Urgent advice please! Error water pump - Belgium warranty

[acer]

Day one of our six week trip to Sicily started with us not being able to brush our teeth! Nothing from the tap and “error water pump” displayed.

I thought that this would just be a straightforward warranty issue, but the Belgian dealership that we are dealing with said that because we bought the vehicle in the UK, they cannot fix it under warranty. They say that they will invoice me, I can pay it, and then try to reclaim from VW once home. Does this sound right to you? I’m going back to them in an hour.

 

[WelshGas]

Day one of our six week trip to Sicily started with us not being able to brush our teeth! Nothing from the tap and “error water pump” displayed.

I thought that this would just be a straightforward warranty issue, but the Belgian dealership that we are dealing with said that because we bought the vehicle in the UK, they cannot fix it under warranty. They say that they will invoice me, I can pay it, and then try to reclaim from VW once home. Does this sound right to you? I’m going back to them in an hour.

Yes, that is how it works apparently. Claim back from VWUK.

 

[acer]

I’m relieved! I really don’t mind paying and claiming back.
(I do hate the cynic in me that questions whether it is possible for them to claim it back from VW themselves, but they just don’t want the extra admin.)

 

[colintfcolintf]

hope the rest of your holiday goes much much better

 

[WelshGas]

I’m relieved! I really don’t mind paying and claiming back.
(I do hate the cynic in me that questions whether it is possible for them to claim it back from VW themselves, but they just don’t want the extra admin.)

Have you tried VW Assistance?

 

[acer]

Have you tried VW Assistance?

I normally wouldn’t hesitate, but I was collecting a Calibed Prestige mattress from a VW shop in Belgium and the dealership was next door, so there was some good fortune in my misfortune!

 

[colintfcolintf]

I do hope you find that Calibed comfy

 

[acer]

The much less urgent issue is how easy or difficult

I do hope you find that Calibed comfy

It comes tightly wound up. I was advised to leave it unrolled for 24 hours to self puff up before sleeping on it. Fingers crossed!

 

[acer]

Interested to know people’s experiences of claiming back from VWUK in these / similar circumstances?

 

[colintfcolintf]

The much less urgent issue is how easy or difficult

It comes tightly wound up. I was advised to leave it unrolled for 24 hours to self puff up before sleeping on it. Fingers crossed!

I'm 99% sure mine direct from the factory near Koln was folded not rolled up. maybe they roll then up to ship to Belgium? anyway, i'm sure it will be good

 

[WelshGas]

Interested to know people’s experiences of claiming back from VWUK in these / similar circumstances?

Extended 5 year Warranty, is it not available no more?

I can't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to buy the factory extended warranty - it is still on the VW Commercial website after all. https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/en/service-accessories/warranties/extended-warranty.html. The brochure that you can download is pretty slim. I've attached...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[calibusje]

So, Sicily? I don't have six weeks of vacation in a row but next summer this can be a destination for us.. but not yet decided. Advice?
TIA

 

[acer]

I'm 99% sure mine direct from the factory near Koln was folded not rolled up. maybe they roll then up to ship to Belgium? anyway, i'm sure it will be good

Folded in half long ways and then rolled. Once the banding tape was cut it unfurled into life within seconds. We’ve left it to breathe on its own for the night while we sleep up top tonight - in the Ghent IKEA car park.

 

[acer]

Those lovely people at VW Ghent found a way to do the job without charge under warranty. They were excellent from start to finish. I can very much recommend them.

A similar experience in Germany 7 or 8 years ago also meant me turning up in desperation at a VW dealer, this time with 2 kids in tow. They again just stopped what they were doing to solve our problem.

I really can’t imagine a UK dealer dropping everything like these guys did.

 

[acer]

So, Sicily? I don't have six weeks of vacation in a row but next summer this can be a destination for us.. but not yet decided. Advice?
TIA

Steady! We’re not out of Belgium yet.
More generally clear lines of demarcation helps. Mrs Acer does the activity / route planning and I do the camping / driving.

Oh! And Mrs Acer does 30 minutes of Duo Lingo a day for the past 5 years and then leaves me to speak to the locals in my best 40 year old forgotten GCSE French!!

Edit: we will of course pass on our tips once we have had the experience