You either want the HP agreement to end, give up the van and be free to look for a another or to retain the caravan. You cannot do both. Here are some potential pitfalls
1. If you tell the HP company that you are witholding paying, but not refusing to pay, that can be an indication that you are affirming the continuation of the HP contract and that could prejudice your right to terminate. You would be recognising your obligation to pay and you are only obliged to pay if the agreement continues. If you are to reject the contract, then that rejection has to be unequivocal to be of any effect.
Read your HP agreement and in particular the clause relating to the missing of payments. You will find that all HP agreements set out what can happen if you miss payments. Keep yourself in the right.
2. If you want to terminate the HP arrangement then, if you pressure the dealer to repair the van, that would be a clear indication that you wanted to keep the van i,e, you are affirming the HP agreement and would not then have difficulty terminating it.
3. As you have an HP deal you do not have a contract with Discover. If you think about it, If I went along to Discover to demand a new van, even though I did not buy one from it, would I get any positive response from Discover? Under an HP arrangement you did not buy a caravan. Black Horse bought the van so the correct route would be to pressure Black Horse and leave them to deal with Discover. Remember, Black Horse, as the owner of the caravan, is responsible for its condition under the Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 as amended.
Discover cannot provide you with a replacement caravan. Your HP contract is for the van you have and so only Black Horse can change the van and alter the HP agreement to specify the replacement van and only then with your agreement.
This saga has run since September. The longer you take to decide on your course of action the harder it may be to get out of the HP agreement (if that is what you wish to do). Maybe it is time to decide what you want, be clear and unequivocal, and go for it in discussion with Black Horse.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
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