Damp problem in 2012 Swift Caravan

Photowork
Photowork Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

Took our van in for service this morning to be advised that we have two small cracks at the top of the rear chassis which have allowed water in over the summer. The van is inside the six year warranty period but I can't find all the service receipts for
the past three years (moved house last year and still getting sorted!). The dealer thinks Swift may reject the claim if we can't prove a regular service history but I cannot afford the £3.5k repair if not. Does anyone know if this is a one off for Swift or
has it happened with others. I was advised today that two recalls are on file for the caravan but we have never received any communication from the dealer we bought from or Swift. Any advice appreciated.

Comments

  • Davy44
    Davy44 Forum Participant Posts: 5
    edited September 2016 #2

    At the first service of my 2015 Swift Freestyle the dealer found damp in the rear toilet roof. External examination revealed a crack in the top section of the rear panel - also the tape joining the panel had become unstuck. Swift eventually agreed to repair
    under warranty - that was in February, I'm sill waiting for them to deliver the parts.

  • Tirril
    Tirril Forum Participant Posts: 439
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    Do you pay by credit card etc? Even if you no longer have the actual transaction record, if you still have the monthly statements you will be able to fix the dates. I would then ask the dealer to check his records (mine keeps a copy and would be able to provide the proof needed). I understand most makes have a limited time slot usually about 4 to 6 weeks either side of the anniversary during which the service must take place otherwise the extended warranty is invalidated

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
    500 Comments
    edited September 2016 #4

    Took our van in for service this morning to be advised that we have two small cracks at the top of the rear chassis which have allowed water in over the summer. The van is inside the six year warranty period but I can't find all the service receipts for the past three years (moved house last year and still getting sorted!). The dealer thinks Swift may reject the claim if we can't prove a regular service history but I cannot afford the £3.5k repair if not. Does anyone know if this is a one off for Swift or has it happened with others. I was advised today that two recalls are on file for the caravan but we have never received any communication from the dealer we bought from or Swift. Any advice appreciated.

    Write your comments here... hi I assume that all your services were done at a Swift approved work shop ! If that's the case then all your relevant service history should have been placed on Swifts own Caravan service data & they should be aware of everything that's been done.

    Check with Swift first , I know that for a fact as my Swift is serviced by a Swift trained / approved independent engineer who has access to their data base , & adds service data for each Swift he deals with , hope this helps having a receipt should be irrelevant as long as the service history data as been kept up to date.

  • Photowork
    Photowork Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited September 2016 #5

    Thanks very much to the responders. this gives me more confidence about the next steps.

  • pennyandsteve
    pennyandsteve Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited September 2016 #6

    I wouldn't worry too much. Our caravan had  this problem and it was a common fault with Swift in  2011/12 So long as you have had the caravsn serviced by a Swift Agent they or swift should be able to  confirm the warranty has been upheld..

  • Bluemalaga
    Bluemalaga Forum Participant Posts: 936
    edited September 2016 #7

    Search high and low for your service history and be sure you have registered your ownership with Swift. Our daughter had the same damp from 2 cracks along the top section of the rear of the van, also found during a service.Swift declined to honour the warranty
    as change of ownership was not registered and the service was late. If a recall had taken place as a manufacturing fault was to blame, the repair should have taken place at Swifts expense. They did eventually supply the parts free of charge as a gesture of
    goodwill after 5 months. The labour had to be paid by our daughter. 

    Manufacturing faults should be repaired wholly at the expence of the manufacturer as in the car industry or any other reputable industry.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited September 2016 #8

    Caravan manufacturers can be very hard in making sure the terms of the guarantee are complied with. Assuming you do have a problem and you bought it from a dealer you are protected by The Sale of Goods Act and if there is a problem you need to quote this
    to the dealer and point out this is a known fault with this caravan as evidence of the caravan being defective. Once people know you are aware of your legal rights it can be surprising how things change.

    You can get advice on your legal rights from the clubs Legal Helpline.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,585
    1000 Comments 250 Likes Photogenic
    edited September 2016 #9

    Search high and low for your service history and be sure you have registered your ownership with Swift. Our daughter had the same damp from 2 cracks along the top section of the rear of the van, also found during a service.Swift declined to honour the warranty
    as change of ownership was not registered and the service was late. If a recall had taken place as a manufacturing fault was to blame, the repair should have taken place at Swifts expense. They did eventually supply the parts free of charge as a gesture of
    goodwill after 5 months. The labour had to be paid by our daughter. 

    Manufacturing faults should be repaired wholly at the expence of the manufacturer as in the car industry or any other reputable industry.

    Your daughter would have a claim against the selling dealer under The Sale of Goods Act and may still be able to claim for the labour charge from them as Swift supplying the parts would be an admission that the caravan was faulty.

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited September 2016 #10

    We have just had our Swift van serviced and they found damp, it's going to be fixed under warranty but I can't help thinking why in this day and age can we not produce vans that are watertight?