3 yrs old and got damp

[dazber]

hi all

just found out my pride and joy as got damp.. its 2005 abbey aventura 330.. been in touch with swift and they dont want to know.. aparently when i bought the van it only had a 3 yrs warranty, i've been told that a few months after i bought it the warranty was changed to a 6 yrs warranty.. i feel gutted.. it went in for its annual service and the technician found damp in top corner, apparently from an awning rail thats minus some sealant.. its been repaired now at a cost but i feel so let down by abbey/swift

anyone else have any bad dealings with them..

darrell

 

[Parksy]

If you bought your caravan from a dealers your sale agreement is between yourself and the dealership who sold the caravan to you.

Your gripe should be with them and not the caravan manufacturer.

Were you told when you bought the caravan that it had a six year warranty? If that is so then you might have a case under the sale of goods act with the dealers.

 

[Damian]

Darrell, I fail to see how the manufacturer has let you down.

The van was sold new with a 3 year warranty in 2005, it is now 2009, 4 years old, so out of warranty.

In lots of areas manufacturers increase warranty periods, but it is not retrospective, so you may have bought a car with a 3 year warranty only to find the next cars in had a 5 year warranty.

As long as the repair has been done properly all should be well in the future, but that is not to say you will never get water ingress at some point.

 

[JTQ]

Sad replies and a reflection of the industry.

Without doubt the manufacturer has let them down simply by making a substandard product, then hiding behind its guarantee.

For sure they and others will look elsewhere when next buying given this makers attitude to supporting its customers, guarantee or no guarantee.

 

[Dustydog]

Our previous caravan, new in 2005, was one of the first to come with a 6 year water ingress guarantee. They were able to give this because of improved bonding methods and better sealants.

Darrell has been unlucky but I fail to see how he can say it's the dealers fault. Where do you draw the line? The current 6 years warranty is generous but is subject to a number of provisos.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Parksy]

It's sad indeed that a 2005 caravan is damp but unfortunately substandard products are made by a variety of manufacturers.

If I was Darrell I'd be asking questions of the dealer. That has to be the first point of contact because that's who sold the caravan to him.

No private individual buys from a manufacturer so it's up to the dealership who sold and presumably serviced the caravan and if Darrell is seeking redress he should start with them.

The manufacturers customer is the dealer and in this case Darrell is the dealers customer so it's the dealership who should be supporting it's customers if they want to stay in business.

 

[Guest]

No I dont think that will wash, I agree with darrell, Why was my first van a 1970's still bone dry when I sold it in the early 9o's, my 85 van bone dry sold it in 2000, my 89 bone dry when I sold it last year? hope my new one will last has long without any damp....somehow though I dont think so.

 

[Parksy]

???

I'm not trying to defend the manufacturers of caravans I'm trying to offer Darrell some advice.

I think that I should point out that I have no connection with the caravan industry so it's no good just stating that you don't 'think that will wash', we're dealing with facts.

 

[Rick1]

???

I'm not trying to defend the manufacturers of caravans I'm trying to offer Darrell some advice.

I think that I should point out that I have no connection with the caravan industry so it's no good just stating that you don't 'think that will wash', we're dealing with facts.

I didn`t read that Daryl was having ago at the manufactuer, just that they didn`t want to know. Would it have been so hard for them to offer a bit of advice? the same as what you are doing here, or maybe phoned the dealer on his behalf. with suggestions to help.

No too much effort

 

[Dustydog]

Well Rick,

Here's a golden opportunity for Amy or Andy at Swifty to say something now.

Come on guys Darrell wont bite you.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Mark_374373805]

Hi Darrel and welcome to the club - I haven't had dealings with Abbey/Swift but have with Lunar, if the warranty clauses were the same as Lunar you wouldn't have been covered anyway even if it was within the 3yr period. Lunar place the warranty on the purchaser, not the item!

I bought, (privately, I hassen to add), a 2006 when it was a year old. Whilst having it serviced found some damp, fortunately not much and was easily repaired but as to Lunar helping us under their warranty, No Chance!!!

From my experience, especially if you are buying secondhand, British Caravan Manuafacturers Warranties aren't worth the paper their written on, unlike our car manufacturers/dealers where warranty's are regulated.

The only thing you can do is the same as me, put it down to experience and take every opportunity to let people know how helpful the manufacturer can be!!

All the best,