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My friend got a "new" caravan at the weekend and when she went to put up  the awning found it was 2 sizes too small.  She contacted him and he was really rude to her on the phone and doesn't want to know about it.

Also the internal fixtures (i.e. plate rack etc) had been removed but this doesn't bother her but having to buy a new awning after spending a lot of money she had to save for is annoying her.

Has anyone else ever come across this problem and if so what did you do?

She had been warned about him but really wanted the caravan he had now wishes she had listened to others who had similar experiences with him and looked elsewhere.

Was it a brand new van or just new to her?

Do not stand for such attitude of this so called salesman.

First check before you go if it is a limited company, does he work there, or own it?

You say she? she should not even think about this problem if she is alone, she should go back 'with her husband' hopefully or another male (bigger the better) and sort the dealer, if they do not get any joy just tell him fine, your going straight to the trade and standards office and a solicitor and will give him some free advertisement on every caravan web site.

Please tell us all who this so called caravan dealer is!

Quote: Originally posted by wacablue on 21/7/2010

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My friend got a "new" caravan at the weekend and when she went to put up  the awning found it was 2 sizes too small.  She contacted him and he was really rude to her on the phone and doesn't want to know about it.

Also the internal fixtures (i.e. plate rack etc) had been removed but this doesn't bother her but having to buy a new awning after spending a lot of money she had to save for is annoying her.

Has anyone else ever come across this problem and if so what did you do?

She had been warned about him but really wanted the caravan he had now wishes she had listened to others who had similar experiences with him and looked elsewhere.

 

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First off - name him (or her) on here and shame them. Was it a "proper" dealer with forecourt & showroom or a guy selling a few part exchanges he's got from decent dealers?

There is of course legal recourse or trading standards. It isn't fit for purpose i.e. caravan and awning - A reasonable person would expect the awning to fit the van.

If you didn't open the cupboards to realise there were no fittings are you sure there is no damp in there?

Sorry was away for weekend so didn't get to answer any of you.

She has a husband who is away working at the moment and won't be back for another 3 months so I feel he is taking advantage of a woman on her own.

He provides awnings with all his vans and it was a new awning he sent with it, one he probably couldn't get rid of due to the size of it as her new to her van would be the most common size around.  Apparently whatever van he takes in he just takes the awnings out and then when he sells a vans just sends whatever one comes to hand with that van.

Yes the plate racks were in the van when she looked at it as we went to check it over before she bought it and my OH actually commented on the drinks cupboard and places to put glasses and bottles which had also been removed.

She was thinking of buying another van he had that we originally went to look at and we would not have touched with a barge pole between broken window, replaced window with wrong window and toilet sink about to come away from wall as well as floor of caravan as bouncy as a trampoline.  Think he was a bit mad when we mentioned all this to her and then she decided on a van that was in very good condition only problem was he had told her how much he was giving her for her old van and couldn't go back on his deal as both vans were the same price on window but original one was no way worth the money where as the one she ended up getting was.

He owns the business and deals in secondhand vans and works from his house a few miles just outside Limavady in Northern Ireland.  Anyone from around here will know who he is and will have probably heard bad reports about him as I have, but my friend couldn't find another van in our area and due to husband away working unfortunately had to stick to within a certain distance.

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If he sold the caravan with an awning then that awning must be fit for purpose. If it doesn't fit the caravan sold..........I rest my case..............well almost....

1. Was the van advertised "with awning"

2. If not advertised, did the slaesman actually say that the van came with an awning?

If an awning was never mentioned as part of the deal then it is not included in the "sale" and would not be caught by the usual Consumer Regulations.

Assuming its part of the sale, write and ask for an awning that fits the actual caravan. When you get no reply or a refusal then write and say that you feel that you have no alternative but to consider seeking legal advice and discussing the matter with the Local Trading Standards office (Part of the Consumer Affairs branch of government in NI) . In the mean time talk to their helpline at 0300 123 6262

Phil

Quote: Originally posted by wenz on 25/7/2010

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we went to the dealer for a look when we were thinking on our first van, he had a lot of heaps of caravans at mental prices none of them looked clean he hadnt even got the manners to come over to us and ask us were we ok, so we quickly left and took our hard earned cash with us,

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