Community Forums

Motor7 · 02-02-2015, 05:08 AM

Tell the insurance company you want your dealer to come out and do the work since this guy was a no-show.

TQ60 · 02-02-2015, 09:03 AM

Tell your insurance adjuster that "most states" require folks performing these activities to be licensed and insured and it seems that they are side stepping that be "allowing" a "dealer" to send someone who is not properly trained for the service.

You should remind them that warranty requires all "all work and service" to be completed per manufacturer guidelines and usually that includes a service person authorized by the manufacturer.

Tell them that this round was a bust and it seems someone was trying to save a few bucks at your expense and since that went wrong they need to work with manufacturere direct and the manufacturer can facilitate the repair.

Animalangel · 02-03-2015, 06:24 AM

Well.... I waited till just about 1:30 pm yesterday to call Leslie, the rep I speak to at the managers insurance company (in case you folks would like to know: policy is with Allied Property and Casualty and is underwritten by Nationwide).

She was very surprised that "Vince" had not called or come over when he said he would and that I still hadn't heard from him at the time this particular call in to her.

I SAID "I don't know what you want to do about this but I don't think those folks want the business." I went on to tell her how I couldn't even get to look at the website without disabling my adblocking stuff and how they must be getting kickbacks. Further, I said that this "Vince" is NOT a technician and that according to the website he's in the "Paint and body" shop. It doesn't even say if he's a manager or technician or anything. I told her I didn't think he was qualified to come and take the measurements anyway.

SHE said that although he is in the paint and body shop he's done other work for them (the RV place and the insurance company) and everything has been good. Then she said she'd call over there as soon as we got off the phone to see what is going on. Before getting off the phone with me she says "A lot of these places are closed on Monday's so if I don't call you back it's because I had to leave a message" and I said "ok...." and she did not call me back.

So I'm thinking.... closed on Mondays??? This isn't a hair salon... these folks are selling RV's.. the BIG ones..... why would they be closed on Mondays? They'd be losing a lot of potential sales and other work (services and parts) income. I did not go through the whole disabling of my adblock again to check the store hours on the internet but I will.

If I don't hear anything by noon today, I'm calling her back and will demand they find another dealer/servicer. My particular dealer does not do mobile work so mine won't do it and they are also not an authorized Carefree dealer anyway. I was told I'd more than likely be getting new "after market" parts, not actual Carefree of Colorado parts, but everything would be warranted (the work by the servicer and the parts by whatever manufacturer they get them from).

The insurance company accepted responsibility for this last week Thursday (Jan. 29) and here we are... Tuesday, Feb.3 and nobody has been out here yet. I understand that is not the fault of the insurance company but come on..... find somebody who WILL come out here pronto. This craps been going on with the managers since Nov. 21 and was reported to the insurance BY ME on Jan. 16. I'm starting to get really pissed.....

Animalangel · 02-05-2015, 01:07 PM

Just to update..... today is Thursday, Feb. 5th and I just got off the phone with Leslie at Nationwide. I called her to let her know that it has now been a full week and that Vince over at Parliament Coach CLEARLY isn't interested in doing the job as I still have not seen him or heard from him.

I told her that even if he did show up at this point, I wouldn't let him do the job because I wouldn't feel comfortable with someone who is so hard to get ahold of and who doesn't care about me as a customer. I said that I don't care what his estimate/quote would be; I'd be looking for someone else to do the actual work so it very likely wouldn't be the amount he would come up with anyway.

FINALLY she is going to call another mobile awning contact she has to see if they have anyone in this area that can come out and do the estimate and possible repairs. I may not hear back until tomorrow but that's ok. I know I'm not the only person she's working with that needs work done.

Meanwhile, the managers have not been bothering me at all. The man who hit me still keeps walking back and forth between our vehicles (come through there at least 5 times in the last 20 minutes) but I think he's doing something on his vehicle. I just can't image what because, as usual, he's just walking around (in a nice button down shirt).

Motor7 · 02-05-2015, 07:27 PM

I think I know what is going on....it's all part of the "VORTEX"

Animalangel · 02-06-2015, 07:49 AM

Vortex? Um.... I'm thinking its something more like a "black hole from hell".

Anyway... It's Friday morning. Just got off the phone with Leslie again. She wanted to make sure I'm ok with her handing it over to some awning specialists that they deal with.

She explained that these folks will search for a mobile dealership that would come out and handle my awning replacement from start to finish and do everything in between, whatever that might be. I won't have to do anything. Of course I will keep my nose in what they are doing and make sure it's what I want!!!. After all is said and done, warranted, etc. they will send her the bill and she'll just pay them.

I requested she let them know NOT to call Parliament Coach and we laughed. She agreed completely and also intends to document and let "her people" know the problems we've had with them so they remove them from the list of prospective dealers or, at least, document that they are unresponsive AT ALL, let alone in a timely manner, so no one else has to go through this.

I should be hearing from these awning folks sometime today. I guess I'll keep you posted because there's no way of knowing if this case is actually closed or not.

Animalangel · 02-06-2015, 08:39 AM

AMAZING NEWS! I just hope it all happens like I was just told it would.

Got a call from Jennifer at the place that will do all the footwork for Nationwide as noted in my last post.

They will be ordering all Carefree of Colorado parts - an entire new awning system, with new awning fabric in my choice of color (the color I have now was discontinued) and everything -arms... whatever. EVERYTHING.

Then the authorized Carefree of Colorado dealer (Lakeland, Florida) will send a Carefree of Colorado authorized installation crew to come out here and install any and all parts they think I need (including the entire shebang if they feel it needs it).

Parts will all be ordered TODAY since I was able to supply her with all the part numbers, serial numbers, etc. of my current awning system. I should have my new awning installed in about 2-3 weeks or so. (Shipping takes 10 - 14 days via truck because I already checked on that with the manufacturer.)

Whatever parts they don't use they will send back for credit and bill the insurance for only what was actually installed and the labor, etc.

At this point, considering what I've been through with the manager and then Parliament Coach and the fact that the awning was hit way back in November. Nationwide is bending over backwards to get me everything I want. YAY ME!!!!!!

TQ60 · 02-06-2015, 09:18 AM

That is great news!

Being firm and having some background support almost always pays off!

Photos!

Now, during and after repair please!

TQ60 · 02-06-2015, 09:22 AM

Also...

Think about an upgrade...

Many awnings have an aluminum cover at the mh end that is just a couple slats.

When awning is stored it is covered and out of sun.

Ours is 1989 and still LIKE NEW.

The cost to upgrade existing not cheap for shipping and labor...but given your cast it is just difference in price for the slats so it may be real cheap so to speak.

Do it now and you will be happy...if not already done.

Animalangel · 02-07-2015, 05:07 AM

I was thinking about the upgrade with the awning cover with the slats because I love it - my RV neighbors have it next to me with a canvas awning.

BUT, here's the thing - technically speaking, TECHNICALLY, because of the floor issues in here that I am working on (have another thread started about that: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f50/need-...ml#post2414236) the trailer for all intents and purposes is considered "totalled".

Of course, I did not tell my insurance company this because they wouldn't have insured me and I needed insurance to get into this park. While living here, I am making the repairs as best I can without removing everything since I have no place to put it and no other living arrangements are to be had while doing the work.

Additionally, I plan to trade this in at some point. The new awning and all will certainly be helpful in that endeavor but I don't want to go overboard and lose anything in the deal. We're talking about a 2003 travel trailer, after all. If this were my Class A (that's what I want... it's my goal) then I would certainly do the upgrade but not in this vehicle. I'm pretty certain his insurance won't pay for an upgrade (and rightfully so) and I don't have the income to do it myself (I worry if I can make my basic living expenses from month to month - I only have $606 per month coming in) and money is a bit tight to say the least and putting it mildly. I'm doing the best I can with what I have to work with and upgrading the awning is just not in the cards.

I have to say though, waiting for the new awning is like a kid anticipating Christmas morning. And yes, I will certainly take before and after pictures for your viewing pleasure!

Animalangel · 02-08-2015, 12:37 PM

FUNNY THING.... guess who showed up yesterday (Saturday) at 5:30 pm completely unannounced to measure my awning? Yup.... Vince from Parliament Coach RV. I told him that we've already found someone else and all the parts are already ordered. Oh well...... sucks to be them, right?

Animalangel · 02-17-2015, 05:58 AM

WOOHOO!!!

Just got a call that my awning and all the parts are in. They'll be coming out on Wednesday next week (the 25th) to make the repairs.

RV Wizard · 02-18-2015, 02:21 AM

Awesome

Animalangel · 02-24-2015, 03:44 PM

Just a quick note to let you know that the awning replacement had to be rescheduled due to time constraints with scheduling for the mobile repair folks. It is now scheduled for March 3rd. I already have "before" pictures so I'll just post them here and that way after the repair is done, I'll post the "after" pics.

BTW, the scratch on the awning in the last photo is about 4 feet or so long. This is only a partial shot.