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Hi, we bought a new caravan in 2007, it was an ex display model from a dealership, while we were giving it a wash after the last trip out we noticed pock holes in the paintwork, a family member works for the motortrade as a body repair specialist and we got him to look at it, he has told us that the caravan has had a repair before we bought it, we were not made aware of this at the time of purchase and we assumed we were buying a new undamaged caravan. The caravan is due for service on 5th October and I wondered if anyone could advise me on how to deal with this issue, should I mention it before I take it to its service? Does the dealership have a legal obligation to inform us of any damage repaired on the caravan before we purchased it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Gillian

Quote: Originally posted by walker family on 08/9/2009

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Does the dealership have a legal obligation to inform us of any damage repaired on the caravan before we purchased it? Any advice would be appreciated.

Gillian

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http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

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Thanks for the replies, by pockholes i mean...if you imagine someone stabbing at the paintwork with a fork, the holes are indentations, in the paintwork. It has only just started showing as it was not there in april when the van was last cleaned, and on closer inspection you can see where the repair has been done on the inside if you practically climb into the gas locker, apparently it takes longer for some fillers ect to start failing and showing up the repairs. I feel I may be fighting a loosing battle on this one.

Gillian

You say that it was a new van you bought, even if it was an ex display model, new means unused. Not towed, not lived in etc. If a 'new' van has had a repair, why?, and surely you should be told that you are buying a 'new' van that has been 'used, therefore not a 'new' van? The fact that it has been repaired for whatever reason, must mean that it is not 'new'?

I do hope you can get to the bottom of this, but most dealerships do not have a good record about being honest, do they? This makes me very cross, we spend a lot of money buying caravans and i would be devastated if this kind of thing happened

I was told on Monday by my dealer that such problems are 'Cosmetic and not covered by warantee', I stood my ground and after a few heated debates with management, they finally agreed to put them right, but only after a further 6 week wait, despite them reassuring me that the job would be done this time it went in to have some electrics sorted, after we first spotted the fault at handover when we bought it.

Julia

Well thanks for all the replies, i am going to mention it when it goes in for service and will see what happens, we paid a lot of money for an unused caravan and I may have to battle but I am determined to get it sorted one way or the other, who knows, they may be quite nice about it.....then they may not.....I wont know till I try,but I  will let you know what happens.

Gillian

I would have thought that as the van was new even if it was a demonstration model it would be covered by the manufactorers warranty. Even if it was a repair ,whether done by the dealer or by the manufactorer it was  a poor repair done before the sale & as such is a warranty repair down in the first instance to the dealer.

but you must be able fo prove the repair had been done before you bought it

As promised here is an update, the dealership have had the caravan for 2 weeks, we played dumb when we took it in and just said we had noticed holes appearing, rang today to see if it was ready for collection and was told the holes are stone chips,I then let them know that we have had a paint/body specialist look at the paint and told them the paint specialist said it was bad filler work done on a repair, they are now going to re-look at the caravan and it is staying with them,I have said that I am more than happy to pay for a further independant paint/body specialist to visit the caravan and give tham a report of his findings, I am now awaiting for the dealership to get back to me. I will keep you up to date when I know more.

Gillian