The worst has happened with our conversion...

[andydubz]

Last year, we bought a T6 and went to Camper Family Cymru in Barry, Wales. We made 2 payments (deposit and a 25% payment a few weeks into the build) totalling £16,000.

The conversion company went into liquidation a few weeks after. The worst part is they stopped working on our van after cutting the roof our for the pop top and never ordered one. It is unlikely there will be any money to claim back. The bank is also not able to help unless it was paid via credit card or debit payment. Unfortunately for us and other customers we've spoken to we used bank transfer which doesn't have any protection.

A warning to others, avoid bank transfer and use a credit card or at least a debit card payment instead. At least the bank will help recover money.

Here's the state of the van now...We're completely out of savings and have no driveable van. Utterly devastated

Current state:

 

[doncarlyon]

Loan or credit card to get the roof sorted. At least you then have a van that can be driven.

 

[Bav]

Loan or credit card to get the roof sorted. At least you then have a van that can be driven.

...or sold-on, if you don't have the heart or funds to continue with the conversion.

 

[andydubz]

We spent £4k on the respray before sending it in. I honestly don't think I could lose more money by selling it @Bav. No ones going to pay good money for it.

@doncarlyon that is currently what we're thinking of doing next. Maybe look at DIY conversion otherwise it'll take another year or two to save up for someone else to convert it.

 

[doncarlyon]

At least get the poptop sorted, then decide. Not going to get much for it in the current state.

 

[Salty Spuds]

thanks for sharing, I feel your pain. But without wanting to sound unsympathetic, will people never learn, always, always pay at least a couple of hundred quid on credit card, that way you get protection for the whole amount. It’s a no brainer. If the company refuses to take a part deposit on CC, walk away.

 

[doncarlyon]

If 16k was deposit plus 25%... how much was the total conversion cost?

 

[Trouts]

i think @Bav meant 'loan or Credit Card' to get the roof sorted and then sell it...

 

[andydubz]

If 16k was deposit plus 25%... how much was the total conversion cost?

£21k We had the Vulcan glide bed 3 seater, poptop, solar, diesel heater, kitchen, main power, upholstery and some other stuff. We were going all in to take our two children around the country side.

 

[andydubz]

thanks for sharing, I feel your pain. But without wanting to sound unsympathetic, will people never learn, always, always pay at least a couple of hundred quid on credit card, that way you get protection for the whole amount. It’s a no brainer. If the company refuses to take a part deposit on CC, walk away.

I didn't see anyone mention it here and I went through loads of threads doing research last year. Would be worth pinning the advise to this forum, but better I post this to hopefully stop someone else falling into this trap?

 

[doncarlyon]

Do you have any of the parts or just the van with a hole in the roof?

 

[andydubz]

Do you have any of the parts or just the van with a hole in the roof?

Just the van with the hole. They fitted windows and wiring. We tried to claim parts for our van but the workshop was empty when we arrived to get the van. They had about 7 vans in there being worked on when we went in during the conversion. I guess they stopped ordering parts knowing they were going under.

That's why I don't see us getting and money back from the insolvency, they have nothing to sell to raise funds.

 

[doncarlyon]

Which poptop was being fitted? Would be worth speaking to that company to see if they can finish the job for you as the cutout will probably be specific to their design.

 

[andydubz]

Which poptop was being fitted? Would be worth speaking to that company to see if they can finish the job for you as the cutout will probably be specific to their design.

Good shout, it was WestDubs, I can call them next week. Thanks.

 

[Bav]

No ones going to pay good money for it.

I meant use a loan/CC to get a poptop, then sell-on.

 

[andydubz]

I meant use a loan/CC to get a poptop, then sell-on.

Gotcha. I think we still want this to happen and selling the van will cost us more to buy another one in the long run. It was hard to find a DSG T6 T28 that wasn't really expensive.

If we can get the pop top and the seats fitted, we can use it for day trips with the kids. Struggling to deal with this all to be honest as we've had the van for almost 12 months, waiting to get it in for a respray, then waiting for a slot for conversion. It's going to be another 1, 3, 6+ months before we can use it for anything.

 

[Bav]

Gotcha. I think we still want this to happen and selling the van will cost us more to buy another one in the long run. It was hard to find a DSG T6 T28 that wasn't really expensive.

If we can get the pop top and the seats fitted, we can use it for day trips with the kids. Struggling to deal with this all to be honest as we've had the van for almost 12 months, waiting to get it in for a respray, then waiting for a slot for conversion. It's going to be another 1, 3, 6+ months before we can use it for anything.

Feel for you, mate - I'd be distraught in your position. I hope you find a viable route to completing your conversion.

 

[Salty Spuds]

I didn't see anyone mention it here and I went through loads of threads doing research last year. Would be worth pinning the advise to this forum, but better I post this to hopefully stop someone else falling into this trap?

It’s basic large purchase 101. Doesn’t matter what you’re buying be it a car/laptop/or new carpet, always pay part of the deposit on CC. You get section 75 protection under the consumer credit act for transactions between £100-£30000.

 

[doncarlyon]

Get the basics done so you can start using it.

 

[soldas]

Brutal. Sorry this has happened.

Beg, borrow and steal to get the pop top finished. Find a cheap or 2nd hand R&R bed and get that fitted. Tidy up what you can. Grab a power station and get using it.

Upgrade as you can. Might not be the high end finish you dreamed at the started but upgrade bit by bit and in time your get the van you want.

You can do it. Every job you need to do on the van someone here has done before and can give you a step by step guide. And youtube youtube youtube.