Purchased my first caravan

Alex2x
Alex2x Forum Participant Posts: 11
edited April 2022 in Caravans #1

Hello Last month I bought my first caravan from a Broker in Exeter, the Caravan was advertised as fantastic condition and wouldn't be around for long. The Caravan was advertised in Autotrader, Facebook, and on the Brokers website.

I went to view the Caravan and it look great the price it was originally advertised at was £8995 then dropped to &7995 this was for a Bailey Pageant Monarch Series 7. I asked if there was any problems with the van and the reply was nothing what so ever that I could hitch up and drive off and stay in it that very night. I have to admit I was sold.

I arranged for some caravan storage locally and then purchased the Caravan. After a few days elapsed I decided to hook up the aquaroll and check out the water supply via Kitchen sink Bathroom Sink and Shower, to my surprise the water leveled out the base of both taps. A little bit upset by this I contacted the previous owner who seemed quite  shocked by this and agreed to refund £ 150 for some new taps. Feeling happy again I had booked the van into to get a full service, before taking it away in a trip. 

Today I received a call from the worship carrying out the  service to be told the van need to new tyres as the date on bith tyres were 2013 and needing replacing £90 X2 the extractor fan on the roof, the dome has a hole in it covered with tape cost £200, and last but not least the nearside rear of the van has serious damp readings of 95 in some places, the shower has had a botched job in it and in the cupboard has a spongy wall which has also been covered over again dampness scale through the roof. 

The workshop reckon to put the caravan rear end right again it should cost around £1500+ £2000 minimum. I am seriously upset and deflated by the whole thing, The Broker says it has nothing to do with him as he is just a Broker and my beef should sit with the previous owner ?

I have tried to contact the previous owner but no avail, he did say he was going on holiday in his motor home over Easter ( lucky him) we will see what will happen.

I cannot believe that this has happened not me, but it has. I am looking into this further as I feel ethier the previous owner or the Broker should pay for the repair to make right again.

Below I have attached a link to Caravan I purchased. Any advice please will be welcome.

Thank you.

Alex.

https://www.facebook.com/111983704641515/posts/136834495489769/

Moderator Comment - As you are seeking advice I will move this to the Discussion area. I have also made the link live.

 

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2022 #2

    Sorry to hear your tale of woe, what do you mean by a broker? Was this person a caravan dealer with other vans for sale or was it an individual acting on behalf of another person. The details aren't clear but you could ask the Caravan Club for legal advice if you are a member. I haven't read your link so can't comment further.  A broker would have agreed to sell the van at an agreed price on behalf of the seller but it's up to the buyer to check the van before purchase, was there any form of warranty involved? Did you receive any paperwork? I hope the club can offer help. 

    PS I think you might have asked about this van previously and I'm sorry if the purchase has been disappointing.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited May 2022 #3

    And the lesson is;

    Get a vet to check out a horse before buying it.

    Get a mechanic to check out a car, or buy with warranty.

    Only buy a caravan after a thorough check. You can buy a damp meter for under £20!

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2022 #4

    I think I would take some legal advice from the  club

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,044 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited May 2022 #5

    Very poor situation for you, but not uncommon sadly, in the caravan world. Get some legal advice off the Club, see what they suggest first, without naming and shaming previous owner or broker, and then take it from there. 

    The tyres are consumables, forget that expense and absorb it as ongoing costs. It’s the damage and the damp that are the main concern. You don’t say how old the van is, and you don’t really say how many checks, inspections you carried out before you decided to purchase.

    Any van or MH, even if brand new requires thorough checking, as the incidence of damp and damage (and design faults🙄) are high across the industry. Thorough means inspecting every nook and cranny, joint, fittings, equipment fitted, underneath, on the roof, and a damp meter applied in lots of vulnerable locations.

    So upsetting for you, and I hope you get some satisfactory resolution.

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