Following a newspaper article we contacted a UK company who wanted people to go to Italy to collect their new fleet of motorhomes and drive them back to the UK on trade plates. As we have relations in South of France it seemed a nice idea. The new vans are to be collected mid-February and you then have 7 days to bring them back to this company's UK depot via whatever route suits you. Flights out and return ferry will have been prebooked.
Now the company have sent us various docs. to read and sign prior to departure. One of the forms is a hire agreement doc. The question is are we actually hiring the motorhome or working freelance on behalf of the company as vehicle delivery drivers driving on trade plates?
The second query concerns a £500 returnable security deposit to be paid prior to departure. This is to cover for any damage to the motorhomes internal fitments etc-not collision damage which is already covered by insurance. This is payable by credit card and is charged to my card immediately and then refunded within 7 days of our dropping the motorhome back at there UK depot "unharmed". Now previously when leaving credit card security deposits for car hire the hire companies have merely taken a swipe of the card and destroyed the swipe on return. Nothing was charged to the card in advance like this company is going to do. Comments???
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why bother? seems very one sided and of no real benefit to the person bringing it back.
let them do their own transporting
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Does seem rather fraught with worry (damage, time lmit, driving in winter , joepardy of deposit etc.) for what you're getting. There are bound to be lots of out-of-pocket expenses as well.
If you stay at relatives in S. of France, presumably the 'motorhome' aspect will be nugatory anyway - it's just going to be a long drive in a cumbersome vehicle. For the price & hassle involved, why not just book a budget airline to S.France to see the relatives? Probably work out cheaper without the responsibility.
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February weather in central and northern France is often pretty grim - more snow here than southern UK for example.
Let them to their own dirty work...
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"not collision damage"
Even if it's your own fault, or a minor scrape? I suspect that they are looking for excuses to hang on to your deposit, and it's quite a long way to drive a large and unfamiliar vehicle without a scratch. It sounds like they'll be waiting at the depot with a stop-watch, too!
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From how this arrangement is described - don't do it.
They are selling a motorhome and making a good profit and yet are using inexperienced people to get them to the UK. In fact I would not be happy buying a new motorhome that someone has already used and put miles on. Surely they should be transported somehow.
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