Ace Jubilee Equerry leaking windows

[AndyR1]

Hi All,

I have owned this caravan from new (May 2005) and since November 2005 I have been suffering from leaking front windows. The windows have been replaced and new seals fited. The caravan has been back to Swift who couldn't find a problem (after 6 weeks!). Thicker seals were eventually fitted by the dealer. These were delivered from Polyplastic in Holland I believe. Unfortunately while away this weekend the windows have leaked again. They did leak while driving up the M5 during heavy rain in the summer but I put this down to a one off, as I had been promised that the problem was sorted (obviousy I was too generous). I have returned the van to the dealers but I am at a loss as to what I can do now. Has anybody else suffered the same problem? If so how did you get it resolved.

Cheers

Andy

 

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

Hi Andy

Do you want to contact us and we will take this up with our window supplier and see what we can do to resolve?

Email us at enquiries@swiftleisure.co.uk or telophone our customer careline on 01482 875740

Regards

Kath

 

[Angus1]

Obviously not aluminium framed windows then......(big grin icon thingy)

 

[AndyR1]

Hi Kath,

Firstly fair play for monitoring this forum.

I formally rejected this caravan in November 2006 but eventually agreed to have the rubber seals replaced as a final try to sort this problem. It is obvious to me that this has not happened so unless something miraculous happens while at the dealers then I think I will be sending another foemal rejection letter. I will be contacting Consumer Direct tomorrow to get advise on my rights.

Regards

Andy

 

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

Hi Andy

I understand but you could still talk to us and let us get involved and at least talk to your dealer.

If you do contact us ask to speak to Carol James and I will send her this post.

Regards

Kath

 

[AndyR1]

Hi Kath,

Further to my conversation with Jenny this morning please can you confirm that you have received my e-mail rejecting my caravan and requesting a replacement.

Regards

Andy

 

[AndyR1]

Hi KathJenny,

Please can you confirm you have received my e-mail with regards to not allowing any further repair work to my caravan following my rejection and claim for a replacement caravan.

Regards

Andy

 

[SwiftGroup_374327846]

Andy

Yes we have received your correspondence

Regards

Kath

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

andy any up dates?.

jo-anne

 

[AndyR1]

Hi Jo-anne,

I hope to post a full update very shortly. Sorry I can't say much more at present.

Andy

 

[Royston]

Hi Andy,

My heart goes out to people like you, that have a paid a lot of money for basically a crappy van.

A Simple hose test at the manufactures would have told them that the window was not fit for purpose.

And where does the customer help line kick in, more emails thats a laugh, any mention of loaning you a van whilst yours is being sorted out.I bet not.

I have been lucky both in buying the right van from a very realiable and helpfull company along with the reassurance of a very helpfull dealership.

And a such i have never ever had to vent my frustration within these columns.

But give credit, you have aleast got agents of the manufacture of your van to sit up and take notice.

Royston

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Andy

I can only echo the other posters sympathy for the disappointment and aggravation you are suffering here.

Will you be away at Easter?

I think some of us would love to meet you and offer some moral support. Not a lot I know , but rest assured there are a lot of us out here batting for you, without any wish to upset the applecart.

Good luck mate and don't give in.

Cheers

Alan

 

[AndyR1]

Update

I am pleased to report that my dispute with Swift Leisure and my dealer Discover Leisure (formally Barrons) has reached an amicable conclusion. I am at present awaiting a collection date for my replacement Ace Jubilee Equerry. Hopefully the new caravan will reinstate my faith in Swift products. This whole episode has at times been very stressful but I now look forward too many trouble free, relaxing and enjoyable caravan holidays..I will let you know!

Alan we are away this easter. We are at a CL near Lytham St Annes in Lancashire.

Andy

 

[A_5080671]

Hi, thats great news. I have had damp problems with my 2007 Ace Jubilee Courier but sadly have had to accept repairs.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

andy, check out pride in the job on general.

jo

 

[AndyR1]

Hi All,

It is with real anger that I have to report further leaking windows on my REPLACEMENT Ace Jubilee Equerry. The front windows have now had replacement seals fitted already and I have discovered this afternoon that the the front offside lounge window has started to leak during heavy rain. This is in addition to a failing Thetford fridge pcb, Status T.V.signal booster and a broken lower bunk support. I am also suffering with a tempremental on board water pump which it seems quite a few people are suffering with. I have today formally rejected this caravan as well. This van is still less than 6 months old and already looks like being worse than my previous Equerry. I am not prepared to put up with nearly four years of returning my caravan back to the dealer numerous times and also back to the manufacturer.

I am getting to the point where each time I go away I end up getting stressed out by failures with the caravan which then ruins the trip. Seems to me that life would be less stressful without a caravan!

Andy

 

[glake]

Hi All,

It is with real anger that I have to report further leaking windows on my REPLACEMENT Ace Jubilee Equerry. The front windows have now had replacement seals fitted already and I have discovered this afternoon that the the front offside lounge window has started to leak during heavy rain. This is in addition to a failing Thetford fridge pcb, Status T.V.signal booster and a broken lower bunk support. I am also suffering with a tempremental on board water pump which it seems quite a few people are suffering with. I have today formally rejected this caravan as well. This van is still less than 6 months old and already looks like being worse than my previous Equerry. I am not prepared to put up with nearly four years of returning my caravan back to the dealer numerous times and also back to the manufacturer.

I am getting to the point where each time I go away I end up getting stressed out by failures with the caravan which then ruins the trip. Seems to me that life would be less stressful without a caravan!

Andy

hi andy,

i can't believe the problems your having with these vans. I also purchased an Equerry in May 2005 and have had no real major problems only silly things that are due to poor build. Tempramantal water heater not alway working on electric, i've replaced light fittings that have broken through cheap design, i have put locker struts on all lockers as they would slam shut due to the rubbish system fitted by swift, one bathroom cupboard door is shorter than the other, numerous slats have broken on the bed! MAYBE, i can believe your problems. it seems there is no quality control coming from swift anymore. i will also think twice before purchasing a swift again, no compensation for you i know but good luck!!

 

[Dustydog]

Andy

Clearly something somewhere has gone catastrophically wrong, to state the obvious. You will have seen the similar problems other Swift owners have had eg Jo-anne etc. Conversely there are others who swear by Swift.

I have asked NIGEL DONNELLY on previous occasions if he can do an article on as many as possible of the UK manufacturers quality control systems. Will this happen please Nigel??????

Imported items such as fridges, water pumps, door locks etc are probably common to most manufacturers but when the issues revolve around the fundemental construction of the caravan then all the alarm bells ring for me.

Andy,

I sincerely hope you are given a full refund of the current price of the Ace.

I accept I am prejudiced , but may I suggest in the future you look to another manufacturer such as Bailey.

Cheers

Alan

 

[Icemaker]

Andy you may recall that my ace celebration 590 was based on the jubilee equerry, we got rid of the van after only 8 months of owning it as it was so poor, we took a financial loss but the stress relief of not owning the van any more made up for the loss of cash.

Our van suffered many of the same problems yours is suffering from and culminated in the roof callapsing in heavy rain and jamming the bathroom door against the ceiling, not good at all.

 

[Jo-AnneFairway5402010]

andy, i feel so sorry for you i know what you are going through.

like me you had one serious faulty van then they send you another faulty van just like me. in the end i rejected the last one and asked for a full refund including the original delivery charge, a full refund on the awning as that was also faulty, and a refund on the motor mover.

i didnt want another swift/sterling again if fact for a few days i was put off caravanning. After seein Alans wyoming and awning and seeing the service from chipping sodbury i deceided to go for the new wyoming and i havent looked back.

ive just been away for weeks in it and i cant find a fault.

the service from chipping sod is second to none.

you have done the right thing by rejecting it and you have been reasonable by letting them already repair it.

the key factor in all this is both your vans have had inherant faults. they were they at the time of sale but may not be found until you use it more. not fit for purpose and a repair that is not of satisfactory standard.

a quick guide that will be able to help you on this is go into google and put in quick fact questions of sales of goods act.

if you need more advice from me i give my permission for the mod to give you my email.

good luck, chin up and please keep me posted.

jo-anne

 

[AndyR1]

Hi everybody,

Thanks for your messages of support. The customer services manager has been in touch with me (on Monday)from Discover and he is supposed to be getting back to me once he has talked to Swift. I think they are now back from the summer shut down? They have till end of play Friday to respond or else the caravan will be ceremoniously deliverd back to Coppull.

Andy

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Andy

Good luck. Keep us all posted.

What do you really want?

Money back, another new caravan or more repairs?

Cheers

Alan

 

[AndyR1]

Hi Alan,

More repairs is a definite no no no!

I don't think they will be able to replace like for like as they don't make the Equerry any longer. That said I don't know whether I want another Swft product anyway as what guarantee would I have that a second replacement would not be fault ridden also. I know you could probably level that comment against any make but I have lost any bit of confidence I had left with Swift products. As for a different make, I have not really looked into that yet.

Cheers

Andy

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Andy,

Best of luck mate.

Jo-anne had similar problems as you this year and we sent carefully drafted letters to dealer who finally paid her back every penny. Now your problems started in may 2005 when you first purchased the Ace. They may argue that the cash value is the original price.

I disagree, they gave you a brand new van this year and that in financial terms must be the measure of your entitlement, ie the 2008 new price.

If you want a chat privately let me know and I'll authorise mr Mods to send you my details.

Cheers

Alan

 

[AndyR1]

Hi Alan and Jo-anne,

Thanks for the offers of further help. Please ask Mr mods to forward your details.

Discover are asking to come and assess the caravan by either taking it back to the workshop or visit the storage. I am taking a firm line of no more "lets see if this works" attitude. This carried on for 3 years with the last caravan. They have been told again that it is a replacement or my money back. I have also reminded them that the contract is with the dealer not Swift, something they are obviously aware of.

Cheers

Andy