Need advice - various problems

GrandmaLiz

Guest
Hi all,
I’ll try to be as brief as possible:
I bought my MH (1995 2.4 diesel automatic VW T4 Holdsworth Valentine) in March this year from a dealer (not local to me – approx 150 miles away) and I have had a few problems with it since purchase. It was supposed to have had a full habitation check and service prior to purchase – which included a 12 month insurance backed ‘warranty’. I had about £2,500 worth of extras fitted prior to buying it (solar panel, alarm and immobiliser, reversing camera). I paid for everything on my credit card. Problems as follows:
• Water ingress into main habitation area – turned out to be blocked waste outlet and consequent build up of water. Had full habitation check by a local dealer, problem identified and fixed, reimbursed by vendor.
• Significant loss of engine power uphill – had vehicle serviced by local dealer who said filters etc. needed changing which suggested that the vendor hadn’t serviced it prior to me buying it. Problem improved although to some extent the lack of power is apparently due to the van not being a turbo diesel.
• Main battery not charging – called out RAC and needed a new battery.
• Wind out awning fitted incorrectly i.e. tension brackets in wrong place (at extreme right and left of ‘rail’) which means that the extending ‘support arms’ don’t do their job properly and I can’t attach the supports for the zip-on safari room. Last week was the first time I wanted to use the safari room so I have only just discovered this problem. I haven’t had it looked at yet but I assume the ‘tension brackets’ will have to be moved which will leave holes in the body with potential water ingress problems.
• Finally, I don’t think my ‘warranty’ is valid. Reading the small print, the dealer should have guaranteed the vehicle was sound prior to sale and should have stamped the service log. I looked at the log but there is no stamp by the dealer.
I am very worried that if anything else should go wrong the warranty won’t be worth the paper it’s written on and I still have to resolve the problem with the awning.
I would really appreciate any advice that anyone can offer. Are the above problems serious enough to justify me going back to the dealer and asking for a full refund and then going elsewhere for a MH? Thanks for reading this and for any help you can give.
Thanks,
GrandmaLiz
 
Blimey, you have been very unlucky with your purchase. I would certainly go back to the original dealer and speak to him. I am sure you have a case for him to put right at the very least the problems with the van itself though It sounds as if you have had these fixed elsewhere.
Whether the dealer would be responsible for any extras that have been fitted to the van ie Awning etc (you dont mention whether it is factory fitted or add on. I would also ask for the service log / warranty to be stamped.

I must be honest and say I bought my motorhome late last year from a German dealer and it sounds like he might be related to yours, they never carried out habitation check, or serviced engine ( or else they would have found the injector not working which later cost me £500 to put right) The electrics were not only shoddy but bloody dangerous as we later found out. All in all I was disgusted with the service I recieved and had I bought closer to home, there would have been hell to pay, but I didnt fancy a 700 odd mile drive to shout at someone.

I do hope you get some satisfaction from them.
 
Thanks for the reply Hazy-Thoughts. The awning was fitted by the dealer I bought the MH from as part of the basic purchase. Sorry to hear about your problems - it seems as though some dealers have no conscience, ethics or concern for safety. It's a pity they don't value the benefits of good PR, the best being word of mouth recommendation!

Regards,
GrandmaLiz
 
Hi GrandmaLiz,
take it back and demand repairs done, and quote the sale of goods act, with a view to seeking legal advice.
The awning brackets, if fitted in the wrong place would invalidate the warranty, should it twist. I had a similar problem with a dealer fitted awning some years ago and approached Fiamma, that was the answer I got.
Put it all in writing, keeping a copy of everything you say for later, should it be necessary to seek legal adice.
God luck.
Bill.
 
Hello again LIz,

I passed your thanks onto Darren:)

Same advice as to warranty still applies!


Peter
 
No probs Grandma :)

Reading your post am I right in believing that you have had all faults, ie battery, and blocked waste outlet fixed, leaving only the awning that is still not right. :confused:

Get back there and demand that warranty is stamped and assured, and then get the pillock to sort out the awning as it was already fitted and part of purchase I am pretty sure it would be covered by any warranty he would issue you with.

Best of Luck
 
Hi Grandmaliz,

I am NOT normally one to court any kind of contoversy, Buuuuttt, there are occassions. Name the B******ds
and shame them, or at least let them know you will if satisfaction is not forecoming. having spent a long time in the good ol US of A, I realise that we Brits are very poor when it comes to demanding our rights. Go for it. Good luck

Dezi
 
Thanks to everyone for replying. I have had some helpful advice from *John Cross Motorhomes. It's good to see *some companies understand and practice customer care and although I haven't bought anything from them yet, I will be happy to do business with them in the future.

Fortunately, it seems that the awning is probably fitted correctly - fingers crossed it is OK when I put it up next (hopefully in a few days). I still need to resolve the warranty problem but at least I won't be complaining about the wrong things - I'm so glad these forums (fora) are there to help, I hope I can repay the favour for someone else one day. :)

Thanks again,

(Grandma)Liz
 
Have a chat with your credit card provider about a partial/total chargeback, most credit card providers allow this for defective goods if the supplier ignores your requests - but you need independent proof in the form of an inspection report, purchase documents, advert, etc. Just dont let it go much longer as there are time limits. The CC provider usually requires the vendor to respond within 7 working days to a chargeback demand - if they dont respond you get your money back.

Exhaust all avenues before the name and shame - once outed they wont talk to you again except in a court.
 
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