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We rented this campervan for almost three weeks for a tour of Denmark and southern Sweden. We'd like to share our experience. Everything went well during the intake and introduction for renting the camper. After the handover and the start of our holiday, the gas bottle turned out to be empty just a few days later (along with a few other technical issues). We were told that a full bottle had been provided. We don't know exactly how this happened (the gas bottle itself, a broken refrigerator, the boiler, or something else), but the fact is that this shouldn't happen. Dutch/German DIN bottles haven't been available in Scandinavia for a long time (15-20 years). Refills weren't possible, and despite extensive inquiries (and searching) at campsites, specialty stores, and a gas support center in northern Denmark, there was no way to exchange or refill the bottle. Only in southern Denmark, where many Dutch and German tourists flock, would this be possible with a bit of luck. For us, once we were on our way through Jutland and heading towards southern Sweden, that wasn't an option. Impact This had significant consequences for our holiday: • We could no longer cook normally in the camper. • The boiler broke down: no hot water, no showering. • The refrigerator only worked on electricity, which made us dependent on campsites. This meant we had to adjust our route, couldn't free camp as planned, and even skipped southern Sweden. Thanks to our camping experience, we were able to manage, but that's obviously not what you rent a campervan for. We might as well have been touring with a tent. Attitude of the landlord What was most disappointing for us was the way the landlord handled this. With a rent of over €2,500, you expect to be taken seriously and to be considered for solutions. Something technically wrong or broken can always happen. And we fully understand that distance plays a role in that. The difference is made by how we handle that. In our case: • Our explanation about the situation in Scandinavia was not accepted, even though we made a lot of effort on site and spent 1.5 days asking around and looking for a solution. • We were not asked about the impact on our holiday. • We weren't offered a workable solution or practical alternative (such as a separate stove). We ended up buying one ourselves so we could at least cook. • After everything, no form of compensation was discussed or offered, during or after the trip. What was most incomprehensible and painful for us: when we expressed criticism and indicated that we didn't feel taken seriously, this was not appreciated, and we were even told that the rental contract could be terminated immediately and that we had to return the camper to the Netherlands immediately. During your vacation—which you've been saving for and looking forward to for a year—that's a downright threat and shows absolutely no empathy. And to be clear: it's not our problem. It certainly felt that way. We felt left alone with the problem and even “bothered” or “whiners”. Ultimately, we had no choice but to swallow the consequences and arrange and buy things ourselves so we could continue. Otherwise, we would have had to cut our vacation short. Handling When returning the camper, we were asked if we had "had a nice holiday despite everything." The honest answer for us is: no, of course not. That seems clear to us, given what happened. It cost us unnecessary time, money, and energy, and caused us a great deal of stress and frustration. For a problem that shouldn't really be our problem. We simply didn't get what we paid for. Conclusion It could have been so easily done differently: acknowledge the problem, show understanding, offer a temporary solution (e.g., a stove), and perhaps discuss the costs and possible appropriate compensation later (least important to us). That would have been enough to look back with a good feeling and a 5-star review. Unfortunately, now disappointment and a bad taste prevail. We've learned our lesson and won't rent this way again. It's a shame.
Response from Martin
Beste Rob,
Zoals tijdens de vakantie in meerdere apps met jullie gecommuniceerd hebben we wel degelijk aangegeven de situatie serieus te nemen. Er is aangegeven dat we het zeer vervelend vonden als een vakantie anders verloopt als vooraf gepland.
Echter is de situatie anders als in jullie recensie omschreven.
Vooraf is niet aangegeven dat het plan was om 14 dagen te gaan wildkamperen. We hebben aangeboden om voor € 50,- een tweede gasfles mee te leveren. Daar is geen gebruik van gemaakt.
Als verhuurder zijn wij niet verantwoordelijk voor de gekozen bestemming en de eventuele bijkomende zaken waar in die landen op gelet moet worden.
Het is te verwachten dat je met een koel/vries kast in de camper en het gebruik van een boiler om te douchen tekort komt met een 6kg gasfles.
Er is tijdens de vakantie door ons aangeboden op onze kosten een verloop aan te schaffen zodat het wel mogelijk was om een gasfles in Denemarken aan te schaffen. Hier is geen gebruik van gemaakt en zelfs niet op gereageerd.
De reden dat we op een gegeven moment aangeboden hebben om de vakantie in te korten en dan de camper maar terug te brengen is het feit dat er op een minder correcte manier beschuldigingen werden geuit.
Nogmaals, we vinden het vervelend wat er gebeurt is, maar de genoemde kritiek is niet juist en niet correct.
Martin en Krista Koldenhof