hi,i am trying to get some advice/help. my daughter bought a caravan recently from a private seller. I went with her to view it.the buy selling it was selling for a friend. all seemed very genuine. the caravan looked ok just needed some tlc . we asked if there were any damp issues as my daughter would be living in the van for a while. he assured the van was dry and had been in storage for 2 years. he delivered the van to our address. later that night my daughter being all excited with her van was inside starting some of the repairs eg tightening and straightening cupboard door hinges etc. she noticed it smelled damp so she lifted the mtress on the fixed bed and discovered it wasn't a fixed bed . it was half a dinette with a board screwed down to hold a bed matress. there ws also what looked like a false board that had been covered by the matress. she pulled this away and found rot not just damp but rot. further examination found more false boards masticked on and all had severe soaking wet rotten walls behind. the floors turned out to be the same and when she dropped the screwdriver ,it went through the floor!!!we took a video and contacted the seller asap. he said he would see what he could do. but he has not been in contact and did not come to see the state of the van as he had promised. he wont answer calls. what can we do as the rot had been deliberately hidden by fslse boards .The van is beyond repair and the quote to try and fix some of it is already 3 times more than the price of the van. my daughter is gutted as it has taken all her savings and being disabled she can not afford to replace it.
If she had bought from a dealer she would have had a come-back, but from a private individual the only recourse she would have is to take him to the Small Claims Court.
The only comeback you have from a private seller is if the they misrepresent the sale. So you need to refer only to what you can prove, ie what is in writing. If advert described a caravan a 'damp free' or even 'excellent condition' then you might have a basis for a claim but not otherwise.
What is year/make/model of caravan & how much did she pay? Do you have a link to the advert? Also post up pictures of damage. It may be repairable.
A few warning signs there. Selling for a friend always shouts its not my problem when you find something wrong.
Did you get the Cris registration document assuming its newer than 1992?
How old is it and how much did you pay?
Proving they missold it and getting your money back could be a battle.
One where they need to spend more and even then no guarantee of getting the money back.
As you admit she had the chance to inspect it fully and also had you there to help. This could be shown as a sign you accepted the condition of the van.
so doesnt look good. the damage had been deliberately concealed by the seller. extra boards have been stuck over the original van boards to hide it . the van had no paperwork. cost her 1500 for a 1998 plate. feel so bad for her as she has been recently diag with MS at 29 yrs old,had to give up work/move back home and the van was to be her home at ours basically . the seller knew this as well which makes it even worse. just wondering how many times he has done this. personaly I would like to return the van and park it at the top of his drive and let it roll down onto his nice new 4x4 pickup. but would cause more stress to my girl .
advert has disappeared ,trying to get facebook to trace it as it was on a members only site.the ad stated the van in good sturdy state with no damp issues just needs tlc as cupboard doors loose or missing.
Name & shame, I would. Post up name & address of seller & make/model of caravan you bought. Does he sell on ebay? Plenty of sellers of cheap caravans go around banging on doors offering to buy older caravans on driveways.
I have a 1995 caravan & a few times I've had characters on my door enquiring if caravan is for sale. I just send them on their way but I guess they make cash offers to tow caravan away then try to sell on to make a few £100s on the deal.
yes i am considering name and shame but more inclined to see if our local newspaper would do an article on it. especially as it is a blatant cover up of a major problem which could cost lives. the state of the floor is so rotten at the back of the van that any severe bump in the road towing it could have caused the whole backend to collapse.maybe could warn future buyers what to look out for as I am sure this would not have been a one off job;as you said; sellers collecting scrap vans; then covering inside up with new boards and paper and selling at stupid profits for basically deathtraps to unsuspecting buyers.
Must admit I think there has been a serious lack of research done here, which you will obviously now realise.
One thing research would have found you was that that model was not a fixed bed.
Alarm bells at that point.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Hi,
Just a thought, are you with the AA or perhaps in a union both of whom may provide free legal advice?.
Perhap's you could get a free solicitors advice and letter sent.
Not sure if it would do any good but surely worth a try.
Agree with other people though, sounds like this guy is a professional con artist.
So sad for your daughter.
Good luck.
Regards,
Greg
Quote: Originally posted by simon59 on 03/12/2016
try trading standards caravan not fit for purpose and if the add was in the paper the paper will help you find it.
As the OP stated the advert was a PRIVATE advert on Facebook, not anywhere else.
Trading Standards will not be interested.
Sorry to hear about your raw deal,there are some unscrupulous people about.
I suspect you will have to put it down to experience, if its that bad I am amazed you did'nt smell damp.
Advice on here,pepeated often, is to get a damp meter and use it.
You could speak to trading standards but as earlier posters have stated, probably no hope. Try citizens advice bureau?
Going the legal advice route would be expensive unless you could get a free session with a solicitor who would tell you if its worth pursuing.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
we are on Lincolnshire/Norfolk border. unfortunately we are not all savvy on all the makes of vans. we looked up what to look for when buying a van and went by that. there was no smell of damp at the time and none visable. it is not something we would have found at the point of sale. so yes I am afraid she has lost her money and what was to be her home.she is back on my sofa for the foreseeable future. But as they say "what comes around also goes around" so this evil man will get his comeuppance one day. :)
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Topic: where do i stand.caravan not as described
personaly I would like to return the van and park it at the top of his drive and let it roll down onto his nice new 4x4 pickup. but would cause more stress to my girl . 
