Bloomfields/Nissan Horseboxes

cbmcts said:
If Nissan can't provide a suitable service within a reasonable distance or time, it's worth arguing that it's an unfair term to insist on only main dealers doing the work and threatening/taking it through a formal complaints process https://www.themotorombudsman.org/consumers/our-codes-of-practice/new-car-code

Be very wary of Toomey Southend, you'll be lucky to see your box before Easter. They are notorious for how slowly they repair private customer vehicles. Your first appointments is just for diagnostics, then it's another appointment at least a month later to do the work if - big if - they can get the parts...

ETA. If they insist it's got to travel, tell them that it's up to them to transport it there and back plus provide a suitable courtesy box :) You might find them more prepared to negotiate :)
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This is fast turning into a nightmare. I just had a lot of abuse from Vicky Louise on the Dressage forum on Facebook and intend talking to Helen Moody about her appalling attitude and now I read this!
 
ester said:
There is? just further away than you’d like?I am beginning to lose all hope
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We would be prepared to travel a bit but having just read below on this forum about Toomeys at Southend which seem to be the only ones that have a large enough workshop I am beginning to lose hope!
 
I didn’t see the abuse, seemed like they were waiting for a further update from you if struggling. You seem pretty stuck on your contract being with Bloomfields but manufacturers warranties transfer all the time. As they’ve said bloomfields can’t touch the mechanics and they were going to try help find other options if you got back to them. I’m genuinely pretty confused what you expected them to do about it? Have it back and take it to another Nissan themselves?
 
ester said:
I didn’t see the abuse, seemed like they were waiting for a further update from you if struggling. You seem pretty stuck on your contract being with Bloomfields but manufacturers warranties transfer all the time. As they’ve said bloomfields can’t touch the mechanics and they were going to try help find other options if you got back to them. I’m genuinely pretty confused what you expected them to do about it? Have it back and take it to another Nissan themselves?
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So far Bloomsfields have not been much help. We would take it to a Nissan garage if we could find one with a big enough workshop. If you bought a bridle from your local tack shop and it fell to bits it would be up to the tack shop to sort it our with the manufacturer.
 
And you’ve got it booked in to one with a big enough workshop so still not sure what you are wanting from Bloomfields, so they probably don’t know either
 
I can see where OP is coming from re those fb comments - no employee should be responding like that, especially not from what appears to be their personal account, nor in a random group. They need some social media training.

Interesting their website states 'if there is an issue, we know exactly how to solve it and have people on hand to do so usually within 48 hours'. Given the cost of their boxes and reputation, you'd think they'd be more willing to help you access the right place to use the warranty. It wouldn't be hard for them to know where their boxes can be serviced, it won't be the first time it's been asked.
 
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onemoretime said:
We would be prepared to travel a bit but having just read below on this forum about Toomeys at Southend which seem to be the only ones that have a large enough workshop I am beginning to lose hope!
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If I were you, I would clarify with Toomeys that they have capacity to actually do the work if needed on the 9th ie not just a 10 minute diagnostic appointment booked and book on a day where they do have time to finish the job. You might be shocked by the date offered though and do it by email rather than over the phone...they're a nice enough lot but if they told me it was a sunny day, I'd walk to the door to check for myself! They had a friend of mines car for 5 months to change an engine under warranty - she's much nicer than me, I'd have sued them after month one. Another friend had to have her car removed from them by tow truck to another garage after it had been there for 4 weeks waiting for a cambelt change as they said they couldn't get the parts (really??) It was back on the road 2 days later with a new cambelt fitted elsewhere. No courtesy car given in either case by the way. I bought my car from them with a service package and after a full service with the first MOT due, told me that they couldn't let me take it as there was over £1.5k worth of work that needed doing that was all MOT fails, brakes/tyres/suspension type of stuff and it was dangerous. I really enjoyed producing the day old MOT certificate from another garage which was a pass with no advisories. That was an interesting conversation. I did report them to trading standards for that and have never used them since. There are many, many more stories like the above but they are the ones I know for a fact are 100% true and accurate.

However, if the date offered when they could do any repairs is months away, that is grounds to go back to Nissan head office and ask them to find an alternative garage to do the work locally or to take responsibility to transport the box to one of their main dealers and return it to you in a reasonable amount of time.

I know if Bloomfields as retailer have a legal responsibility (worth checking?) to assist but common sense should tell them that good customer service is key to a successful business.
 
onemoretime said:
This is fast turning into a nightmare. I just had a lot of abuse from Vicky Louise on the Dressage forum on Facebook and intend talking to Helen Moody about her appalling attitude and now I read this!
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Whilst I completely sympathise with what must be an enormously frustrating situation, those posts on fb were absolutely not abusive. It wasn't the right approach from the Bloomfields employee but she appeared to be trying to help and it sounded like she'd been expecting a call back from you. You were pretty aggressive in your responses in my opinion.

I'd be getting a quick and cheap diagnostics check elsewhere whilst persisting with Nissan and also requesting a list of garages authorised for warranty work from them. All in writing, of course. Should you have to do this? Probably not. But do you want to be right or do you want to be happy (as the saying goes...)?
 
Onemoretime I’ve just been and read the Facebook page.

Firstly you are right to be annoyed. If you buy a Horsebox with a warranty it’s not unreasonable to expect to the warranty to be relatively easily fulfilled. And as you bought the box via Bloomsfields I also agree it is their responsibility to facilitate that.

BUT, despite the employee of Bloomfield on Facebook probably should not have engaged immediately I have to say it was you coming across as disproportionally angry, unreasonable and unfair. Sometimes issues like this do just take a little time to resolve and escalating so quickly in a quite inflammatory way isn’t always going to do you any favours. Take a step back and a deep breath and engage with a more open mind. Honey gets you what you want.
 
conniegirl said:
Surely its Nissan commercial vehicles that you need to contact, not a bog standard car dealership.

Sometimes known as Nissan Van centers.
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Nissan commercial is for std height vans and pickups in the UK. They don't make anything bigger for the UK market (so anything over 3.5 van is an import).
This problem is because a van has been built with a bigger body on the back, a horsebox.
Hence the workshops not being geared up for taller vehicles than std van height.
OP needs to come to an arrangement that the box can go to local dealer who can take the diagnostics trolley out to the vehicle by a few yards at their workshop, then depending on what is found, any works that need to be done could be carried out at another reputable commercial outfit.
Not rocket science OP. Just discuss with Nissan for the ways and means.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Bloomfields absolutely should be assisting you to get this resolved ASAP. Nissan makes the chassis and must have access to facilities to get warranty repairs done as necessary.

Are there some wires crossed with people who are more used to dealing with cars, and are applying Nissan car warranty practices (Nissan dealer only) to a 3.5t vehicle?

ETA is there a Nissan commercial vehicle section you can get hold of?
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Mine is a Renault, and has to go to a commercial centre. The standard Renault van centres only do small vans, not the enlarged horseboxes. The commercial centre is in a different town/county, but they will collect and deliver.
onemoretime said:
My husband has spoken to Nissan UK and they say they are going to look into it and that's all we hear! Our contract is with Bloomsfields and as you say they should be sorting it out but dont seem to be interested!
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I bought one from Bloomfields. It was done on paper that I bought the van myself, brand new, although they did negotiate the price down for me. That meant I was also first (and only) owner listed on the V5 document. They then built the horsebox. Timeline wise, I paid for the box in one go, so Bloomfields 'loaned' me the money for the platform cab until the box was finished. As such, I would say that my contract was with Bloomfields for the horsebox element, but directly with Renault for the platform cab. It also means the vehicle has only one owner.

Are you listed at the first and only owner on the V5 document? I would say that, if you are, your contract for the vehicle part is directly with Nissan, as you in effect bought the vehicle directly from them.
 
just read the thread on BD FB page......................... OP coming cross as the most rude, aggressive, pain in the arse customer........

Vicky from Blomfields has been nothing but polite and factual.

We have to take our Renault to the Renault commercial vehicle franchise to get any warranty work done FWIW
 
Hi there

I work in a commercial dealership in the South East. Unless Nissan have been told specifically about the conversion (which I doubt), Nissan would not be able to or be informed enough to provide the workshop size you need, you would be wasting your time even pursuing that one. Their guarantee would only apply to the factory finished vehicle they produced, not a conversion as far as size.

Personally I would look for a commercial garage who have capability to plug your Nissan in and go from there, for the hassle in getting it seen in the first place by a Nissan garage, it's probably not worth it.
 
onemoretime said:
Thanks for your reply and support TP - I need it. The trouble is the warranty work has to be done by Nissan otherwise you invalidate the warranty. The horsebox is too big to fit into the workshop of all the Nissan dealers!! Bloomsfields are in partnership with Nissan who supply them with the chassis.
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As long as Nissan approve the work before it is carried out, it can be done by any commercial garage (by commercial i mean LCV or HGV specialist)
 
I think that legally (and I say think not know as I'm not 100% certain) that it's essentially nothing to do with Bloomfields.

If there was no warranty and the light came on, would you still be contacting Bloomfields about it or would you take it to a garage yourselves to get it resolved?

If the former, then I'm not sure legally how much responsibility Bloomfields would have for a vehicle they sold 3 years ago. Yes, it must be fit for purpose, but vehicles do have things go wrong with them, which is why warranties exist.

If the latter, then presumably you agree that without the warranty, it's nothing to do with Bloomfields anymore?

With regards to the warranty, the warranty contract is between you and Nissan, not Bloomfields. You bought the vehicle from Bloomfields, but the warranty was issued to you from Nissan. Therefore it's nothing to do with Bloomfields.

So unless you feel that Bloomfields are responsible for the vehicle forever, then I don't think it's their issue now.
 
JenJ said:
I think that legally (and I say think not know as I'm not 100% certain) that it's essentially nothing to do with Bloomfields.

If there was no warranty and the light came on, would you still be contacting Bloomfields about it or would you take it to a garage yourselves to get it resolved?

If the former, then I'm not sure legally how much responsibility Bloomfields would have for a vehicle they sold 3 years ago. Yes, it must be fit for purpose, but vehicles do have things go wrong with them, which is why warranties exist.

If the latter, then presumably you agree that without the warranty, it's nothing to do with Bloomfields anymore?

With regards to the warranty, the warranty contract is between you and Nissan, not Bloomfields. You bought the vehicle from Bloomfields, but the warranty was issued to you from Nissan. Therefore it's nothing to do with Bloomfields.

So unless you feel that Bloomfields are responsible for the vehicle forever, then I don't think it's their issue now.
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Also curious if you've had it for three years - how have you managed to have it serviced?
 
Might I suggest contacting
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
71 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 2BN

They are quite powerful, I had professional links in the past.
 
Squeak said:
Also curious if you've had it for three years - how have you managed to have it serviced?
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Just to say that the regular garage attached to the dealer we bought our 7m long 3.5t Bailey motorhome from does its routine annual servicing/MOT, but it had to go to a commercial Peugeot garage about 30 miles away for warranty work on the chassis.

Bailey do the habitation side of the warranty, they authorise the work via the dealer we bought it from.
 
teapot said:
I can see where OP is coming from re those fb comments - no employee should be responding like that, especially not from what appears to be their personal account, nor in a random group. They need some social media training.

Interesting their website states 'if there is an issue, we know exactly how to solve it and have people on hand to do so usually within 48 hours'. Given the cost of their boxes and reputation, you'd think they'd be more willing to help you access the right place to use the warranty. It wouldn't be hard for them to know where their boxes can be serviced, it won't be the first time it's been asked.
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Thanks TP. The nearest Nissan garage that can take it in their workshop is Southend which is over an hour away from us. My husband did take the offer of 9th December which was the earliest they could fit it in but we dont want to drive it with the engine management light on. What if it breaks down in the tunnel or anywhere for that matter. They will then say that we have ruined the engine and it is no longer covered by warranty. We certainly dont want that. This afternoon someone from Nissan actually phoned my husband and has said he is going to try and find a garage that will take it. This is the first proper response we have had from Nissan only generated by my FB post. We will wait to see if he comes back. It will have to go on a recovery truck as we cannot drive it in the state its in!

This has turned into a total nightmare, neither of us slept last night, my husband is just off to the hospital for a check up and does not want to get any more wound up that he already is. We certainly should not have had to go to these lengths to get a response from either Bloomfields or Nissan!
 
Caski said:
Might I suggest contacting
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
71 Great Peter Street
London
SW1P 2BN

They are quite powerful, I had professional links in the past.
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Is this the Ombudsman, if so many thanks. Im hoping that Nissan will sort something out but if not I will most certainly be contacting them.
 
Squeak said:
Also curious if you've had it for three years - how have you managed to have it serviced?
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We have been trying to contact Nissan for over a week but they would not return phone calls or messages and we were getting nowhere. So as we had bought the box brand new from Bloomfields we decided to contact them to see if they could help but they didn't seem to want to know either. The whole business is very frustrating and a complete windup!
 
CJoe said:
As long as Nissan approve the work before it is carried out, it can be done by any commercial garage (by commercial i mean LCV or HGV specialist)
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If Nissan had only responded to us with a reply like that we would not be in this mess but we would need their confirmation in writing.
 
CJoe said:
Hi there

I work in a commercial dealership in the South East. Unless Nissan have been told specifically about the conversion (which I doubt), Nissan would not be able to or be informed enough to provide the workshop size you need, you would be wasting your time even pursuing that one. Their guarantee would only apply to the factory finished vehicle they produced, not a conversion as far as size.

Personally I would look for a commercial garage who have capability to plug your Nissan in and go from there, for the hassle in getting it seen in the first place by a Nissan garage, it's probably not worth it.
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Nissan work in partnership with Bloomfields to supply the chassis for conversion so they know about horseboxes being built on their chassis.
 
Hallo2012 said:
just read the thread on BD FB page......................... OP coming cross as the most rude, aggressive, pain in the arse customer........

Vicky from Blomfields has been nothing but polite and factual.

We have to take our Renault to the Renault commercial vehicle franchise to get any warranty work done FWIW
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At no time was I rude on that thread. Vicky was the one being rude and in fact edited her post! How would you like to pay 50k for a horsebox and then get no support from either the seller or the chassis manufactuer when something goes wrong!
 
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