60% Damp on 1st service?

[blardo]

We invested a lot of money in a dream van in April 2006 and had it serviced this April. Although we have had our fair share of teething problems quality wise (electrics, seals, furniture loose etc)overall we have been very happy. When I collected the van from our local dealer, they said everything was fine but a bit of damp, only covering 6insq, had registered 60% on the nearside wall at the rear. The dealer said they had been on to the manufacturer who said this could be repaired under the 6 year water ingress warranty. I was reassured that this would be fine and that it would be good as new. However, after a recent weekend away and after a heavy downpour, I noticed that the ceiling at the back of the van in the bathroom has come apart mainly on the nearside but was damp/wet to the touch! Surely this is not good news? I have told the dealer and it is booked in for the original problem to be fixed and they have said they will look at the ceiling too. Should I be as hacked off as I'm feeling or will it all be ok when it is fixed? I just feel that damp will always be in my mind until we sell it.

Comments and advice greatly appreciated!

 

[STEVE_5041381]

Is it a Bailey ? we have had a lot of problems reported on this forum with the Ranger models. But certainly you have a right to be hacked off - this is becoming an all familiar complaint and for the rest of the time you keep it will always be in the back of your mind is it leaking again?. From past experience on this forum no-one seems to get any joy re changing the van for a new one all they do is repair it by the manufacturers. Its about time the roof/front/back should all be in one piece this I am sure will cure most leaks found in modern vans.

 

[ThePlotter]

To be honest if it was an new van one year ago I would be raising absolute hell,and even at this stage looking to have it replaced.Thjey will no doubt say it is a year old,tough,it almost certainly has been leaking since it left the factory.If you bought it on finance via the supplying dealer notify the finace co of your problem under the Consumer credit act 1973

 

[blardo]

Hi Steve. It is a Bailey Senator Carolina. Our first van was a sterling Europa 520 which was 3 years old and fab!!!no problems what-so-ever. Thanks to The Plotter, but looking at this months pc mag at the preview of the senator series 6 range, they no longer do the Carolina layout....this makes changing it all the less likely I would imagine.

 

[STEVE_5041381]

I thought so, since they have changed their build design on the roof there have been lots of reports of leaks, I myself was due to renew my 99 bailey but will hold off now and look at other manufacturers unless they get this sorted out.

 

[ThePlotter]

It doesn't stop ypou asking for a replacement equivalent to the van you have now it doesn't have to be the same.

 

[Surfer]

My friend had the same issue with his Bailey Arizona 2000. It had to have a full repair for damp done at the rear.

 

[Shirl1]

We have had the same problem. We bought a brand new caravan in Dec 05 and when we took it in for the 1st service in Jan 07 it showed up as damp in three places. The dealer's service centre did temporary repairs (slapped a bit of silicon on back of awning rails and toilet cassette door) and put a warranty claim into the manufacturer. We heard nothing from them and rang them a couple of weeks ago, they said "pop it back in and we'll do another test to see if still damp"! As it's a 40 mile round trip, I politely requested they send one of their guys out with a damp meter. He came out and said it is 40% damp in the bathroom and is now bubbling. The back near the awning rails has improved but all the temporary silicone is lifting. I've fired off a complaint letter to the MD of the manufacturer (copied to the dealer) asking for a new caravan. I know it's over 12 months but that's down to the dealers dragging their feet. I have lost faith in this caravan and bothered that, even if this gets fixed, damp could show up somewhere else. Not had a reply yet from Manufacturer but dealers rang me at 8.15 the other morning to get it in for repair. The person I spoke to said he had given his service manager a roasting as our details had just been left in a file since Jan!

 

[MrsMothy]

Our Abbey Adventura had loads of damp in several places at its first service. They had to reseal the windows etc. We had to take it back for a damp retest three months later (12O mile round trip). Its now in for its second service and we hope we don't have a repeat as we are trading it in next month. Incidently, we had no damp problems whatsoever with the Bailey Pageant we had previously and only change so we could have a fixed bed 'van we could tow at 85% without changing the car.

Denise

 

[blardo]

Does anyone know the actual differance between warranty and guarantee? I have been looking at the paperwork given to me when we bought the van and the "warranty" I thought I had is actually a 6 Year Body Shell Integrity Guarantee! To me guarantee would mean it is guaranteed "not to fail" where as a warranty would mean if it does fail they will fix it for free under warranty. Am I correct?

 

[MrsMothy]

We're now back from our service and pleased to say that our damp problem seems to have subsided quite dramatically. Obviously the dealer did a much better job than the manufacturer.

Denise

 

[Alan Partridge]

Does anyone know the actual differance between warranty and guarantee? I have been looking at the paperwork given to me when we bought the van and the "warranty" I thought I had is actually a 6 Year Body Shell Integrity Guarantee! To me guarantee would mean it is guaranteed "not to fail" where as a warranty would mean if it does fail they will fix it for free under warranty. Am I correct?

Blardo,

In practical terms, whether it is called a guarantee or a warranty is not important - the terms are used interchangeably by many sellers.

What is important is

(a) what is in the terms and conditions. They might specify what is covered and will be put right, and there will usually be conditions attaching to this - servicing in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations being the most common; and

(b) that the guarantee or warranty can only add to your normal rights as a purchaser, it cannot limit or detract from them regardless of what it says.

Enforcing your rights under SOGA might of course be less straightforward than claiming under a guarantee, but in the case of a newish caravan that leaks, there is a pretty good argument that it is not fit for purpose. However you do need to be mindful of 'mitigating your loss' - as soon as you know it's defective, don't do anything that makes it worse, and give the seller the opportunity to put things right. The law should then be on your side.

I should say I am writing this not as a lawyer, but as someone who has been involved with extended warranties for many years.

 

[blardo]

Blardo,

In practical terms, whether it is called a guarantee or a warranty is not important - the terms are used interchangeably by many sellers.

What is important is

(a) what is in the terms and conditions. They might specify what is covered and will be put right, and there will usually be conditions attaching to this - servicing in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations being the most common; and

(b) that the guarantee or warranty can only add to your normal rights as a purchaser, it cannot limit or detract from them regardless of what it says.

Enforcing your rights under SOGA might of course be less straightforward than claiming under a guarantee, but in the case of a newish caravan that leaks, there is a pretty good argument that it is not fit for purpose. However you do need to be mindful of 'mitigating your loss' - as soon as you know it's defective, don't do anything that makes it worse, and give the seller the opportunity to put things right. The law should then be on your side.

I should say I am writing this not as a lawyer, but as someone who has been involved with extended warranties for many years.

thanks for that alan partridge! i have spoken to trading standards and they said i have to give the dealer an opportunity to put it right however it is important that i put in writing to the dealer that any repairs have to be "efective & longlasting". they told me to quote supply of goods and services 1982 to them also. I have spoken to the dealers who have said , to be fair, that they are disapointed that we are not happy and that it is in their interest to make us happy as they would like us to buy another van from them at some point. lets just hope it is not sooner rather than later!! Watch this space!!!