75% damp!!!!

[AnnKeith]

hi on 2nd sept we picked up our very 1st caravan we paid 2000 for an abi jubilee amdassdor 1996 van. we were asured by dealer in bury manchester that there wasn't a problem with damp; so we took his word for it.

we towed van home and took it a couple of days later to caravan serviceing place near where we live in sheffield to have a stabliser fitted. we got talking to the owner and not sure how but he started checking for damp. in the loo area there was 75% damp 50% in shower area and so on around the van lowest reading 30%.

so you can imagine my horror; got on phone to dealership in bury but not intrested, so rang head office kicked off told them i'd gotten legal advice. so after an houre manager ran back saying how sorry he was and to take van to head office which is in lecister. however told him we were going away for a week in the van and wouldn't be able to take van back until tuesday of this week.

got there manager not in so guy in charge of workshop pointed out about areas we knew about he also found tiny pin pricks in outer bodywork.

told him we also had problems with fresh water pump not working and other bits, he told us we should never have been sold this van without knoning about the damp.

so we were told it would cost to much to put right so we were offered 3 other vans; we've choose a lunar meteor it's a year older but they've done damp readings on it and it's all ok; also the cost of van is more but told them with all the phone calls i've made and fuel costs i wasn't willing to pay any more so after a day they've said we need not pay any extra! thank goodness.

so i hope i can put this bad expeirance behind us and start to enjoy caravan holidays.

sorry about lenght of post but need to get it off my chest

ann

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ann,

I am glad that at least the head office has come to your rescue, and I can understand your acceptance of the offer made, it will have been less hassle than dealing with the original selling branch.

Whilst it is too late now, the original dealer has been let off the hook. I am disgusted at the way you were treated, and the dealer then refusing to listen, makes my blood boil.

Your contract is with the person or organisation that takes your money which will have been the dealer in Bury. You received a statement from the dealer that there was no damp problem. This has been very clearly disproved and as such the dealer is in breech of contract, and in breech of Trades descriptions Acts.

If this had been dealt with through the sale of goods legislation the dealer would almost certainly have had a courts judgement against them, probably fined and you would have either been offered your money back or a replacement caravan. Ther may even have been some compensation.

As it stands the dealer has only lost out a little because the stock caravan has probably a much lower intrinsic value to the business than its sale price, The head office may give the branch manager a dressing down, but that is not as humiliating as a courts judgement.

I truly hope you have some great and happy holidays

But if your replacement caravan does not satisfy you , please kick up an almighty fuss!

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

so glad you stuck to your guns about this. you must be like me a dog with a bone, lol.

jo-anne

 

[AnnKeith]

hi thanks for comments. my o/h laughed when he read about being like a dog with a bone he said it's ture.

after all thats happened we can't wait for your next holiday.

 

[CameronBurns]

you picked the caravan because you wanted it. if it was me i would have insisted that they fixed the damp for free as it was their fault for not telling you. i have heared similar stories about caravans being replaced. i know someone who's brand new caravan's fixed bed went through ON THE FIRST NIGHT they ever slept in it. they demanded a like for like caravan for nothing as compensation for their loss. glad you got it sorted out though.- Happy holidays!