Scratches on window
Could I please have some advice.
In February this year I purchased from a well known dealership in Rushden a new dealership special Swift caravan. Sales and part exchange at the time were all fine. However when I picked up the van I noticed some scractches on the panoramic window, the scratches
look like they have been caused by someone using a dirty cloth with girt to clean the windows which has caused the problem, however this is my opinion. I pointed this out to the sales person on collection, and was told this would be rectified. I live over
two hours from the dealership so not a promblem I thought, I expected it to be sorted when I had the 1st service. The van has now been in for some other warranty work and service and I picked the van up last weekend. I was assured all the work was complete,
I did check the window when I collected the van last Saturday however the rain was pouring down so I couldn't really see the scratching. On looking at the window yesterday you can still see the scratching from the inside from the outside they look as though
have gone, from the inside you can visibly see the brush marks of what has been used and the scratches. Phoned the dealership yesterday only to be told they have been polished out, not in my opinion. I was originally told the window would have to be changed
however this has not happened. Will scrache's come out or will the window have to be changed, can I have some advice here please, I don't know what my next move should be, it's a long old trip back and forth. And yes with hindsight I should not have accpelted
the van in the first place, it seems as per usual good sales, poor after sales service.
Comments
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As you rightly say before accepting it would have been better to get sorted, I bought a new swift 10 years ago. There was a problem with edging trim on worktop. I accepted the caravan but with a letter confirming that the worktop would be replaced. We were
off on holiday a week or so later,With regard to polishing out. When I bought my present lunar there were two scratches on the side window that were deep enough to be felt with the finger nail. We had used the caravan for some 4 weeks before I noticed. I think that it must have been done
during construction. I reportrd to the dealer and they polished them out with no problem. If you have a myriad of scratches, albeit probably shallower, it is probably less easy. I don't know about that. I suppose it depends how talented the repairer is0 -
I do any small jobs on the MH myself. By the time you have taken it back and moaned you could have done the job yourself. Have a look at this Youtube Video. If you can only just see the scratch you maybe able to just move straight to the cutting compound and then the metal polish.
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Your acrylic window is very prone to irreparable damage from a wide range of chemicals, so it is exceedingly unwise to gamble on using polishing/scratch removing products not specifically blended for use on acrylic. You could just be lucky but I suggest
you stop to check the price of a replacement window first, to see how much a gamble you could be taking. The chemical damage is likely to be of the micro cracking type that only develops some months later.The late John Wickersham did a You-tube video on a very bad scratch. I belive you only will need the last bit using Fenwicks “Windowize”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6q0qGu_14I
Another article to browes is the CC’s . Note here the dangers of alcohols as used in some metal polishes!
http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/media/8488394/ccmjantechnical.pdf
The Farecla acrylic polishing products are excellent.
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Could I please have some advice.
In February this year I purchased from a well known dealership in Rushden a new dealership special Swift caravan. Sales and part exchange at the time were all fine. However when I picked up the van I noticed some scractches on the panoramic window, the scratches
look like they have been caused by someone using a dirty cloth with girt to clean the windows which has caused the problem, however this is my opinion. I pointed this out to the sales person on collection, and was told this would be rectified. I live over
two hours from the dealership so not a promblem I thought, I expected it to be sorted when I had the 1st service. The van has now been in for some other warranty work and service and I picked the van up last weekend. I was assured all the work was complete,
I did check the window when I collected the van last Saturday however the rain was pouring down so I couldn't really see the scratching. On looking at the window yesterday you can still see the scratching from the inside from the outside they look as though
have gone, from the inside you can visibly see the brush marks of what has been used and the scratches. Phoned the dealership yesterday only to be told they have been polished out, not in my opinion. I was originally told the window would have to be changed
however this has not happened. Will scrache's come out or will the window have to be changed, can I have some advice here please, I don't know what my next move should be, it's a long old trip back and forth. And yes with hindsight I should not have accpelted
the van in the first place, it seems as per usual good sales, poor after sales service.This could be interesting. If the caravan was purchased after Oct 2015 it will be covered under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
This means in effect that within the first year if you have repair and the repair is not resolved properly you may have the right to reject the item.
Confirm with your nearest CAB or Trading Standards and then go back to the dealer advising that you will reject the caravan unless the windows are replaced as you do not want a repair.
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The window should be replaced no question
The windows are made by Miriad and are under warranty for 4 weeks,as you raised the issue immediately you are covered.
I suspect the dealer thought they could get away with polishing it out so perhaps failed to inform Miriad within the 4 weeks and are now having to foot the bill?
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The window should be replaced no question
The windows are made by Miriad and are under warranty for 4 weeks,as you raised the issue immediately you are covered.
I suspect the dealer thought they could get away with polishing it out so perhaps failed to inform Miriad within the 4 weeks and are now having to foot the bill?
I doubt very much if Mirad would have replaced the damaged window anyway as they woudl have seen that it was "deliberate" damage and not a production issue.
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If at the end of your negotiations you are confronted with having to pay a large sum of money, it may be worth considering a tin of Boat / Caravan Pride which may reduce the severity of the scratches to an acceptable level at a fraction of the cost and inconvenience. Of course negotiate a solution first.
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Hi all, thank you for the replies. I waited a week for the dealership to contact me, however they did not bother. I called them agian, and guess what the person dealing with this would not speak to me after waiting 20 minutes on the phone, they just cut
me off. I did not call back, contacted the CC legal team, received and acted on there advice, the HP company are are dealing with it for me. I am sure the dealer will not want the complaint. Hopefully it will be resolved with a replacement window. I will keep
you updated.0 -
I had a bad dealer once. Also stupid as I had a bill of sale including an extended water ingress by an insurance. He had not taken out the insurance and I anm sure that was not intentional. It was however obvious that I would happily take
him to court if need be - who would not with an open and shut case? No returned phone calls. In that instance I was able to drive there (40 miles) get them to pay for my breakfast and refund me for my half day leave and fuel and provide a letter confirming
that they would do the work and a date for doing it and also providing a new insurance for a further 3 years warranty as they had already taken the money. I did say how stupid they were as it was totally needless. Could all have been sorted if they had spoken
to me.0 -
Hi all, thank you for the replies. I waited a week for the dealership to contact me, however they did not bother. I called them agian, and guess what the person dealing with this would not speak to me after waiting 20 minutes on the phone, they just cut
me off. I did not call back, contacted the CC legal team, received and acted on there advice, the HP company are are dealing with it for me. I am sure the dealer will not want the complaint. Hopefully it will be resolved with a replacement window. I will keep
you updated.Good on you as the HP company wil lean heavily on the dealership as the HP company have a vested interest in the caravan. We learnt long ago to buy on HP for at least three years with a high deposit and the lowest repayment however due to a recent issue
with a dealership we extended this to four years. Well worth paying the extra in interest as still works out cheaper than paying for an extended warranty.0 -
I am awae that there are mzny products out there not suitable to use o the caravans acrylic windows but is there any produ ts suitable to use on scratches on caravan acrylic windows?
We've noticed one of ours is scratched, prob from an accident last summer but didnt notice at the time so cant add it to the claim. As its the driver's side we ruled out over hanging branches
So is there any thing we can use on the scratches or do we need tk replace the whole window? They aren't that bad that it ruins the window and I dont believe they are that deep a scratch.
As always any advice gladly recieved
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNoOPXi_4o4&t=28s
