We purchased a new swift lifestyle from one of the big dealers in june last year. We only used it twice once in july and then again in september. In october we was due to use it for a week when a lady in a 4x4 hit the rear end causing £9000 worth of damage which as she was at fault her insurance paid for the repais. The repairers had the van for 6 months waiting for panels etc,etc from swift the caravan has had all new panels and doors apart from the front we have had the van back a few week now and just took it back to the dealer for its first service and to have a caravan mover fitted. We received a phone call yesterday from them saying the window seals on the van are all defected and there is damp in the van,The cupboard catches which should have been replaced have been lost from the warehouse, the window blinds which were broken on delivery of the van have to be reordered as they have none they are obviously being really nice to us explaing it will be sorted out. Basically we dont know what to do now as we have owned the caravan for twelve month but actually had it in our posession only half of that now they are taking it back again to be repaired again I feel I dont want a van with damp which we have only used for 3 weeks in total I am really fed up we are supposed to be going on holiday in 5weeks. What can I do I dont really want it back if its damp now whats it going to be like in a few more years! sorry for rambling but Im stressed!
Advice needed!!
- Thread starter debbie_5118642
- Start date
Hi Debbie
That seems a very big repair. I am suprised the van was not written off. I woudl ahve argued that one
I will just say again about the Sale of Goods Act which also applies to services. Check out the Consumer Direct website for information. Stick to your guns. Tell them straight it is not satisfactory and you dont want it back.
It seems to me that someone made a lot of money out of that repair. May even be worth contacting the insurance company who paid for the repairs that you are not at all happy about the repair as the van is now damp.
I am new to this forum but is there anyone at all out there who has some good news about the quality of their van ?
That seems a very big repair. I am suprised the van was not written off. I woudl ahve argued that one
I will just say again about the Sale of Goods Act which also applies to services. Check out the Consumer Direct website for information. Stick to your guns. Tell them straight it is not satisfactory and you dont want it back.
It seems to me that someone made a lot of money out of that repair. May even be worth contacting the insurance company who paid for the repairs that you are not at all happy about the repair as the van is now damp.
I am new to this forum but is there anyone at all out there who has some good news about the quality of their van ?
Hi Thanks for your reply we did actually argue we did not want the repair done but the ladys insurance company insisted they would not write it off and would pay for the repairs. As I have had the van in theory for 12 mnts would the sale of goods act be on me if you know what I mean!
Debbie - so sorry to here about your swift van. Is it possible that the damp has got into the caravan whilst it was waiting for original repairs to be done? I can only suggest you try to find out whether vans waiting for repair are stored in the open or covered. Also how much damp are they talking about?If the window seals alone are at fault the damp should be very localised as you have used it so little.
Personally I think I would get legal advice. Hope you get everything sorted quickly.
Helen
Personally I think I would get legal advice. Hope you get everything sorted quickly.
Helen
Debbie,what a horror story I too am surprised that it was repaired.
Was it undercover awaiting repairs.
Did you sign a satisfaction note for the insurance company when you gotit back,if so it will harm your case as from what you say with locker stays,blinds etc it was not actually complete.
Speak with trading standards and citizens advice,also if you are in either of the two caravan clubs speak to their legal bods that is what you pay your membership for.
Finally did you buy the van on finance,if yes was it arranged by the supplying dealer if yes again great news because they are now jointly liable for the van under the Consumer Credit Act 1983 call them and then write.
Good luck
Was it undercover awaiting repairs.
Did you sign a satisfaction note for the insurance company when you gotit back,if so it will harm your case as from what you say with locker stays,blinds etc it was not actually complete.
Speak with trading standards and citizens advice,also if you are in either of the two caravan clubs speak to their legal bods that is what you pay your membership for.
Finally did you buy the van on finance,if yes was it arranged by the supplying dealer if yes again great news because they are now jointly liable for the van under the Consumer Credit Act 1983 call them and then write.
Good luck
Very definately contact Trading Standards and CAB - it sounds as though the repairs are substandard, and the repirer is at fault.
Equally the insurance company that paid for the repairs has a duty and obligatioin to ensure that the caravan was repaired to a standarad equivalent to its condition imediately before the collision-in other word no material gain.
I think you have a stong case, which CAB should be able to advise you on.
This may requier a Small claims Action, but here againg the CAB should be able to guide you. Best of luck.
Equally the insurance company that paid for the repairs has a duty and obligatioin to ensure that the caravan was repaired to a standarad equivalent to its condition imediately before the collision-in other word no material gain.
I think you have a stong case, which CAB should be able to advise you on.
This may requier a Small claims Action, but here againg the CAB should be able to guide you. Best of luck.
Hi Debbie, sorry to hear of your accident and the consequential hassle you are having.
Hopefully you took pictures of the accident damage and also of your current complaints. I've found that by taking this stance, the insuranc ecompanies tend to be more por-active as you have the coroberating evidence at hand and should a court case ensue you are then in a stronger position.
Most car accident repairers these days offer a three year guarentee with their work, so I'd expect simlar from caravan repairers (at least 12 months).
It might be worth investing in an independant engineers report to clearly define what is wrong with the van.
I had to do this when an insurance approved repairer made a right botch of a repair on an Espace I owned. The result was the car was sent to a Renault franchise dealership for repair at the original repairer's expence. The insurance company offered me write off value then, but I refused as finding another five year old 15K car would of been near impossible. They eventually got the car repaired but at 90% of it's value.
Looks like you'll need to take advice from CAB and trading standards and get tough to get what you want the outcome to be.
Good luck.
Hopefully you took pictures of the accident damage and also of your current complaints. I've found that by taking this stance, the insuranc ecompanies tend to be more por-active as you have the coroberating evidence at hand and should a court case ensue you are then in a stronger position.
Most car accident repairers these days offer a three year guarentee with their work, so I'd expect simlar from caravan repairers (at least 12 months).
It might be worth investing in an independant engineers report to clearly define what is wrong with the van.
I had to do this when an insurance approved repairer made a right botch of a repair on an Espace I owned. The result was the car was sent to a Renault franchise dealership for repair at the original repairer's expence. The insurance company offered me write off value then, but I refused as finding another five year old 15K car would of been near impossible. They eventually got the car repaired but at 90% of it's value.
Looks like you'll need to take advice from CAB and trading standards and get tough to get what you want the outcome to be.
Good luck.
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