It is with real anger that I have to report further leaking windows on my REPLACEMENT Ace Jubilee Equerry. The front windows have now had replacement seals fitted already and I have discovered this afternoon that the the front offside lounge window has started to leak during heavy rain. This is in addition to a failing Thetford fridge pcb, Status T.V.signal booster and a broken lower bunk support. I am also suffering with a tempremental on board water pump which it seems quite a few people are suffering with. I have today formally rejected this caravan as well. This van is still less than 6 months old and already looks like being worse than my previous Equerry. I am not prepared to put up with nearly four years of returning my caravan back to the dealer numerous times and also back to the manufacturer. I am getting to the point where each time I go away I end up getting stressed out by failures with the caravan which then ruins the trip. Seems to me that life would be less stressful without a caravan!
Absolutely unbelievable that quality control can let people down so badly. Really sorry that you're having so many problems. I hope you manage to get something sorted out soon.
QC is not a new problem for uk vans sad to say but a good dealer should be able to fix the faults in fact sounds like they never checked it over, so lets find out who they are ?
We had 12 months of problems with our new caravan bought new last year and just managed to get it changed for a new one.This one is much better finished off than the last one. We have a few teething problems but hopefully these will be sorted out soon.So sorry you are having problems again Andy. That is our biggest fear with this van but we are keeping our fingers crossed.
We had faults with our new van. Wrote a letter to the manufacturer to complain - all we got back was a "Not our fault - blame the dealer" reply. Most of the faults should have been picked up on the PDI, but they shouldn't have been there in the first place. Put most of 'em right by myself - wouldn't trust the dealer if they can't get a PDI right!
Thanks for your messages of support. The customer services manager has been in touch with me (on Monday)from Discover and he is supposed to be getting back to me once he has talked to Swift. I think they are now back from the summer shut down? They have till end of play Friday to respond or else the caravan will be ceremoniously deliverd back to Coppull.
You sound as determined as we were Andy.You want what you paid good money for and expect nothing less.We eventually got our van changed but it took a lot of time, telephone calls, letters , journeys backwards and forwards to the dealers(75mile round trip), lost holidays and sleepless nights.It is time the manufacturers stood up to their responsibilities.Unfortunately the dealer is the one the contract is made with and they have to sort it out.We took legal advice and the next step was court proceedings but fortunately the van was changed.Quality control is lacking in many cases.Our two caravans were entirely different in build quality but both fro the same place(Cottingham). The men/women who built our latest caravan took care in what they did. We haven't found any slipshod work in this one as we did in the other.They should get rid of the workers who do not take pride in what they do.It would save a lot of money in the long run and they would have more satisfied customers.
I am indeed very determined as I do not want another 3 years of the same situation we have both suffered. They have the ultimatum of yet another replacement or a full refund. They say they need to talk to Swift which I am sure they would want to do but I have reminded them that my contract is with them and not the manufacturer (Swift are apparently on summer shutdown at present).
I have this weekend posted formal rejection letters to both Discover and to Kath at Swift (the original rejection was by e-mail). I tried to hand one to the sales manager at Coppull but was told they we're busy so had to leave the letter with reception. I did get a receipt of delivery.
I went to check the windows again on Sunday and sure enough water had got between the rubbers and the window. I got some photos and have sent them to the Customer Services Manager at Discover.
Swift had requested that the caravan was sent back to the factory for investigation. This we were OK with but we wanted guarantees that if there was any further faults after any probable repair then we would get our money back.This Swift refused to do. As an alternative we offered them the option of a 1st fault an amount of compensation, 2nd fault a higher amount of compensation and finally a 3rd fault full refund. This was to be considered to run for a period of 12 months only. Again Swift have refused.This seems as though they have very little faith in their product to me. I have eventually this afternoon agreed to have the caravan sent back to the factory with no conditions as I do not want to be seen as being awkward especially as this seems to be heading towards court proceedings. We have been contacted by Trading Standards and they have confirmed that we have a good case against Swift. We will be instructing a solicitor on Monday morning so that both avenues are being followed. Swifts atitude has continually been a case of this is what is on offer take it or leave it with no pretence to consiliation. All they have ever said is they want the caravan back to the factory before any further discussion takes place. They initially stated they would inspect at our storage facility but this was withdrawn when we broached the subject of an independant engineer being present (hmm). They are now saying we can send an engineer to the factory. We are the ones who have had 3 years of stress, missed holidays and extra expense all through no fault of our own. Yet we are the ones who are suffering again. This whole sorry affair is making both my wife and myself ill, my wife has started suffering with shingles and my stress levels cannot be doing me any good.
Hi Andy, This episode certainly makes me reconsider whether Swift's products should considered, by us, as we are about to start looking for a new 'van. Their products would need to be spectacularly better, and cheaper, before we would buy. Back to Bailey, with their excellent customer care, it seems which is obviously no bad thing.
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Topic: The replacement leaks as well!!!!
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