Faulty Caravan - Refund refused

dentsp · 3 October 2016 at 6:08PM

Hi there,

Looking for some advice on consumer rights if possible. We purchased a second hand wheelchair accessible caravan from a company in August and have had multiple faults with it since then. We've only been able to use it on three occasions since and have had major faults with it every time.

They have repaired the issues each time but more and more faults keep happening to the point we no longer have any confidence left in it.

We have requested a refund but have been refused on the grounds it was sold as seen but I was under the impression businesses can't use that 'phrase'.

Does anyone know if we have any rights to claim a refund?

Many thanks, Steve

hollydays · 3 October 2016 at 8:58PM

What are the faults and how did you pay? What did you pay?

dentsp · 3 October 2016 at 9:07PM

Hi, thanks for the reply. We paid £15,500 by bank transfer and the faults we have had so far are:

Roof leak 3 times despite repairs
Water heater no longer works
Brakes faulty
Leisure battery faulty
Broken bed
Wet room floor floods as drain is higher than floor level
Numerous internal lights not working
Room divider fell apart
Door locked itself and we had to break in

We have given them 4 opportunities to repair faults but more keep happening every time the caravan is used.

[Deleted User] · 3 October 2016 at 9:27PM

It's a second hand (i.e. old) caravan. It can't be expected to be sold otherwise than "as seen".

If you wanted a brand new caravan (with a brand new guarantee) you should have bought one.

It would be no different if you bought a car second hand.

At least the seller is agreeing to repair the faults you have identified.

iammumtoone · 3 October 2016 at 9:41PM

Doesn't an item from a business seller have to be fit for purpose (whether its second hand or not)

This craven doesn't sound likes its fit for purpose to me.

The OP is not asking the seller to make it new, just to make it suitable for use as what it was sold.

shaun_from_Africa · 3 October 2016 at 9:49PM

dentsp wrote: »

We paid £15,500 by bank transfer

Was that the full selling price or did you also pay a deposit? and if so, how was the deposit paid?

dentsp · 3 October 2016 at 10:06PM

Thanks for the replies. I don't expect it to be new but as said it should be fit for purpose, which it is certainly not, regardless of the fact it's second hand. It's only 4 years old.

Shaun, no deposit was made, would that make a difference? The price was 12,500 with 3000 paid for extra work

shaun_from_Africa · 3 October 2016 at 10:18PM

dentsp wrote: »

Shaun, no deposit was made, would that make a difference?

I was hoping that a deposit was paid on a credit card as this would then have given you rights against the credit card company.

jobdone1 · 3 October 2016 at 11:01PM

Over 15k sold as seen um ? That's a !!!! take

Doc_N · 5 October 2016 at 6:37AM

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

It's a second hand (i.e. old) caravan. It can't be expected to be sold otherwise than "as seen".

If you wanted a brand new caravan (with a brand new guarantee) you should have bought one.

It would be no different if you bought a car second hand.

At least the seller is agreeing to repair the faults you have identified.

That's nonsense. You have considerable rights against a trade seller, but unfortunately after the first 30 days that does not include a refund.

This might help: http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

neilmcl · 5 October 2016 at 9:34AM

Doc_N wrote: »

That's nonsense. You have considerable rights against a trade seller, but unfortunately after the first 30 days that does not automatically include a refund.

This might help: http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act

Fixed that for you. A (full) refund is still an optional remedy up to 6 months.

Faulty Caravan - Refund refused

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