Cracked rear panel – now replaced.
Compass Omega 482 2014, purchased new mid October 2015 and took delivery beginning of November 2015, did get a good discount and PX price on my previous 9.5 year old Sprite Alpine 4 and not having any problems with it.
I did notice stress on the panel corners after 3 months of ownership, then the cracks started to appear after 6 months. A few of niggles were also found after usage, cupboard doors not closing (catches,) plastic trim falling off sliding shower door, then realised the grill/oven fan had stopped working, also noticed that the glass in the microwave door started to show a gap at the bottom between the door frame and the Alko ATC light had stopped working. Booked it in for its first service giving plenty of time before the warranty ran out and told the dealer of the panel and other issues, dealer asked if I would send a photo of the rear panel, he knew all about the Elddis panel problem. All the problems were in writing when the caravan was taken in for its service.
I did contact the dealer after 4 weeks and was told the were waiting for parts however items had started to arrive, we had no plans to use the caravan, busy at home so no rush. I got the call to say the caravan was ready for collection (8 weeks) and went to pick it up.
Everything on the list had been ticked off done, new oven/grill fan fitted, new rear panel fitted and what did surprise me on the job sheet, the large Heki skylight had 30% damp all around and some boarding stained, I had not noticed. A new skylight and boarding had been fitted.
Suggest members with Compass / Elddis caravans of that year check your large Heki skylight surround.
I know members on this forum and other forums have had problems and have had cracked panels after 12 months and Elddis do not want to know, so I was lucky, my warranty started on the day I took delivery. Hopefully the dealer has made a better job than Elddis.
Comments
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Thats good news Chris.
It seems that the quality/spec of the panels used by Elldis are not up to the job.
People keep taking their caravans on the road and towing them and thats where the problems start.
We had our rear panel crack after 15 months and so Elddis took the expected stance and we ended having the panel replaced at a cost of £3500.
I doubt we will buy one of their 'sheds' again
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Take out a small claims summons against the dealer with whom you have the contract for sale quoting the Sale of Goods Act and saying the panel was not of merchantable quality. You may need to download a fair number of the complaints from the internet which shows quite clearly the panels are faulty. I suspect you will be paid without further argument.
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Wildwood thanks for the reply however my wife and I agreed, it wasnt worth the hassle (she is an ex solicitor).
So we had it done and told the dealer in no uncertain terms he would never see the van or us again. We even had the work done at another dealer over 30 miles away.
Needless to say Elddis will not be supplying our next van either.
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Is it any wonder the caravan assemblers continue to treat end users with complete and utter contempt if repeat buyers don't hold them to account over shoddy assembly of common poor quality parts.
Wonder how many new to caravanning families on budgets can afford to throw away £3500 needlessly for the sake of a letter or 2 and enacting their rights to a fit for purpose caravan of considerable price.
Strange old world this caravanning lark. Complain vocally and in the written word on the internet, but don't actually upset those awfully nice sellers and assemblers of poor quality products, you couldn't make it up
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I also posted on another forum, a reply from an AWS Mobile Service Engineer
'Leaking roof windows are on Explorer group motorhomes as well......every 2014/15 van & motorhome I serviced this year had the same problem.'
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Frankly there is no way I would have let them off £3,500. This does not help the rest of us get our rights and the effort needed is not that great. Last year we used the system to pursue a cruise company for far less after they made a mess of our daughters holiday and then just lied about the circumstances. It was clearly a try on as they just paid up without any argument.
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You are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 if bought after 1st October 2015 or the Sale of Goods Act if bought befroe that date. Not sure why you had to pay £3500 when the job shoudl have been free. I suggest that you instigate a small claims using SOGA.
If you have any doubts, contact CAB as it should be £3500 in your pocket as the dealer has misled you. A warranty is a contract between the manufacturer and the dealership and not between the manufacturer / dealer and the consumer.
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