Hello, Thinking of buying a 2007 van that has not been serviced since 2009 or had a damp test. Seller is arranging a new damp test for me so offer would be subject to that being okay. However, should I be concerned by the missed services? Van seemed in good nick when viewed it.
It would mean that any remaining manufacturers water ingression warranty will be void because of the missed service's and should you discover damp at a later date there will be no comeback .
Most vans at that age would have had a 6 year water penetration guarantee providing the caravan is serviced annually which would provide cover to 2013 .
Unless its a bargain and your prepared to take the risk that there will be no damp issue's I would walk away
If it is clear of damp and the check was by a reputable organisation, I see no issue even if you transfer the warranty.
Even if there has been no service on a caravan since the day it was bought new and 4 years later damp was found assuming it is still with the original buyer, it would still be the responsibility of the dealer to sort it out under warranty, however when caravans change hands this becomes a very grey area.
As far as the running gear is concerned it won't matter, just get it serviced before you use it. If tyres are original they will be coming up to 5yrs old so possibly good for 1 more season or change them to be safe whatever the wear.
Id get yourself a check by a local MCEA approved engineer from their website. Costs between £60 - £100, they will do a full damp report and check all appliances aswell as a full inspection inside and out
Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 20/11/2011If it is clear of damp and the check was by a reputable organisation, I see no issue even if you transfer the warranty.
Even if there has been no service on a caravan since the day it was bought new and 4 years later damp was found assuming it is still with the original buyer, it would still be the responsibility of the dealer to sort it out under warranty, however when caravans change hands this becomes a very grey area.
When a new van is purchased the buyer enters into a contract that by having the caravan serviced annually the manufacturer will honour the warranty so even if the caravan is still owned by the original owner if "they" have not fulfilled there part of the contract by having the van serviced on time the warranty is null and void .
If what you say is true and a one owner 4 year old van with no service history would still be covered under the warranty for leaks nobody would need or bother to get there caravans serviced which is not true
it would still be the responsibility of the dealer to sort it out under warranty,
The dealers liability, if any, is to the party to whom he sold the van in the first place. If you buy this van you will have no contract with the dealer and so cannot expect that dealer to assist you if there are any problems.
If someone cannot be bothered to look after their van and have it serviced properly, there may be other concerns in adition to potential damp. Have it CRiS checked as well
With no warranty either, then you buy the van as seen and you are on your own if there are problems. Don't let the seller organise the inspection, appoint your own engineer to do that plus a full check over,
Phil
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Quote: Originally posted by neil and lena on 20/11/2011
Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 20/11/2011If it is clear of damp and the check was by a reputable organisation, I see no issue even if you transfer the warranty. Even if there has been no service on a caravan since the day it was bought new and 4 years later damp was found assuming it is still with the original buyer, it would still be the responsibility of the dealer to sort it out under warranty, however when caravans change hands this becomes a very grey area.
When a new van is purchased the buyer enters into a contract that by having the caravan serviced annually the manufacturer will honour the warranty so even if the caravan is still owned by the original owner if "they" have not fulfilled there part of the contract by having the van serviced on time the warranty is null and void .
If what you say is true and a one owner 4 year old van with no service history would still be covered under the warranty for leaks nobody would need or bother to get there caravans serviced which is not true
Post last edited on 20/11/2011 20:41:11
They would lose in a court of law if it was proved that lack of servicing caused the problem and it is highly unlikely that not having it serviced would cause damp. This type of case came up with a motor car and the applicant was successful. Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact details.
We only got the running gear serviced but when the gas fire went faulty after two years it was replaced under warranty. The same applied to the mattress which was nearly 3 years old when it was replaced.
If you have doubts please feel free to contact your local Trading Standards and advise that you have a 4 year old caravan with damp that has never seen a service but it has a 6 year warranty against damp. I also refer to http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2083/contents/made in addition to the Sale of Goods Act. The only issue would be that the dealer could state that if they had picked up the damp earlier it would not be as bad.
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 21/11/2011
it would still be the responsibility of the dealer to sort it out under warranty,
The dealers liability, if any, is to the party to whom he sold the van in the first place. If you buy this van you will have no contract with the dealer and so cannot expect that dealer to assist you if there are any problems.
If someone cannot be bothered to look after their van and have it serviced properly, there may be other concerns in adition to potential damp. Have it CRiS checked as well
With no warranty either, then you buy the van as seen and you are on your own if there are problems. Don't let the seller organise the inspection, appoint your own engineer to do that plus a full check over,
Phil
I think I made it clear that only the original buyer may stand a chance of making a claim without any service history.
Secondly for all we know the caravan may have only been towed a couple of hundred miles and then stored perhaps because the owner lost his job. We were on a seasonal site for nearly three years and servicing was out of the question however the warranty still stood.
Totally agree ref damp check by independent and a check on running gear and tyres.
If the van looks ok and you have it checked out by your own engineer and everything is ok and the price is wright then I would go ahead with the deal,the warranty from the dealer and from the maker is not worth the paper its written on they will find a way of getting out of it even if it had been serviced on time every year !.Ian
sorry I bought my 2005 van in 2007 1 year dealers warranty,no manufacturers warranty as it was not then transferable. Last year cracks appeared in the front panel & dampness occurred. The manufacturers warranty would have replaced the front panel,but it cost me £2k for repairs.
If it has not been serviced & there is no chance of the warranty being reinstated,Unless the asking price is well well below dealers price AND it is INDEPENDENTLY certified as damp free & in good order walk away
Quote: Originally posted by idmainian on 21/11/2011If the van looks ok and you have it checked out by your own engineer and everything is ok and the price is wright then I would go ahead with the deal,the warranty from the dealer and from the maker is not worth the paper its written on they will find a way of getting out of it even if it had been serviced on time every year !.Ian
Sorry but disagree with you over this , I have had two separate damp issues and floor delamination problem fixed under warranty on our previous 2002 Senator and a 2007 Pageant and on all three occasions Bailey authorised the repairs within 3-5 days of the claim being submitted .
Both vans had full service history so there was no problems getting the work carried out so to say that manufacturer's warranty's are worthless is untrue
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Topic: Buying van with missed services
