiation with the insurers, and we have agreement that nothing will happen to the van for now.

Asking for the engineering report that won't exist is a great idea - might sharpen their minds to the fact that we're not going to go away, without having to go the full hog with alleging fraud yet.

I'd probably rather just get the van back first and initiate proceedings later if possible - my old man will stress about what's going on even if it's out of his hands. 

OP Ciro 25 Jul 2019
In reply to marsbar:

Thanks 🙂

OP Ciro 25 Jul 2019
In reply to JoshOvki:

I did think about hiring a car but I guess one with a tow bar is a bit specialist and there's normally exclusions in the UK about taking hire cars abroad?

Plan B does sound cathartic though 🤣

 summo 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Given the reason for his repatriation you could argue his signature doesn't hold any strength. 

Otherwise. 

Day1. Drive to Scotland and book east coast overnight party ferry to continent.

Day2 arrive fresh usually 6 or 7am push all the way down.

Day3. 9am collect van. Depart immediately or see ps.

Day 3 - 4. You have options to take cheapest crossing with a van at unsociable hours and/or overnight in the van. 

Ps. I would throw mtb or hill gear in car and have a day in mountains in the middle for sanity sake.

Pps. The garage sounds dodgy so I would initially just say you are coming to get contents etc. Keep it vague in case it mysteriously acquires more damage that renders it unroadworthy.

Deadeye 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Some thoughts, which may or may not have any mileage:

The insurers were prepared to pay for it to be repatriated.  They should be prepared to pay the same cost for you to sort it out yourself.

If they're not prepared to do so, you could arrange an inspection by a third party?

I guess it's possible that the chassis isn't right and it needs fixing prior to use.  A third party quote to assess/fix?

Once fixed, the original folk would need to repatriate.

My guess is that it was going to come back on a trailer, having been conventionally towed to the garage.  It turned out too big for their trailer (by a small margin) and so they desperately scratch around for an excuse.  Having found one that the insurer appears to have bought, they have a buyer lined up for the vehicle.

Finally, just get 20cm cut off the back...

 sbc23 25 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Are they really attached to the van? If not, can you negotiate to sell it to the garage? 

Work out the rough van value, subtract the cost of getting it back (ferries, fuel etc.). If they'll cover somewhere near that, let it go and avoid the hassle. There is some risk (mechanical breakdown, punctures etc.) and a load of time required to tow it back.

Post edited at 22:04
 tehmarks 25 Jul 2019
In reply to sbc23:

> Are they really attached to the van? If not, can you negotiate to sell it to the garage?

While that may be a pragmatic solution, it's morally wrong on all sorts of levels and rewards them for their (likely) patently dishonest and frankly criminal behaviour.

 Timmd 25 Jul 2019
In reply to tehmarks: Yes it does.

Post edited at 23:33
1
OP Ciro 25 Jul 2019
In reply to all:

Thanks all, the ombudsman have been contacted, and they said we need to lodge a formal complaint with the insurers first and give them a chance to resolve, so that will be happening tomorrow.

The engineers report does not exist - the garage they took out to was not competent to assess. The insurers told my father that if he wanted it assessed he'd have to pay them for storage from the point he decided to do that, and pay for the repairs, and then pay for the repatriation himself. The costs could have racked up pretty quickly, which is why he was persuaded to agree to scrap it.

We've been going over the T's &C's, and it looks like the definition of the length of the caravan should be max 7m plus any coupling - which matches the legal limit in the UK for a caravan being towed by a normal car - so it looks like they've included the coupling in their measurement of 7.2m.

I don't think they have a leg to stand on, hopefully pointing this out to them will be enough...

 Timmd 26 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

Hurrah, that's good to hear. Once this is resolved can you tell us the name of the insurance company? I suddenly wonder who it is. 

Post edited at 00:52
1
 Michael Hood 26 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

What a horrendous situation, hassle and stress for everyone.

I've not got anything useful to add except to wish you good luck and I hope everything (especially your father's health) gets resolved satisfactorily.

1
OP Ciro 26 Jul 2019
In reply to Michael Hood:

Thanks 🙂

OP Ciro 26 Jul 2019
In reply to all:

Thanks guys for the support and suggestions - insurers have now agreed to repatriate the caravan, as the A-bar is indeed excluded from the length of the van.

Suspect the main problem was the external transport company trying to pull a fast one on us and the insurers, however the subcontractor is the insurers responsibility so I'll be looking for a formal explanation, apology, and compensation for the distress and inconvenience once the van is safely back in storage. Mainly to ensure that the f*ck up is highlighted and hopefully prevent someone else being taken advantage of in future.

 marsbar 26 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

That's great.  I hope this positive news helps your parents feel better about the whole thing.  

OP Ciro 26 Jul 2019
In reply to marsbar:

Thanks, it'll be a big boost to them after a stressful few weeks!

 tehmarks 26 Jul 2019
In reply to Ciro:

> the subcontractor is the insurers responsibility

Yup, and you'd expect for the extortionate premiums many of us pay that they'd at least do their job in a competent manner when you do need to rely on them.

> I'll be looking for a formal explanation, apology, and compensation for the distress and inconvenience

And hopefully followed by never using the company in question again, and highlighting their unacceptable behaviour to as wide an audience as possible. There is simply no excuse for the level of incompetence they've displayed.


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