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Caravan Internal Leaks
fabledeb
Posts: 7 Forumite
Hi.
I am trying to find out if I am able to reject a new caravan that recently went in for a warranty repair to fix an internal water leak. I have read other posts on other sites where if I have read it correctly, I may be in a position to reject. The circumstances are:
We took delivery of our new Elddis Avante 550 Caravan in late July 2017. Whilst away on a trip in late August we became aware of water running across the floor. I found the water to be coming from the water inlet pipe where it enters a t piece and then runs off to the kitchen sink.
The van went back to the dealer for the leak to be repaired along with a couple of other warranty repairs. Apparently they simply cut away the end of the pipe which was damaged and then reconnected to the t piece.
We collected the van approx 3 weeks ago and went away this weekend for a 2 night trip. This was the first trip since the repair to the leak was carried out.
When setting up the van we connected the water barrel to the pump and then opened the taps to prime the system. No water came out of the tap but I then became aware that the floor of the van was covered in water. By covered, I mean water everywhere. I quickly noticed that the water was leaking, well I should say spraying out like a sprinkler at the same point the dealer carried out the initial repair. So the extent of the leak was worse after the so called repair.
We quickly turned of water supply, pump and electrics as the water had sprayed over all the main electrics. We did our best to mop up what we could but to put it into context we have 2 large soaked bath towels and a large blanket/throw. This was the water we were able to soak up.
Water has run along at least half of the floor surface of the van including under front locker, both front seats and under fridge, cooker and across the other side of the van to the van wall and into the bathroom.
My reason for considering a reject is two fold. Firstly repair not completed first time and secondly is the potential damage to the van not only now but more likely in the future when the woodwork which has come into contact with water swells etc due to water damage. I am pretty certain that water will have gone under the floor lino so there is likely to be water in between the lino and wooden floor.To do this properly I think the dealer will need to to take a fair bit of the van furniture apart to capture and dry all the leakage. This will take time.
For anyone who is aware of the Elddis range they will know that the van is built with the SOLID construction system, so it should be water tight. That should stop water getting into the van. Worryingly I saw water running out from under the van which was clearly the internal leak finding its way out through the so called bonding and sealing? The SOLID construction should make it water tight so this is another potential flaw?
I am trying to read the Consumer Rights Act of 2015 myself but would welcome any help in interpreting this and what my rights might be. I don't necessarily want a refund. I would like a new van that has not been internally drenched in water after a first attempt repair by the dealer, which is likely to present further problems in the future.
Thanks
I am trying to find out if I am able to reject a new caravan that recently went in for a warranty repair to fix an internal water leak. I have read other posts on other sites where if I have read it correctly, I may be in a position to reject. The circumstances are:
We took delivery of our new Elddis Avante 550 Caravan in late July 2017. Whilst away on a trip in late August we became aware of water running across the floor. I found the water to be coming from the water inlet pipe where it enters a t piece and then runs off to the kitchen sink.
The van went back to the dealer for the leak to be repaired along with a couple of other warranty repairs. Apparently they simply cut away the end of the pipe which was damaged and then reconnected to the t piece.
We collected the van approx 3 weeks ago and went away this weekend for a 2 night trip. This was the first trip since the repair to the leak was carried out.
When setting up the van we connected the water barrel to the pump and then opened the taps to prime the system. No water came out of the tap but I then became aware that the floor of the van was covered in water. By covered, I mean water everywhere. I quickly noticed that the water was leaking, well I should say spraying out like a sprinkler at the same point the dealer carried out the initial repair. So the extent of the leak was worse after the so called repair.
We quickly turned of water supply, pump and electrics as the water had sprayed over all the main electrics. We did our best to mop up what we could but to put it into context we have 2 large soaked bath towels and a large blanket/throw. This was the water we were able to soak up.
Water has run along at least half of the floor surface of the van including under front locker, both front seats and under fridge, cooker and across the other side of the van to the van wall and into the bathroom.
My reason for considering a reject is two fold. Firstly repair not completed first time and secondly is the potential damage to the van not only now but more likely in the future when the woodwork which has come into contact with water swells etc due to water damage. I am pretty certain that water will have gone under the floor lino so there is likely to be water in between the lino and wooden floor.To do this properly I think the dealer will need to to take a fair bit of the van furniture apart to capture and dry all the leakage. This will take time.
For anyone who is aware of the Elddis range they will know that the van is built with the SOLID construction system, so it should be water tight. That should stop water getting into the van. Worryingly I saw water running out from under the van which was clearly the internal leak finding its way out through the so called bonding and sealing? The SOLID construction should make it water tight so this is another potential flaw?
I am trying to read the Consumer Rights Act of 2015 myself but would welcome any help in interpreting this and what my rights might be. I don't necessarily want a refund. I would like a new van that has not been internally drenched in water after a first attempt repair by the dealer, which is likely to present further problems in the future.
Thanks
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Comments
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Simply put, yes you would be in a position to reject the caravan as they have failed to fix the issue during the first repair. I'm not 100% sure whether caravans are treated as vehicles and as such any refund could have a deduction regarding usage. They are normally decent vans so personally I'd be pushing for a replacement rather than a refund, if they don't want to play ball then reject and get one from another dealer.
How did you pay for the van, has a credit card/finance company been involved?0 -
A deduction wouldn't be allowed as the CRA specifically states "motor vehicles" and refers to the Road traffic act for the definition of this. A motor home could have a deduction but not a pulled caravan as it would class as a trailer.I'm not 100% sure whether caravans are treated as vehicles and as such any refund could have a deduction regarding usage.0 -
Thanks for clarifying.shaun_from_Africa wrote: »A deduction wouldn't be allowed as the CRA specifically states "motor vehicles" and refers to the Road traffic act for the definition of this. A motor home could have a deduction but not a pulled caravan as it would class as a trailer.0 -
Hi. Thanks for the comments. In relation to the purchase we paid outright for it to the dealer although we took a bank loan out to buy. I will be informing the dealer that I intend to reject.0
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I can't see them and a rejection because it needs a new pipe a T piece0
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Do you want to rewrite that, maybe making some sense this timeI can't see them and a rejection because it needs a new pipe a T piece
What the dealer wants to do is irrelevant, the OP wanted to know his rights regarding rejection and he's been given the correct information. He is well within is rights to exercise his final right to reject the caravan.
As he's already stated, it's not just about a possible, simple job at a repair but more now to do with the potential problems to come now that his caravan has been flooded out.0 -
Do you want to rewrite that, maybe making some sense this time
What the dealer wants to do is irrelevant, the OP wanted to know his rights regarding rejection and he's been given the correct information. He is well within is rights to exercise his final right to reject the caravan.
As he's already stated, it's not just about a possible, simple job at a repair but more now to do with the potential problems to come now that his caravan has been flooded out.
It must have been pretty obvious what it meant since you've replied to if.
Potential problems aren't really relevant. They haven't happened.
If the dealer defends it then ops exposed to significant risk in terms of legal fees. It's not as straight cut as people around here seem to think.0 -
Costs/legal fees are severely limited in the Small Claims Court.
But of course we have not yet been told the value of the claim.
Maybe it won't 'fit' the SCC.
The cost is about £20,000
Very nice caravan0 -
It is a lovely van other than the faults to date. I emailed the retailer last night raising complaint and asking how they would put right and give assurance that any future problems linked to this leak will be put right. Having read up on my rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, I followed this up this morning with a further up e mail informing retailer that I don't want a repair but that I was exercising my right to reject. I am aware that both e mails have been received and read (joys of read receipts). I have received an e mail back today from the after sales manager offering a sincere apology and offering a repair if I would allow them to carry out a repair. They have offered to repair, full damp test and valet inside and out and deliver van to me rather than cause any further disruption to me, the damp test intended to give peace of mind. Although I have had no formal response to my letter notifying them that I was rejecting the van, I would suggest that the request to allow them to complete a repair may reinforce that they accept that I have the opportunity to reject at this stage.However this is where I now have some options to consider. Push for the reject and deal with any counter challenge and the associated cost of claiming money back through small claims which I believe will cost me a minimum of 5% of claim amount and then argue the toss with retailer of removing the motor mover. I guess they could argue that if they refund they have met their obligation and expect me to pay for any additional work, or I go for the repair but ask for written assurance that any future problems linked to water escape are put right. I bought the van at a sale price which was 3 K less than a new replacement van. My gut feeling is that the retailer will try and refund rather than replace as it may work out a few K cheaper for them? Not sure that the retailer is making a huge effort to encourage me to go with repair. I think what they have offered is probably the minimum they can get away within the circumstances. I will await the response from retailer re notification to reject and sleep on next step for a couple of days.0
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