Looking for advice

Wasp54
Wasp54 Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited March 2019 in Caravans #1

I bought a 2018 New Bailey Unicorn Valencia last week from a Lancashire dealer. Got a very reasonable deal which attracted me as I live in Shropshire! First night out in the van and setting up my wife reports there is no bathroom carpet. Then, 'the bathroom floor is wet'! Traced the moisture to a bulkhead screw under one of the sink basin shelves. Mopped up and thought need to keep an eye on it. 0300 today woke up in the midst of Storm Gareth to find the bedroom carpet soaked and the bathroom covered in water. Water was dripping from the screw like crazy.  No choice but to pack up and cancel our weeks break. Have contacted the dealer and waiting for a call back. Being a 2018 van how long has it been leaking? Have I bought a damp van? Someone must have know as bathroom carpet missing! Have attached a video and you can hear Storm Gareth! Any advice welcome!

 

https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https://youtu.be/LV_ZMBzXVkw&data=02|01||d7c20dbd919b4b431f0b08d6a7acca68|84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa|1|0|636880757896597718&sdata=j5Jp7DwalPGUbdJ6+jwOcT9xiJ1NvTInPWJvDl+kRUo=&reserved=0

Comments

  • Milothedog
    Milothedog Forum Participant Posts: 1,433
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2019 #2

     There you go cool

    Quite bad that, can't see why they shouldn't put it all right for you. Best of luck. 

     

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2019 #3

    I would be very concerned about the situation and you should look at your rights under Consumer Protection Law  to reject the caravan and insist on a replacement or refund.  Take a polite but firm  line with the dealer, he may try to fob you off with 'I will pass this on to Bailey'; no, it is his responsibility to sort it out as your contract was with them not Bailey. I would not accept a repair under guarantee. The last thing you want is a new damp caravan.  A call to citizens advice may prove helpful.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2019 #4

    Judging by the rust mark beneath the screw it has leaked for a while. I would reject straight away and get my money back. Summer is coming and I would start looking for a replacement and preferably closer to home wink

    I had both my last two new caravans tested for damp in my presence as part of the purchase agreement prior to collection and prior to signing over my PX van. OH thought I was daft but if I took it home and found a serious leak after a couple of months I might have been in a similar position to you but closer to summer and not wanting to be without the caravan

     

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited March 2019 #5

    Speak to the legal dept at C &M club but I would get rid ASAP as things look as tho the dealer either kept quiet about how things were or is of such a standard that he took in a van without checking it. 

    Either way not very reassuring.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited March 2019 #6

    You have the right to reject the caravan within the first thirty days of purchase if it is faulty under The Consumer Rights Act. You will need to decide if that is what you want to do or accept a repair. You have equal rights against any finance company who gave you an HP deal or any credit card company if you used one for any part of the purchase.

    I would be unhappy with the dealer if this is an external leak, as unless it was stored by them under cover, it seems inevitable that they knew of the leak before they sold the caravan, the missing carpet suggests to me that this was thrown out because it was rotten or they dried it and forgot to put it back.

    I am not clear where the water is entering the caravan, My feeling is that the screw head is just an access point to the interior and the real problem is that water is getting in somewhere else. I am not sure where the pipes run in your caravan and it does seem the alternative could be the screw has pierced a water pipe and the weather has nothing to do with the problem.

    The clubs Legal Advice Helpline will be able to give you more advice but please post on here and let us know what happens.

  • chasstreet
    chasstreet Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited March 2019 #7

    I’m no expert but I suggest the screw having pierced the alutec wall is allowing water in. 

    I think you will find the water is entering the top strap on the roof and running down the inside of the alutec wall, most spilling onto the floor.

    reject it immediately, they will fob you off by saying bailey will fix it whilst you will be without a van for months 

  • Wasp54
    Wasp54 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2019 #8

    Thanks for all your advice. I contacted the Club's Technical line and also the Legal helpline. I must say an excellent service, legal calling me back on a saturday morning. Anyway, I did formally reject the van. The dealer came to collect the van and had Bailey inspect it and confirmed a significant water ingress. The dealer offered me a full refund or replacement caravan and I have chosen the latter. We pick up the replacement on Friday. I will say I was prepared for hassle but the dealer has been extremely apologetic and very professional. Fingers crossed for Friday!

     

     

     

     

     

  • chasstreet
    chasstreet Forum Participant Posts: 57
    edited April 2019 #9

    Glad that everything worked out well for you 

    shame that after fixing someone else will get this van 

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