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Hi bought a van from forest of dean caravan center,2 weeks back paid 1000 pound with nothing with it, a few things needed doing they agreed to fix, when i got home a noticed one of the grab handle on the front was loose.

On looking inside the van the front wall was damp wet...I contaced the dealer to explain i picked the van up friday and it was the next day and the wall was damp, he then said book it in, i did so had to run it all the way back to them from ponypool

I got there and he said dont unhitch it , then started to say they were not going to repair it, i looked at him confused and explained that he could have phoned me saving me the trip, he went on to say that they would buy it back and sell it on for more in that state, i then got angry and explained he agreed to the repair?, we then talked in the van for 5 min;s about how much they could sell it on and thats all they were going to do as it's over 15 years old etc..

I felt at that point pretty silly and embarised that i argued over a small repair and he made me feel awfull then, my wife and kids were there listen to him try to fob me off, i stuck to my ground and he then said ok, but thats all i will do on this van, my point is that this van was and still last time i looked on there web site selling for 1300 pound if they sell a van with a damp spot and water leaking are they by law suppose to repair it or is a grey area?...

I could have had the repair done locally for around 50 pound, saving me the time and effort of going back there, but i assumed and felt that that should have been done by them as i bought it of them, and it was not sold as seen it was sold as a stock van,I can understand that i only paid 1000 pound for this van but still...

Hi

I think I would have been relieved to be offered the opportunity to hand it back for a refund.  I certainly wouldn't have been in favour of having it repaired. That one damp patch might just be the tip of the iceberg so to speak - and there are so many used vans around that there would always be a better one somewhere else.

Also, it's pretty unethical for them to palm it off on another unsuspecting customer, so I think I would give that dealer a wide berth altogether!

may help

http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/callist.cgi

• Of satisfactory quality.

  This means the goods must meet the standards that any reasonable person would expect, taking into account the description, the price and all other relevant information. In some circumstances, the retailer may be liable for any statement made by the manufacturer about the goods.

• Fit for the purpose

  that goods of this type are generally sold. They must also be fit for any specific or particular purpose made known to the seller at the time of the agreement.

Just out of interest....

....what was the age and model of the carvan you bought?
Will

Hi spears

Have you checked the van with a damp meter? As Ulti-mates said above, that damp patch could be the tip of the ice-berg. It might look OK from the inside and out, but that means nothing.

Sorry if that bursts your bubble, but I'm sure you'd rather know if you have a serious damp problem. And the dealer doesn't sound like somebody that's going to be particularly bothered.

Quote: Originally posted by Elainef on 02/7/2007

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Though I would have thought if it had damp you should have been able to smell it.

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