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Just thought I would update everyone on my problem with the Stering Eccles Caravan bought at the NEC show in October 2009 and collected June 2010.

Swift caravans eventually admitted the caravan was damaged in their factory and repaired before selling it on. I visited their stand at the NEC February this year and spoke to customer service. Following several communications I still could not persuade either Swift or Glossop to exchange the caravan for a new one.

I had involved Halifax bank as I had paid the £100 deposit for the caravan on my credit card but the best offer from them was £50 compensation. I decided to take my complaint to the Financial Ombudsman as  the bank are jointly responsible and after several months the Ombudsman found in my favour and the credit card company paid me the total amount I had paid for the caravan. It took ten months from start to finish but it was worth all the aggravation in the end.

I am now the owner of another new caravan, not a Swift or from Glossops!!

It is obviously worth paying a small deposit with your credit card on any purchase to give this extra protection even if it costs an extra couple of pounds in fees.

Thats interesting and it would be useful to have any info on the ruling? We have just put a large deposit down (£2k) on our bailey ranger which we pick up in 3 weeks. We asked to put down such a large deposit as we got a 0% deal for 12 months on our credit card...........the balance is being paid on the debit card.

Hi maverickdave, Very glad to hear it is sorted and in your favour, I know exactly what you were going through, as I had similar problems with a bank, when I was waiting for a heart operation, they had made a f up of things, and I almost lost my house, through their incompetence, took 6months to resolve the situation, got phone call from the ombudsman informing me that it was 2weeks since the case was settled in my favour, and had I received my settlement, I informed him I got a letter from bank stating that case found in my favour, but no acceptance form to sign, or return address,. He had to call them again and threatened them that if not sorted within two days; he would review the amount the bank had to pay me for their total incompetence. Congratulations on your new van. Hope you have better luck with your new van and new dealer.   

We have been looking at Swift and Sterling as a replacement for our 2006 Coachman.   This thread has given me pause for thought.  The main two reasons for considering a change are  (1) a 'snail' shower in the end bathroom, and  (2) a dinette for extra short-stop convenience.

With us getting on a bit, our existing Coachman circular shower is a little restrictive (the old bones not being so flexible), but I think we will, for the time being, stick with that rather than risk the aggravation suffered by the poster.

Bertie. 

Well done maverickdave. Many a consumer problem arises because of how we buy, so taking the precaution of using your credit card for part of that purchase, giving you another string to your complaints bow certainly paid off. Shame that these things take so long to resolve. Using the Financial Ombudsman also shows that you don't always need lawyers!!! No doubt Halifax are now seking recovery from Glossops.

Might be useful if the text of the decision could somehow be scanned in and then others can say to their errant dealers/banks "Remember the case of maverickdave and Halifax? Here's a copy"

Phil