Keith Gooden
In today’s episode of the Motorhome Matt podcast…
Matt Sims
We hear from Clare, who sold a motorhome through a dealer last year but is yet to receive her money.
Keith Gooden
And we’re back with another Alan Rogers campsite of the month.
Matt Sims
And we answer your questions on spare tyres, fitting a bike rack and whether to fit a diesel heater.
Keith Gooden
Welcome to the Motorhome Matt podcast. I’m Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And I’m Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
Industry insights and expert advice for the world of motorhomes, caravans and campervans, and it’s brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com.
Matt Sims
Now, please do remember to follow on your favourite podcast app and click subscribe and the little bell on YouTube so new episodes get alerted directly to you. Our YouTube channel is brought to you by www.arobasecreative.co.uk,
Matt’s product of the week
Keith Gooden
Let’s delve and dive into the podcast world straight away then, shall we, Matt, with our www.thatleisureshop.com product of the week. What is it? Here’s a clue.
Matt Sims
It is actually a windbreak. And if you’re watching on YouTube, look at the colour. This is bright orange. So we sell a range of these windbreaks from Maypole. We’ve got orange ones, we’ve got blue ones, grey ones, all sorts. We have loads. In fact, we bought all of the orange ones from Maypole. So if you want an orange windbreak – very inexpensive windbreaks, they are too. They’re less than £40. And we’ve got all the orange ones that they made, and the blue ones as well!
Keith Gooden
This is a James Bond zipper noise. Do it again. Do it again.
Matt Sims
You like that? That’s me opening it. That’s exciting. Again, these are really easy to get back in the bag! Really easy to fold up.
Keith Gooden
Which is a big deal, as we’ve discussed before of the podcast.
Matt Sims
It’s a three panel windbreak. They’ve got a clear panel at the top so you can see through them, four poles, they come with guy ropes and with tent pegs. Easy. Brilliant on a windy day.
Keith Gooden
Not four candles.
Matt Sims
It’s not a Two Ronnies sketch, no, it’s four poles.
Keith Gooden
The four poles, not four candles.
Matt Sims
That’s a different part of the world.
Keith Gooden
There you go. £49.99 of your English money!
Matt Sims
But make sure you go to www.thatleisureshop.com and use the code MOTORHOMEMATT to get 10% off.
Campsite of the month
Matt Sims
It’s time for our now regular feature – campsite of the month, brought to you by Alan Rogers. And here he is. Hi, Alan!
Rob Fearn
Matt, we’ve been doing this for six months. Surely you know by now my name’s Rob, not Alan.
Matt Sims
Well, you’ve got his name on your T shirt. To me, you’ll always be Alan.
Rob Fearn
Thanks.
Matt Sims
Anyway, so this month, where are we off to?
Rob Fearn
So we’re going to Luxembourg this month.
Matt Sims
I love Luxembourg. Beautiful place.
Rob Fearn
You’ve been?
Matt Sims
I have, actually. In fact, it was back in the ’90s, pre the Euro. And we were on a motorbike, we’d been riding for about five hours, decided to stop, pulled off the motorway and stop. We went into a some kind of bar or cafe, and were asked to pay in a currency we didn’t have. It was the Luxembourg Franc. We offered French francs. They went, “No, no.” I went, “What do you mean? Where are we?” We didn’t even know we were in Luxembourg. Beautiful city.
Rob Fearn
It’s easy to miss, though, isn’t it?
Matt Sims
It is very small. Yeah, true. It’s easy to just keep going and go, “Oh, that was Luxembourg!”
Rob Fearn
Stunning scenery, and great countryside.
Matt Sims
Beautiful city as well. Yeah, so the campsite this month won the Family Award.
Rob Fearn
It did, yeah. It’s called Europacamping Nommerlayen, and we gave it the award because it’s absolutely fantastic for families. It’s got three pools, one of which can be covered. It’s got a big dome that goes over the top. It’s got a huge slide, a bit like a toboggan, but in a straight line on land, you’re not ending up in the pool. But you go down that in sacks, so you can pick up a fairly good speed. It’s about 150 meters long.
Matt Sims
Listening, you sound like you’ve done it!
Rob Fearn
Yeah, yeah. Great fun.
Matt Sims
You’ve done it, yeah, yeah.
Rob Fearn
Absolutely.
Matt Sims
Is there a video?
Rob Fearn
No, I don’t think there is, actually!
Matt Sims
Next time, next time. How many pitches has it got?
Rob Fearn
Yeah, it’s pretty big, this site. It’s 360 touring pictures, all of which have got electric hookup and water on site. Really good facilities, toilets and showers wise, a fantastic restaurant, a lovely little bar, and it’s perfect if you wanted to visit Luxembourg and the surrounding area.
Matt Sims
So why did it win the Family Award?
Rob Fearn
Mainly down to that pool. It’s absolutely fantastic, the facilities in their pool complex.
Matt Sims
Okay. And there’s kids’ entertainment I hear as well.
Rob Fearn
There is in the high season. There’s kids clubs, entertainment for the whole family, lots for everyone to do, no cheesy entertainment. It’s all it’s all pretty tasteful. Really, really authentic.
Matt Sims
Brilliant. And what can we expect to see in Luxembourg itself?
Rob Fearn
So you’ve got Luxembourg City itself, which is built on a valley. So you’ve got the river at the bottom, and there’s Vianden Castle nearby, or hop over the border into Germany and the Moselle Valley.
Matt Sims
One thing, Alan, about this campsite is it was one of the first innovators with pay as you go electricity, which is something we’ve been seeing a big increase this year. In fact, back in the spring, we did a podcast episode on exactly this with a campsite here in North Somerset. But tell us a bit more about that.
Rob Fearn
Yeah. So Eline, the campsite manager, introduced pay as you go electricity about seven years ago now. So they’re a really early adopter of the technology. You get six kilowatt hours per day when you arrive on the site.
It’s done by a little card system. If you run out, you can top up, and if you’ve got any credit remaining at the end, you get your money back from that. So, yeah, it’s helped them save on their electricity consumption. And you know, it’s better for the environment as well.
Matt Sims
Yeah, absolutely. I think that’s the big outcome from charging for electric – we become very acutely aware how much we’re using. Much more mindful. And that’s because we’re paying for it – we use less. So when is this site open?
Rob Fearn
It’s open from the start of March until early November. So quite a long season. Price wise, it’s a mid-range price. £25 upwards in the low season. Obviously a little more in the high season.
Matt Sims
So if you’re heading to Luxembourg… what’s the name of the site again?
Rob Fearn
It’s Europacamping Nommerlayen.
Matt Sims
Brilliant. Thanks, Alan. So if you want to find out more about all of the Alan Rogers award winning sites, you can do so at mhmp.info/alanrogers. Cheers, Alan!
Motorhome owner defrauded by a dealership
Keith Gooden
It’s the Motorhome Matt podcast. I’m Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And I’m Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
Brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com. Let’s talk about the main part of the podcast today shall we, Matt? Clare, last summer in our episode on people flipping their motorhomes – you might remember back during the pandemic, the supply of motorhomes was interrupted.
People had orders in but by the time they got the motorhome, the motorhome was worth quite a bit more than what they paid for it. And so they would look to flip it and make a profit and take some money out of it, much like you do with houses. But it was motorhomes this time. We spoke to Clare last summer, so let’s hear what the update in Clare’s story is, Matt.
Matt Sims
Well, the first thing to happen for Clare is it took a lot longer to sell than she was thinking it would take. So she was waiting for months to get this motorhome sold and get her money back and make a profit. Meanwhile, she’d gone and bought another motorhome so she could carry on with her holiday. And I spoke to her.
She was in Croatia in her now owned motorhome, whilst this other brand new one was back up for sale. Anyway, three or four months later, it did sell. But here we are, nearly a year on, and she still hasn’t received the money!
Keith Gooden
And we can confirm a police investigation is taking place. However, we have removed identification details of everyone involved apart from Clare for legal reasons.
Matt Sims
Clare, it’s so good to see you again. Thank you for coming back on the podcast. I just wish it was better circumstances. So tell me what’s happened.
Clare Howell
Well, unfortunately, I am now embroiled in a wide fraud investigation. What I thought was a very innocent transaction, purchasing a brand new motorhome, last spring, having a company offer to broker a sale of it, I’ve never received any payment for the sale, yet I paid in full for the motorhome. It’s just the most devastating experience.
I found out in February of this year, when I got an email out of the blue from a finance company chasing down the vehicle, that there was even finance on it, which I didn’t know anything about. And they told me to contact North Yorkshire Police. And from that, I found out that there was a huge fraud investigation underway with this company, and that I was a victim.
Matt Sims
And the directors, I understand, were arrested.
Clare Howell
That’s right. Yeah, the police issued a press release on the first of May saying that three people were arrested and questioned and released pending further investigation, and that some evidence was seized. I’ve been in direct contact with the chief investigating officer at the police. 10, 15 minutes ago, I got an update from him, and he said that now some 120 victims have come to light.
Now, the last time I spoke to him, it was about 50. Before that, when I initially found out, it was 30. So it’s a massive case, and there are so many innocent people that have been affected by it. I’ve just this morning made contact with another victim.
It’s very difficult to find who has been a victim and to what extent, because people are naturally very closed about their own personal issues. But, I mean, I’ve chosen to speak because I’m in a desperate situation. And I launched a GoFundMe campaign because I haven’t got the money to start my own legal process, even though I was advised to do that by the police. So yeah, that’s where we are.
Matt Sims
And how is all this making you feel, Clare? What’s its impact on you?
Clare Howell
I can’t tell you, Matt. Honestly, it’s totally all consuming. And literally, I wake up in the middle of the night, three, four in the morning, and I’m just going over and over in my head, how can this have happened? What can I do?
And I’ve tried every angle, from going direct to the Erwin Hymer Group, who own the Etrusco brand, to the GoFundMe campaign, just constantly trying to think of angles, ways that I can try and get help and information.
I mean, the police have said, you know, there’s very little hope of me getting anything back from the criminal investigation. So, you know, to lose £61,500 at age 59 with really no prospect of getting that back, being able to earn that back in my working lifetime… it’s just devastating.
Matt Sims
Presumably, the police investigation is going to run for some time before this case goes to court and we see the outcome of that. It could be two years, you said. Is that right?
Clare Howell
It may well even be longer than that. The police said to me that it’ll take them at least two years to gather enough evidence to put together a case to the CPS. Then the CPS has to review it all, and then they decide if they’re going to take legal action, and then it goes through the courts. So given the escalation in the number of victims that have been uncovered, I would say that two years is now no longer even a realistic estimate. I would say it’ll be much longer than that.
Matt Sims
Well, Clare, we will be following the story with real interest, and we would like to keep in touch and see where this all goes for you. Hang in there. And from all of us here, we wish you all the very, very best.
Clare Howell
You know, you’ve been brilliant, Matt. You’ve been so supportive, and I’m so grateful. Thank you.
Keith Gooden
That’s Clare Howell, who tried to sell her motorhome through a dealer but still hasn’t received the money for it. We will follow the story and keep you updated and also with the police investigation that’s taking place or and whether charges follow.
Audience Q&A
Keith Gooden
It’s the Motorhome Matt podcast. I’m Keith Gooden.
Matt Sims
And I’m Motorhome Matt.
Keith Gooden
It’s brought to you by www.thatleisureshop.com. Time for our Q&A, our questions and answers. It’s where Motorhome Matt answers your questions, and if he doesn’t know, he will ask somebody who does. So we’ll get that answer for you. Colin Coulthard is in Harrow. Harrow, Colin. I’ve done that joke before.
Colin Coulthard
Just listening to your article on punctures – we don’t have a spare tyre, so if you have a puncture, it’s either using the gel or getting towed to a repair shop where they can repair the puncture. Either way, do we need to keep the vehicle jack in the garage, or can we leave it at home to save weight? Thanks a lot.
Keith Gooden
So what should Colin in Harrow do then, Matt?
Matt Sims
That’s brilliant. Only Colin would come up with this question, I have to say. What a great question, Colin. Thank you. So Colin’s carrying his tyre gel around so he hasn’t got a spare wheel. And what he’s asking is, “Well, I haven’t got a spare wheel. Why do I need to carry my jack? It’s impacting my payload.”
The reality is, Colin, in the UK, you don’t need to carry a jack. What’s the point? If you’ve got a puncture and you’re going to use the gel, you don’t need a jack to do that. And arguably, would you want to be putting a motorhome up on one of the flimsy little jacks they usually come with?
It’s worth noting though, Colin, in Italy, you legally have to carry a spare wheel, as you do in Spain, where you also legally have to carry the tools to change it. So you would have to take your jack to Spain. Otherwise, everywhere else, if you’re going to get a tyre fitted, then you’re going to go to a place where they’ve got their own jack. So no, you don’t need to carry it with you. Great idea.
Keith Gooden
Alan’s in Sevenoaks. “Hi guys. Will fitting a bike rack to the rear of a 6.99 meter motorhome take the length over seven meters, because it sticks out a bit, with regards to the French autoroute system? Therefore, will you be charged more if you do so, and if you do how much more? Thanks,” says Alan in Sevenoaks.
Matt Sims
It’s a good question, and in my experience, no. Provided the bike rack’s folded up, then you may well be just over seven meters. I have crossed many a tollbooth and gone on many a ferry and the Le Shuttle, and I’ve never been charged for a bike rack being fitted, which means our motorhome was over the threshold, which is seven meters.
As soon as you fold the bike rack down, yes, you’re likely to be charged for it. But my experience is no. If you have a different experience where your bike rack was folded up, so not in use, and you were over seven meters, did you get charged? I’d love to know.
Keith Gooden
Tony Roberts is of no fixed abode – formerly Cumbria. It sounds to me like he lives permanently in his motorhome. “Hi, Matt, currently we are full time in our Auto-Trail Comanche touring the UK and the EU when permitted by our 90-day allowance. We have found that in the cooler climes the blown air heating just does not cut it, especially at the cabin, and even less so when it’s just on gas with no mains to boost the fans speed.”
Matt Sims
“We are considering fitting a diesel heater to supplement our heating and provide an alternative backup when refillable LPG is hard to find. Also, with more sites now charging separately for electricity, especially in the EU – thanks for your podcast on this – and the primary electricity use being heating, would you recommend this? Professionally installed, of course. Note, we previously chatted about Bristol Caravans, but they don’t fit them.”
Keith Gooden
There you go, Matt. What do you recommend?
Matt Sims
Well, as a complementary solution to your gas or electric heating, gas, of course, is much more powerful. A diesel heater is a great idea. You can buy it everywhere. And it does get cold in the cab. You get that draft coming through the cab floor. I would also consider, though, and perhaps try this first before you embark on the expenditure of a diesel heater, a windscreen and bonnet cover.
Now, if you Google these, you’ll find that brands like TaylorMade and Polar Technologies do make a windscreen and bonnet cover. Basically it covers all the bonnet and the front bumper. You wrap it around, and it helps prevent the draft. They do work really well, and the ones I Googled were all less than £100. So that might be worth considering first before you embark on fitting a diesel heater.
Keith Gooden
Thanks for your question there, Tony.
Ask Matt
Keith Gooden
So if people want to ask Matt a question for the next podcast, what should they do?
Matt Sims
Please do. Head to mhmp.info/askmatt. Hit the orange button and record your question. Please tell us where in the world you are. Or you can fill in the form, and we’ll read it out for you.
Keith Gooden
Pew pew, leave us a review.
Matt Sims
You’re a poet again. mhmp.info/review. We love to collect your reviews.
Keith Gooden
We really do love reading them. And you can subscribe on YouTube as well.
Matt Sims
Please do – hit the button, hit the bell. And our YouTube channel is brought to you by www.arobasecreative.co.uk.
