Problem with Pro-tec caravan cover

[BigTim]

Hi

I very recently bought a fitted cover for my Bailey Senator Arizona from Protec. The cover came with an A Frame cover which is described in their literature as being free. The cover is so large that it would almost certainly blow off the A-frame if put on. It is both too tall and too long by about 20 cms so the front securing elastic is in front of the front of the A-Frame.

I sent 2 emails querying this and was asked to phone them. When my wife phoned today she was told that they only provide a universal A-frame cover "free" as there are too many A-Frame size variants. Having spent over £350.00 on the cover I am annoyed about this. I feel this "free" thing is just a way to try to evade their responsibilities to provide something fit for the purpose. Not to mention the waste of time and money phoning.

I have already had to return the carrying bag for replacement as that split the first time I attempted to carefully pick it up. That was replaced but my request for the cost of returning the failed item to them was ignored.

What has been other people's experiences?

Tim

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Hi Tim

I purchased Pro-tec first year no problems with the cover. This year put said cover on after storing through the summer. It could just last the winter. I have had to make repair with tap as it appear,s to be falling apart.

 

[BigTim]

Hi

Sorry to hear of your problems Steven - that is awful. Do you not have a claim under the guarantee/and or the Sale of Goods Act. One season's wear is hardly showing the cover as being fit for its purpose.

Tim

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Hi

Sorry to hear of your problems Steven - that is awful. Do you not have a claim under the guarantee/and or the Sale of Goods Act. One season's wear is hardly showing the cover as being fit for its purpose.

Tim

Hello Tim

No not after a year from purchase just be wasting time and money. At the end of the day you pay your money and take your chance now in this country.

Kind regards best wishes Steve

 

[Reg]

If that is the same make as I had a nasty experience with i.e. the one sold by Purpleline.

It stuck to the top of the van leaving a mark and eventually disintegrated. All within one year.

Got my money back.

 

[Reg]

Mine was a Purpleline not Pro-tec. I think they are different companies.

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Purpleline do not last very long 1 to 2 years.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

We had a Protec and had permanent marking when used the second year. I personally think when spending a few hundred pounds, the goods should last better than they appear to be doing. I know they stand out in the worst of the weather, but that is part of what they are designed to do. We now use a very lightweight cover which we have adapted slightly with the straps, but we have had no problems whatsover - touch wood!!!

 

[ProfJohnL]

I am dismayed at the reports on this thread.

In my view it is unreasonable that a product that is sold as an external cover for a caravan fails in 12 to 24 months. This certainly makes me think that the product is not fit for purpose, which is a fundamental corner stone of the Sale of Goods Acts. Product should be of merchantable quality, free form design, material or workmanship defects, and be fit for purpose.

The SoGA legislation does allow judgements to recognise what is a reasonable life expectancy for a particular type of product, and to take in to account the actual usage that the product has experienced, so each judgement is unique on individual cases. For this reason the SoGA does not limit the sellers liability to any fixed term, however it is generally the case that 6 years is the maximum. If a product fails under normal usage within 6 months where its normal life expectancy is greater, it is generally the case that the seller has to show the product was not faulty, but beyond 6 months the onus is on the buyer.

As such matters are dealt with under civil law, only the seller only has to show that on the balance of probability the product is not fit for purpose, and I believe that an 12 to 24 months before failure is not reasonable for this type of product.

Equally if the covers are actually causing damage to the caravan they are supposed to be protecting, then again that is substantive evidence that the product is not fit for purpose.

If anyone has suffered these types of failure and you want to pursue such claims I strongly advise you seek professional legal advice.

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

I am surprised yet not surprised to read this thread.

Firstly, I understood ProTec to be good at customer service, repairs and returns so that is the surprising part.

The not surprising part is because I ordered a ProTec cover for our caravan and whilst I found it to be of good merchantable quality (I used it only twice then sold it) I realised that ProTec covers are no different to most covers I've seen out there. Having been to the NEC and seen the covers made by other manufacturers, even the ones Tesco (Yes, Tesco) sell, they are of the same breathable material.

Buying a ProTec cover is like buying an Armarni shirt. You're only paying for the name.

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Chrissylizzie

The light cover you purchased could you tell use make and where you obtained it please.

 

[Stephen_374341239]

I am dismayed at the reports on this thread.

In my view it is unreasonable that a product that is sold as an external cover for a caravan fails in 12 to 24 months. This certainly makes me think that the product is not fit for purpose, which is a fundamental corner stone of the Sale of Goods Acts. Product should be of merchantable quality, free form design, material or workmanship defects, and be fit for purpose.

The SoGA legislation does allow judgements to recognise what is a reasonable life expectancy for a particular type of product, and to take in to account the actual usage that the product has experienced, so each judgement is unique on individual cases. For this reason the SoGA does not limit the sellers liability to any fixed term, however it is generally the case that 6 years is the maximum. If a product fails under normal usage within 6 months where its normal life expectancy is greater, it is generally the case that the seller has to show the product was not faulty, but beyond 6 months the onus is on the buyer.

As such matters are dealt with under civil law, only the seller only has to show that on the balance of probability the product is not fit for purpose, and I believe that an 12 to 24 months before failure is not reasonable for this type of product.

Equally if the covers are actually causing damage to the caravan they are supposed to be protecting, then again that is substantive evidence that the product is not fit for purpose.

If anyone has suffered these types of failure and you want to pursue such claims I strongly advise you seek professional legal advice.

Just costs more money.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Stephen

The cover we bought was from www.speedwellstar.com. Click on to Boat covers and the caravan covers are on there also. They only do the Superior model now, not the Eco, or at least this was the case last year. This cover is made from lightweight material just like the lightweight tents these days. It does not fit to measure like the Protec etc. but is more like a bag, but it is breathable and has room for ventilation. You can also access the van if necessary as it has zips. The straps originally just clipped onto the bottom of the van but we added straps which we threw under the van and secured to those on the other side. We used it all last winter, through high winds etc. and experienced no problems or tearing. It is also very easy to handle, fold, store etc. and for the money was far better than our made to measure cover.

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[paddy1]

Hi Stephen

The cover we bought was from www.speedwellstar.com. Click on to Boat covers and the caravan covers are on there also. They only do the Superior model now, not the Eco, or at least this was the case last year. This cover is made from lightweight material just like the lightweight tents these days. It does not fit to measure like the Protec etc. but is more like a bag, but it is breathable and has room for ventilation. You can also access the van if necessary as it has zips. The straps originally just clipped onto the bottom of the van but we added straps which we threw under the van and secured to those on the other side. We used it all last winter, through high winds etc. and experienced no problems or tearing. It is also very easy to handle, fold, store etc. and for the money was far better than our made to measure cover.

Hope this helps.

Chris

hi i think i better cancel mine after reading these comments you would expect it right for that money.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Hi Mark

Well, I do not want to end up in Court because of my criticism of Protec as I am sure there are users who may have had no problems. However, I can only speak from experience and had the marking that occurred been on our new van, then we would have had a much greater reaction to the situation.

For me, the biggest problem with the other types of covers is the weight of them, especially as our van in now 6 metres long, which results in a big piece of stiff material to handle, especially in the wind!

Good luck with your decision.

Chris

 

[Graham_374385307]

I ordered one by Kampa as it offered a 2 year Guarantee and stated inner layer will not scratch the caravan. Only time will tell.

However supplier initially sent me a Royal cover instead. On the box, this virtually states that it will scratch your van and is only to be used in windless environments!

I obviously returned it as not being fit for purpose, but I hope that they are not the only honest manufacturer?

 

[hogrider56]

I have a Pro-tec cover, albeit a small towing one for the front of the van, and it too leaves black marks...it must be a common fault with the fabric that this company uses.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

This is interesting. Do these marks come off? The marks we ended up with were over the whole van and it had the effect of shiny and dull patches, in a pattern like a leopards skin. They were slightly reduced with hard polishing, but never really disappeared.

 

[HenryS]

Hi. Having read this thread, I'm glad I opted for a Litre of Fenwicks "Overwinter". It's been on since September and the van still looks like new. It was a doddle to apply with the garden sprayer.

Henry.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Good to hear of a product which works and worth knowing about for the future.

Chris

 

[Paul_5064559]

And I am glad that all I bother with every spring is a couple of buckets of water and a long brush.....

Its a bit like the arguments for and agin garaging your car, modern constuction being what it is your van should be able to stand out all year in all weathers. I think many of these products can cause more damage than they will prevent.

 

[Dustydog]

Personally I am dead against covers of any kind.

We use our caravan throughout the year so a cover is pointless.

If a cover was such a good thing why don't all manufacturers supply them as oem and demand they are fitted when in storage.

I watched a chap down the farm two weeks ago struggling to fit his cover. I helped him and couldn't help notice how much the thing flapped in the wind gently abrading the lovely plastic windows.

Cheers

Alan

 

[hogrider56]

I only use my front Pro-Tec cover in the summer, just to keep the sunlight from fading the upholstery as I have to park the van facing due south when at home. As in my earlier post above, it does leave marks on the surface, but can be cleaned off using Silky cleaner. It tows fine with the cover in place, but it does seem flimsy, and in my opinion they are way over-priced.

 

[vernon]

I've used a Protec cover for the past 5 winters with no problems. (I always make sure that it is clean before fitting the cover). When I contacted Protec initially about size of the A frame cover, they agreed to alter it to suit my A frame, if I provided the measurements I required.

I agree with Paul that "......your van should be able to stand out all year in all weathers....." but unfortumately this is not the case with a lot of caravans, as witness the many forum threads on damp problems.

My van is covered in snow at the moment, and will be spotless when I uncover it next March.

 

[Surfer]

Hello Tim

No not after a year from purchase just be wasting time and money. At the end of the day you pay your money and take your chance now in this country.

Kind regards best wishes Steve

Stephen, under the Sale of Aoods Act you would be perfectly entitled to ask them to repair it free of charge or for a replacement. I had a similar issue with an awning and the repair was doen free of charge 18 months after the warranty had expired. Have a read through http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/consumers/fact-sheets/page38311.html and also log into http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/ for more advice. Then send them a preliminary letter and if this is rejected, send a Letter before Action advising of a claim through the Small Claims Court. normally they buckle in at this stage however if they don't proceed with the claim as you stand a very good chance of winning and then claiming all costs from them as long as you followed all their instructions regarding storage etc. In your case court fees shoudl not amount to anything more than