Bailey Senator Arizona, Cheeky Delers, is it me or them?

[RogerL]

The UK caravan industry is already going the way of the car industry - despite all the comments, they don't accept there's a problem.

It's good that you're now getting the service we all deserve.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Am I allowed to ask if this van was purchased from a certain dealer nr Nottingham & the M1??

If it was from them I'm afraid I'm not surprised as they are a complete nightmare to deal with.

We bought our last van from them and never again will darken their doors. Really bad attitude & they hold you over a barrel.

It just really annoys me that the Caravan Industry trys to scam us so much.It's about time the worm turned.

We have bought German now.

Good luck & keep us all posted, hopefully Notts Trading Standards will help as they are a bit scary!

Caroline

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Thanks for that Roger, but as I said before you realy should not have to involve trading standards on simple waranty work.Basically they take your money and they don't give a sh*t, but it will be the last time they take any more money of mine, here endeth a 30 year relationship.

Allan & Gill.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Hi Caroline & Simon, no it's the one that is very close to the river trent, they used to be one of the best dealers in Nott's but not any more, they have become a victim of there own sucsess, and at the rate they are going it will be there down fall as well.

Allan & Gill.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Caroline & Simon, when you say near the M1, do you mean the small Town called Kimberley? or is it more towards Leicester & Shepshed????

Allan & Gill.

 

[CarolineSimon]

Kimberley

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Know them well Caroline, live just up the road from them,and I whole heartedly agree with your sentiments, but they seem no different to the majority of British dealers, it' time for us to bite back!!!!!!! we spend thousands and they treat us as if we had just spent 50p on a can of coke.

Allan & Gill.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Allan & Gill - you have entered into a contract with the supplying dealer, at no time have you entered into a contract with Bailey, the dealer has the contract with Bailey. However on saying this I would send a letter to the dealer expressing your disgust at the way you have been treated and if the matter is not sorted out within 28 days of receipt of this letter you will be contacting the Small Claims Court for a full refund of money plus expences and any costs incurred. Also state on the letter that a copy is being forwarded to Baileys at Bristol and your solicitor for their information. Send the letter by recorded delivery.

A previous contributer has suggested that you visit the dealer and speak to the manager/director in the showroom infront of potential customers. This has worked for me with a High Street electrical retailer. However at all times do not start to loose your temper or use threatening or foul language. Just tell them of your complaint and that you will be instructing your solicitor to act accordingly in court. Generally the bad publicity they would get from the press would frighten them into acting in a speedy manner.

A further course of action which has proved helpful for me is to threaten them with Watchdog or a similar consumer programme on TV. Again the publicity would do them no good and Bailey would be offended as their reputation is also being dragged down.

 

[GStockton]

Hi Alan&Gill me again glad you are sorted.

But here is one for you my Van is the same as yours same dealer etc purchased Aug 2005. last week the fridge stopped working on 230 volts.So I rang mr Mouse the service manager who said we will have a look when it comes in for its 2 year service in August,I replied but it is not coming to you for service because (a) you want it to long and (b)you are to expensive.But the warrenty work can be done by you,he replied well we cant get to look at your fridge until July.I replied Don`t bother your service is crap. I then inpected the fridge wiring etc (yes I am qualified) and found the element to be us ie open circuit, simple job to change,so I visited another local dealer north of Nottingham near a brewary they had the element in stock

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Hi colin (bridgend) if you read the complete thread you will see this is what has been done with the help of the local trading standards office, a recorded letter was sent out to the supplying dealer informing them of my rights under the purchase of goods act 1979, and I am now enjoying them jumping through rings (for the time being) Thanks for your help and advice.

Allan & Gill.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Hi Glenn, good to hear from you again, and pleased that you sorted your fridge, I know the dealer you are referring to near the brewery (Kimberley) we live just up the road from them, and I also believe that they themselves have a bit of a tainted history. I often use the small caravan dealer at Selston for parts, and have always found them very courteous and helpful; in fact I bought my first caravan from them back in 1973. The next problem will be it's first annual service at the end of the year, no way is it going back to lo*&ham caravans, thinking of using the place at Long Eaton that specialise in servicing and repair, and they are also an authorised Bailey workshop.

Thanks for your help and advice, and I might just turn up one night with my towel and compare your shower with mine. :0)

Allan & Gill.

 

[Surfer]

The BIG question is why should one have to go to such extreme lengths to get problems rectified.

I had a similar issue with my dealer and it was only when the recorded "Letter before Action" was sent that they start to take some notice. But just to back it up I got the finance company invovled quoting Sale of GOOds Act and that I had a valid reason for withholding not refusing payment. The caravan was returned to the factory and back with us within 3 weeks!

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Very true Ian, after 35yrs of caravaning I am now starting to get really fed up with it all, good job I love a challenge!!!

Allan & Gill.

 

[GStockton]

Alan Long Eaton is where I take my Caravan for service they are good.I have never had any problems with Kimberley but there again I have never bought a van off them 1 from Sponden 1 from Selston 1 from midland counties.and 3 from Micky mouse lesiure world.

GS

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Thanks for the recommendation for Long Eaton Glenn, I have never bought a caravan from Kimberley ether, but have always found there sales people/owner a bit like a dog with a bone, and also they seem quite expensive in there accessory shop especially compared with Selston, just a shame they are not a Bailey agents as they seem a very considerate family business.

Allan & Gill.

 

[Alex_374296729]

On the point of dealers, does anyone have a comment on a dealership in Reading who deal in Hymers, going by name of ***** leisureworld?

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Caravan has now been back to suppliers and they are unable to cure the water taste problem. Phoned Bailey Yesterday who now admit that they have a problem with the water system on there caravans and are unable to cure it at present, even replacing the whole water system does not effect a cure, and are presently still investigating? Sounds more like they are hoping you will eventually give up, and that will cure the problem for them! Back to Trading Standards.

Allan & Gill (aka TCP)

 

[ANN_374233635]

Caravan has now been back to suppliers and they are unable to cure the water taste problem. Phoned Bailey Yesterday who now admit that they have a problem with the water system on there caravans and are unable to cure it at present, even replacing the whole water system does not effect a cure, and are presently still investigating? Sounds more like they are hoping you will eventually give up, and that will cure the problem for them! Back to Trading Standards.

Allan & Gill (aka TCP)

Hi Allan & Gill. We have same problem as you, on our Indiana (July 06). Water from source/aquaroll is OK, from onboard tank/taps, its like TCP, but had put this down to van being new and little used until earlier this year. Am about to contact dealer and hope to get positive response.... Ann

 

[ANN_374233635]

Hi Allan & Gill

have a look at the thread in "Technical" uder "Bailey Water Problems" :

After taking our van into the dealer, all they had done was flush it through with Milton and not even tasted the water, so I referred then to this website/forum. The foreman had not even been given my letter outlining the complaint, and had not received any info from Bailey (but had had "something" from Swift Group). Today I called Bailey direct - nice guy called Alan confirmed all that Rob said : depending on part of country you are in, the chlorine in the water can react with the Polyurethane (PU)pipes, giving the TCP taste. We have had problems in Somerset, Cornwall, Hampshire, Gloucestershire.

Bailey are apparently awaiting delivery of the correct size/guage pipe in Polyethylene (PE) - although Danny has had his pipes replaced already ! So, rang our dealer today, told them what Bailey had said, and suggested that they might like to talk to the manufacturer (and get the matter sorted pdq !).

Hope this helps others get the same problem resolved.

Ann

 

[ValA.]

Just wanted to put on the record a brilliant Bailey dealership - Dickinson's in Bradford. They sell Bailey, Sprites and (I think) Ace, plus some second hand vans. We don't have a Bailey, but they've looked after our Swift since we bought it, when because of a problem with the Alko suspension it was impossible to tow it back to where we purchased it. Despite not being a Swift dealership at that time they took every trouble to sort out the problem for us, dealing with Swift and Alko, and getting the van repaired and back to us two days before our departure to France. We've been back ever since. Their service department is excellent, spares are obtained quickly when required, and the staff are helpful and friendly.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Just a quick update, on Friday on the ferry from Bilbao on our way back from our holiday in France, we had a phone call from the supplying dealer regarding our 2007 Senator Arizona with the aforesaid tainted water. At first nether the supplying dealer or Bailey would admit to there being a problem, that is until I involved Trading standards. They are now doing a pretty good job of jumping through hoops with my van going back to the Bailey factory on Monday, and being returned a few days latter after a total refit of the complete water system, both the dealers and Bailey are fully aware of the problem, demand that they rectify the fault within a reasonable amount of time (not weeks or months) as per the sale of goods act 1979, and don't let them try and fob you off. The problem exists, they know about it demand they sort it.

Will post again when the van returns from Bristol to keep you all updated, and with hopefully useable water.

Allan & Gill.

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Took the van back to the dealers Today, and waved good bye to it as it headed of for the Bailey factory At Bristol on the back of a transporter to have a new water system fitted, and should be returned by the end of the week, hopefully with no more tcp smelling water, and a shower with enough pressure to propel the water out of the shower head!

Fingers crossed (and toes)

Allan & Gill.

 

[ValA.]

See the topic 'Flooded Caravan' - and make absolutely sure this doesn't happen to you!

 

[ProfAlGoogle]

Thanks for that Valerie, if that was to happen to my caravan i'm afraid to say they would be supplying me with a brand new replacement caravan, as there is no way I would except it back once it has had that amount of water inside it. We have all on keeping water out of our caravans through natural elements, without some incompetent idiots doing it for us.

Allan & Gill.

 

[Geist]

Thanks for that Valerie, if that was to happen to my caravan i'm afraid to say they would be supplying me with a brand new replacement caravan, as there is no way I would except it back once it has had that amount of water inside it. We have all on keeping water out of our caravans through natural elements, without some incompetent idiots doing it for us.

Allan & Gill.

Hi,

I've read the thread with interest, particulalrly so since I have problems with my new Geist caravan purchased earlier this year.

In my case it's made more difficult by the fact that that Geist no longer supply dealerships (the van I bought was a 2006 model) which seems to mean that the dealer (Wandahome) have little or no interest in resolving problems)

I took the matter to Geist - who genuinely amazed me by their complete lack of interest. As a company selling a niche brand via an even more niche retail method (direct sales) one would have assumed that they'd be keen to ensure happy customers and good publicity. It's remarkable to me that this isn't the case - they confirmed the problem via photo's I sent them, suggested that it was something for Wandahome to sort out, and then studiously ignored me.

Anyone thinking of buying a Geist really should factor the attitude of the suppliers into their purchase decision, imo - there are other makes and models, hopefully with importers who at least pretend to care about after sales

Now it's in the hands of the finance company - who, I'm sure, have the necessary muscle to sort things out. The point remains (as has been made previously in this thread) it's a sorry thing when customers have to go to these lengths to resolve legitimate complaints about very expensive products.

It requires time and effort to make a fuss - and it shouldn't be necessary.