Caravan paid for but unable to collect, what if they go bust

whitejohn

Have paid in full for a caravan by bank transfer so no protection there.
Unable to collect due to COVID-19 and no idea when I will be able to collect.
If the limited company goes bust, can I get my caravan from the receivers on the basis that it is paid for and therefore technically mine?

[Deleted User]

You should be able to as long as you have proof of ownership i.e. receipt on headed paper from the company in question. You own the caravan, it just happens to be sitting on their premises until such a time as you can collect it.

whitejohn

camelot1971 said:

You should be able to as long as you have proof of ownership i.e. receipt on headed paper from the company in question. You own the caravan, it just happens to be sitting on their premises until such a time as you can collect it.

Thanks that's very reassuring at this difficult time. We have a PDF invoice with the chassis number and proof the money was paid into their account. Is that sufficient or shall I ask for a "paid in full receipt" as well?

SteveJW

I agree with Camelot1971 but ensure the receipt has the chassis No of the caravan on it
Possibly several similar looking caravans on site, dependant on the size of the dealer

eddddy

whitejohn said:

camelot1971 said:

You should be able to as long as you have proof of ownership i.e. receipt on headed paper from the company in question. You own the caravan, it just happens to be sitting on their premises until such a time as you can collect it.

Thanks that's very reassuring at this difficult time. We have a PDF invoice with the chassis number and proof the money was paid into their account. Is that sufficient or shall I ask for a "paid in full receipt" as well?

The more clear evidence you have the better. (But I guess you need to be a bit tactful - and maybe not tell somebody at the company that you're worried they'll go bust!)

But if things go wrong and it all ends up in court, it would be decided on the balance of probabilities (i.e. Is it more likely that you own the caravan, or that the company owns it.)

Just another thought - as you own the caravan, are you insuring it? For example, if it's vandalised, a tree falls on it, or it gets stolen.

Ectophile

But if the company does go bust, you should immediately contact the administrators to advise them that one of the caravans is yours.  Administrators will sell off anything that they can find to raise money.  It's important that you claim your caravan before they have a chance to do that.

knightstyle

As the caravan is yours you need to insure it and can register as a new owner with CRIS then if you do not get the caravan due to the bankruptcy you can claim on your caravan insurance. 
https://www.cris.co.uk/registration/

eddddy

knightstyle said:

...then if you do not get the caravan due to the bankruptcy you can claim on your caravan insurance. 

I'm not sure that insurance would cover that scenario.  Insurance would cover theft.

The risk the OP is worried about is that the dealer goes bust, and there is a dispute over ownership of the caravan.

• If the OP can prove ownership - the Administrator has to give the OP the caravan (or the value of the caravan, if the Administrator has inadvertently sold it).

• If the OP can't prove ownership, the Administrator wouldn't give the OP the caravan - but then the insurers won't pay a claim on a caravan which the OP can't prove they own

So insurance won't help.

Obviously, if the caravan is stolen at some point (whether there is a bankruptcy or not), then insurance should cover that, as long as the OP has followed all the security requirements etc, required by the policy.

whitejohn

eddddy said:

whitejohn said:

camelot1971 said:

You should be able to as long as you have proof of ownership i.e. receipt on headed paper from the company in question. You own the caravan, it just happens to be sitting on their premises until such a time as you can collect it.

Thanks that's very reassuring at this difficult time. We have a PDF invoice with the chassis number and proof the money was paid into their account. Is that sufficient or shall I ask for a "paid in full receipt" as well?

The more clear evidence you have the better. (But I guess you need to be a bit tactful - and maybe not tell somebody at the company that you're worried they'll go bust!)

But if things go wrong and it all ends up in court, it would be decided on the balance of probabilities (i.e. Is it more likely that you own the caravan, or that the company owns it.)

Just another thought - as you own the caravan, are you insuring it? For example, if it's vandalised, a tree falls on it, or it gets stolen.

Yes being tactful has been a problem. I have now insured it too.