Caravan warranties

[Leebee1]

Hi All,
I am looking to purchase a twin axle caravan. We looked at an Elddis super sirocco yesterday which we liked, apart from the fridge & avtech ariel.
When I got home I downloaded the handbook as the dealer could not answer a lot of questions asked.
I was amazed at the warranty. 1st year covers every thing, 2nd & 3rd year covers very little. excludes shower tray, windows, blinds, catches, paintwork, plastic & grp panels. not impressed when you intend to spend 25k
is this the same with all caravans

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Lee,
The simple answer to your question is the manufacturers warranty can be a comprehensive or not as the manufacturer wants. It's important to understand the manufacture is not obliged in law to offer any warranty. Most do offer one, but its in their gift, and they can apply what ever terms they wish, providing they are legal and not unfair (as in unfair contract terms).

You do have automatic cover under the Sale Of Goods Act (SoGA) which requires the seller to ensure goods are as described, fit for purpose and of merchantable quality and free from design, material and workmanship defects. SoGA gives you some quite powerful rights for up to 6 years from the point of sale.

The key word here is the 'Seller' and that is of course the person/organisation from whom you have a contract, in most cases that is a shop or dealer and not the manufacturer.

Your rights under SoGA cannot be reduced or superseded by the manufactures guarantee/warranty, which is why you see a phrase like "your statutory rights are not affected" on manufacturers products or paper work.

Most manufacturers do offer a warranty on their products but that is a secondary contract directly with them and is usually activated when you register your purchase with them.

 

[otherclive]

Lee I think that you will find that most makes have similar approach. Also there will most likely other conditions attached to the requirement to have specific items serviced by approved service agents. Some of these don't come under your normal annual service. We are fortunate to have the SOGA!!

 

[Damian]

The caravan manufacturer guarantees the BUILD of the van, ie. the main structure .
All the fitted parts such as shower trays, windows, cookers, fridges etc etc etc are covered by the individual manufacturers guarantees and are generally one year for plastic items such as windows, two years for some other items, and three years for fridges,cookers and such like.
BCA power supply units are guaranteed for two years by the maker plus a further year by the dealer.(just an example)

 

[RayS]

Damian is of course right to say the maker guarantees the Build of the van, but as the Prof has explained your contract is with the seller not the manufacturer and the guarantee/warranty is an offer not a legal liability. If you have to make a claim under the warranty you MAY find some arguement and prevarication, and also so strange conditions like the van having to be returned to the dealer for examination to establish the fault then again, later, to have it put right. Under warranty you are responsible for taking the van to the dealer and any costs involved in doing so. Under SOGA the dealer is responsible for collection and delivery and must carry out repairs with minimum inconvenience to the owner.
My advice is to swat up on SOGA via government and citizens advice and Which websites and to invoke warranty on a new van only as the last resort.
Be very careful how you address and complain and be factual not emotional. Probably better to let dealer know that you know about Soga informally at first. but then in writing, using recorded delivery and obviously keeping all copies.

Sorry if all this takes the gloss from the joy of buying a brand new caravan but it is a sad fact of present day life that it may be necessary regardless of how friendly the dealer and how good a deal you may strike. Also, that despite great improvement in quality over the years, the 'Friday' caravan still exists.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I agree with all the above posts, but I would add that further to Ray's comment, it certainly does pay to be savy about SoGA, and in some instances it pays to insist on a remedy under SoGA and not through the the manufactures scheme. BUT you must remember soga only applies to the seller, and not to other dealers. The Manufacturers warranty usually allows you to seek help from other particpating dealers, which can be helpful if you are some distance from your seller.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Further to Damians point concerning the OEM suppliers of equipment used in caravans. Caravans are obviously fitted with other manufacturers equipment, such as Aerials, cookers Fridges, Heaters, microwaves etc. But how many of us actually register our products with the relevant manufacturers?

I know from having worked for a major appliance manufacturer a relatively small proportion of caravan owners take the trouble to return the registration cards that are usually in the operators hand book.

I have a strong suspicion that most caravan owners assume these products are covered by the caravan manufacturers guarantee, and consequently if they have a problem, its usually the caravan dealer that sorts it out.

If caravan owners took the trouble to read the caravan manufacturers terms and conditions, they will see the manufacture limits their responsibilities in these areas.

Incidentally, it may come under advertising standards or trading standards, but equipment sold as part of the caravan should carry the same or better warranty as the caravan manufacturers unless they explicitly bring reduced warranty items to the attention of the customer before sale.

However, if you are seeking remedy under SoGA, then you must always deal with the seller which is usually the caravan dealer or as we have seem elsewhere recently, the finance house if you have used credit to purchase the caravan.

 

[Surfer]

Many items are an integral part of the caravan which makes warranties on individual items worthless especially when using SOGA to your advantage.
We had a fridge repaired which was over 3 years old by using SOGA and also had a mattress replaced using the following extract from SOGA
"Goods are of satisfactory quality if they reach the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking into account the price and any description. Aspects of quality include fitness for purpose, freedom from minor defects, appearance and finish, durability and safety".
Dealers rely on the fact that the majority of people are not aware of their rights under SOGA."