I haven't been able to post this for a while cos I'm so angry at myself for being so stupid but I wanted to warn other "would be" caravan purchasers, who could benefir from our experiences.
We recently changed our 2006 Swift for a 2006 Bailey, for a different layout, which I still love. I researched the different models available and decided on the Vendee. There were few caravans around that suited our price range and we found one about 1 and half hours from home. I called the dealer the day before and arranged the price and when we saw it the next day we decided to go ahead with the deal. We picked it up about ten days later and at the the time were impressed with the way they handled changing the mover. The guys were all very friendly and helpful and we left thinking we would definately go back.
However, I had asked about the service history and was told it would be in the van. When we picked it up at the workshop, where they had been working on the mover, we were shown round the van very quickly (about 10 minutes). We were a bit bamboozled with it all as it was a different make of caravan. Then we were hitched up and we left. In our excitement and naivety, we totally forgot about the service history and as you can guess, there was nothing, not even a PDI report.
We had already got a service booked with a mobile service engineer for our Swift so we kept that appointment and asked him to just Damp check the caravan. We discovered then, 2 bad areas of damp, one reading 30% at the front, the second reading 60% at the back. In this area the wall boards were actually spongy! We were gutted!!
I dealt with a dealer because I stupidly believed that we would be safe. This dealer damp checked our old caravan whilst we stood there, so I'm pretty sure that they must have checked the new one we were buying.
I contacted them by email, as soon as we returned home from our weekend away. In fairness, they did say to book it into the workshop they use(which is independent to them) and they will "assess and amend". That's where it is now. Since then we have drawn up a list of problems. They are all being done under the warranty which I insisted that they stretch from 3 months to 6! There is still no sign of any service history or PDI report and I'm plucking up the courage to do battle with them over that one at the moment.
But please,please if anyone out there believes, as we did that a large dealer would always be honest, then think again. For the damp to be that bad, it must have been going on for some time. Always ask for a damp report and service history!
Alison
Omg that's terrible and I really hope it is sorted out to your satisfaction. I am worried now as we pick up our van on Sunday and have simply trusted that we'll be ok with a large dealer as we are new to this. I hope its not the same place will you name and shame or say the area?
Good advice for others, Alison. We went to a dealer hoping that we wouldn't encounter such problems and having browsed these boards for some time I knew to ask for damp report and service history, plus we extended our warranty from 6 months to a year so hopefully any problems will surface during that time,
CatieB, I'm a bit reluctant to name and shame, as at the moment our van is in their workshop. Plus they seem to be dealing with the problems. But if it helps, it was an hour and a half from Luton up the M1 and M6.
Thank you Alison, that is a different direction to where we are heading but it has certainly made me think. We didnt even question the dealer really and just accepted everything he said as its a big dealer with an allegedly good reputation. Ummm feel a bit silly now???
we got our 2007 bailey ranger from discover Darlington in nov last year,they lokked over our trade in 2000 elddis firestorm and found front riddles with damp and pointed out some pimle/bobble marks on front window cill,we pointed out that they were there when we bought it from them 18 months earlier and was told it was due to heat from the sun so think it was sold to us with damp already starting to take hold,anyway they found a buyer and still took it in as trade in, we asked for service history for new van only 3 years old at time of purchase and were told cant have it for data protection reasons after many conversations and threat of solicitors were given some print outs with little or no info when we registered it with chris got some advice from them and back on phone and got the history only to find it had had quite a few bits done to it ie new front locker door new front curtain rail and holders and a few more bits and bobs and now are not sure if it had been damaged in accident or something asked Discover and they said no but how can you find out, if it had been in accident repairs were very good to round up still better to deal with a trader than private as a bit more legal protection in my opinion
------------- Live Each Day Like Its Your Last, One Day Youll Be Right
I'm currently helping my mother with her motorhome '92 Ducato, a lovely old bird - the van - and in really good condition we thought until she took it into have it habitation check done.
Damp found in the roof in three places - 40%, 60% & 80%, she was told to take her home and love her!
Is there anything that can be done to fix it - short of a new roof that is! Unfortunately mum bought the van privately from obviously a not very honest person who has ignored all correspondence and threats of court.
What a shame but I would have thought that it could be sorted, it would just depend on how much she was prepared to pay. Our work is going to take 2 weeks so I can only imagine how much that would cost in labour alone. Fortunately, we're not paying. It would be worth taking it to a workshop and getting some advice.
Good luck to you Mum Wanda, I hope she manages to get it fixed.
Alison
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Topic: Damp in "new" caravan
