Caravan rejection

[mattyc69]

After a bit of advise for the parents if anyone can help, I will keep it brief,

Old man has a caravan that's 11 months old.

Been in storage all winter and he went to get it last week and took it for its first service.

Now it has leaked over winter, not just a little leak a serious one.

Mould everywhere, wallpaper peeling off etc...

The dealer is saying it will have to go back to the manufacturer could without it for months, no offer of a loan caravan either.

Where does he stand? Is it too late to reject?

They spent a lot on this van for their retirement and in its second season looks like they may be vanless for a while.

As said before any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[PurpleMoonlight]

Presumably it was stored in the open and there was no evidence of the leave during last summer.

Why did it leak, is there any evidence of it being hit by anything?

[mattyc69]

No leaks at all last year, it's had the manufacturers approved cover on all winter aswell.

They know the leak is a manufacturing fault as they are happy to fix it but its got to go back to the OEM for this.

[PurpleMoonlight]

Are you sure it's a leak and not a condensation issue?

[anothernameitist]

They are repairing it. a warranty doesn't give extras like a courtesy van. if he had gone and inspected it every moth over the winter he would have found the fault earlier.

Upside is its one less van holding up traffic on the roads this summer.

[Rangeroverover]

Upside is its one less van holding up traffic on the roads this summer.

+1

[OverSteery]

anothernameitist said:

They are repairing it. a warranty doesn't give extras like a courtesy van. if he had gone and inspected it every moth over the winter he would have found the fault earlier.

Upside is its one less van holding up traffic on the roads this summer.

A warranty* has nothing to do with his legal rights to reject an item. I do not know how strong his claim is, but I would expect a new caravan, which is designed to live outside, would be watertight for 12 months. I would suggest it's not fit for purpose.

• anothernameitist - have you read his warranty? It will cover exactly what is says it covers.

[anothernameitist]

^ you have to give them an opportunity to repair, which they are doing.

Personally I'd reject all caravans. Lol

[eatcustard]

If the caravan is covered, how can it leak?

Was water left in tank/pipes over winter and they burst?

[hornetrider]

anothernameitist said:

Upside is its one less van holding up traffic on the roads this summer.

This is SP&L

[Nickyboy]

eatcustard said:

If the caravan is covered, how can it leak?

This

[mattyc69]

They are saying there is a roof leak apparently no burst pipes etc...

The cover is not 100% water tight but if it was not on there then I would imagine it would be a lot worse!

[eatcustard]

What make of caravan?

[anothernameitist]

Bet its a Bailey

[eatcustard]

anothernameitist said:

Bet its a Bailey

I say Lunar

[Chrisgr31]

If I was the OP I would be googling the manufactures name, model and leak to see how many others are suffering the same problem, as others might have said what they did.

It seems understandable that the caravan would go back to the manufacturer and I think in the circumstances I would want it fixed by the builder. So I suggest contacting the manufacturer and asking them what they are going to do and suggest they either give the parents a loan van or replace the van. They must have ex show vans, press vans etc that they could use for this purpose.

Also might be worth posting in the Tent and Caravan section of this board to see if anyone there has ideas.

[TbirdX]

Contacting the manufacturer, even if you can, won't do you any good (usually). It was bought from a dealer and that is where the contract was made and the responsibility lies.

Trading standards or CAB for advice.

[Wacky Racer]

His contract is with the supplying dealer....pursue them HARD. Don't be fobbed off.

I know they haven't made it, but the least they could do is offer you a loan van.

Elddis by any chance?

[Chrisgr31]

The dealer wont have a van hanging around though, and the dealer is the one that wants to send it back to the manufacturer, so might as well ask the manufacturer they can say no in which case one can go back to the dealer.

[hornetrider]

The OP is on the wrong website for advice. Time to head to the knowledgeable folk:

http://www.caravantalk.co.uk/community/