Twigman Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 We've got a gig this weekend in Brussels. We're a 5piece and we have a merch stall. So at the beginning of October I book a 6 seater LWB crew cab van for 8/11-12/11. The hire company confirm the booking and take my moolah on 2nd October. Yesterday afternoon I get a phone call from the hire company telling me that they don't have any 6 seater crew cabs available, would I have a 5 seater SWB instead? WTAF? - they've had 5 weeks to tell me this - why wait until now? No - i wouldn't like a 5 seater SWB instead - I ordered a 6 seater LWB crew van for a reason - if I'd wanted a 5 seater SWB that's what i would have ordered! I tried to source a 6seater LWB from another source but it being so close to the booking I found nothing available. After much heated telephone action and some emails with their customer service I ended up accepting the 5 seater (I have no clue if all our kit+merch will fit in it) and putting one of our party on the Eurostar (at an additional cost of £308).....the hire company are 'considering' my claim for the cost of the Eurostar ticket. I won't be using that bunch of clowns again. I have another requirement for a 6 seater LWB crew cab or 6 seater splitter van for a gig in Amsterdam in December. Can anyone recommend a firm that won't let me down like this bunch of crooks. Thanks Quote
Steve Browning Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 I would suggest to check to make sure that you need to take everything you were taking. Does the venue have PA (it might have)? That might be teaching you to suck eggs but worth double checking that you are taking what you need. Not trying to be clever here, just practical in the circs. Quote
cetera Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 Name & shame. Terrible customer service like this needs to be known about.... Quote
Twigman Posted November 7, 2018 Author Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) There isn't a PA in the load: The load: 1x Bass 2x guitars 1x 61 key midi controller 2x synth modules 1x keyboard stand 1x synth module stand 1x full drum kit (kick,snare, 2x rack toms, floor tom, high hat) with cymbals 1x Bass cab (2x12) 1x bass head 2x 1x12 guitar combos 1x Saxophone Bag of percussion and leads 3 x pedal boards (cased) 1x large cardboard box of merch 1x large suitcase of merch 5x overnight bags That is the bare minimum required for a show. House supplies vox PA..... Edited November 7, 2018 by Twigman Quote
Twigman Posted November 7, 2018 Author Posted November 7, 2018 ....and now this bunch of crooks ask me for the postcodes of Donald Skinner and Pete Brown.......WHO? WHO THE F*** ARE THEY? apparently they're drivers on my booking !!??!! NO THEY ARE NOT! FFS Quote
Twigman Posted November 7, 2018 Author Posted November 7, 2018 Time to name and shame as this is now beyond a joke - I wonder what will be delivered (if anything) at 15.00 tomorrow https://www.nationwidehireuk.co.uk/vans-for-hire/lwb-6-seat-crew-van-2937/ Quote
Roger2611 Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Twigman said: Time to name and shame as this is now beyond a joke - I wonder what will be delivered (if anything) at 15.00 tomorrow https://www.nationwidehireuk.co.uk/vans-for-hire/lwb-6-seat-crew-van-2937/ I have never heard of them, they are not one of our customers, looking at the locations covered I would hazard a guess that these are just cross hiring from other companies as other than the Enterprise's, Europcar, Hertz and Avis of this world there are no independents big enough to cover that wide an area, give me your location and I will have a look at anyone I deal with that could cover your needs for future gigs.....I am currently running a six seater Transit Crew cab myself, it's brilliant, but that doesn't help you much! Quote
Twigman Posted November 7, 2018 Author Posted November 7, 2018 I would require delivery to (and collection from) Hemel Hempstead in Herts.... Next required Thursday Dec 13 to Monday Dec 17 - going to Amsterdam... Anyone used this lot?? : https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/ Quote
FinnDave Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Twigman said: Anyone used this lot?? : https://www.vansforbands.co.uk/ I asked them for a quote a few weeks ago for our three day stint in Germany next May, but haven't had an answer yet. Quote
ambient Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 Maybe they’ve had a breakdown or something, so your booking is unavailable? Quote
dmccombe7 Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 You should have asked for a van plus hire car at their cost to allow transit of gear and band. That's what your original boking was for. We have a local company that do Splitter vans in couple of sizes but they wouldn't cover your area i'm afraid. Dave Quote
Stingray5 Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 Not sure if Tiger Tours (Wembley) or Matt Snowball (London N7) might suit you. I've used both previously, albeit a few years ago, and had no complaints. Quote
fleabag Posted November 7, 2018 Posted November 7, 2018 6 hours ago, Twigman said: Time to name and shame as this is now beyond a joke - I wonder what will be delivered (if anything) at 15.00 tomorrow https://www.nationwidehireuk.co.uk/vans-for-hire/lwb-6-seat-crew-van-2937/ What a bunch of lame amateurs. Compensation should be the minimum response from that mob. I will be avoiding them if i ever need to book a van. Quote
bassfunk Posted November 8, 2018 Posted November 8, 2018 There's a touring crew van and driver group on Facebook. Plenty of self drive based vans in your area, a few are based around Heathrow. I'd always go with a specialist tour van hire over the regular hire companies. Quote
Twigman Posted November 23, 2018 Author Posted November 23, 2018 For Amsterdam I've booked a 9seater (luxury) splitter from vansforbands.co.uk Not much dearer than the cowboys above Hope to have a much better experience. 1 Quote
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