What's the process for repairing severe damp in a motorhome roof?

[Wildman]

I've taken on board all that's been written here and I'm grateful for the various views and technical information.
The petrol can and matches solution is not viable for the motorhome but I'll keep it in mind to use on myself in the dealership foyer if things don't go my way(joke).

When I get it back from the Fiat garage.....yep, the starter motors gone phut! I'll present it to the dealers people who will conduct a damp test and then I'll take it back. I will then present them with a formal letter of rejection and inform the converter.
All this alongside a failed Omnistep, broken flyscreen on delivery, failed heater, failed hab lighting, failed reversing camera and a washroom door on repeated rejections ( on our 3rd one now) we've had a 1st year of motorhoming to remember (now where did I put that tent).

A perfect description of a swift, hee hee

 

[maz]

Yes Maz, I am indeed imbued with saintliness as my wife and family will attest to.
However, after next week the gloves come off and Mr. Saintly becomes Mr. SlightlyNasty.
I intend to see this through to a satisfactory outcome.

Go, Mr Mack100!

 

[Wildman]

actually the correct process for the age of your van is to chuck it back at them and demand a replacement or refund as not fit for purpose / sale of goods Act etc. I would not under any cirumstances accept a repair. Let them repair it and sell it on themselves.

 

[Mack100]

actually the correct process for the age of your van is to chuck it back at them and demand a replacement or refund as not fit for purpose / sale of goods Act etc. I would not under any cirumstances accept a repair. Let them repair it and sell it on themselves.

This is the path I shall be taking.

 

[longdog]

OK, speak to your Trading Standards office, they will listen and assess your case. They will then give you a case number.
You have been more than reasonable about this. You have good reason to reject the van as unfit for purpose. Quote Sale of Goods Act 1979 (As Amended) in your correspondence.
Set out clearly your expectations and time scale, i.e. you want your money back plus any costs incurred or a replacement vehicle and the timescale that you want this to happen by.
I was advised to do this earlier this year and it worked for me.

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[Sidney]

Greetings,

Can I point out the 'obvious'.
Water does not travel uphill.

Capillary action does mean water can flow against gravity - and it does it very effectively in a laminated panel. It acts like a wick.

 

[rolandrat]

Bite the bullet and get shut pronto, you're wasting your time trying to go down the legal channels but in the meantime name and shame the manufacturer and dealer. All that will happen if you hang on to some light at the end of the tunnel is STRESS-STRESS-STRESS and your health will suffer no end. You owe it to yourself and your family. If you sell it to a dealer he will be covered by the manufacturers warranty and any rectification work won't cost him a penny. What I'm suggesting might seem stupid but I've been in a similar situation myself. The bank balance might be a little lighter but hey I still have my sanity. The manufacturer in my case was Auto-Trail.

 

[7735]

If you do go down the repair route and I certainly would'nt, bear in mind you are going to be without your motorhome for probably at least 6-9 months. If this was the USA the manufacturers would have been hit with a litigation writ long ago.

spongy

 

[chaser]

It doesn't bear thinking about does it, it would drive me crackers, don't know how much money is involved but it's got to be in the tens of thousands, when you spend this amount of money you just expect it to be right, no need for inspections or habitation or anything else, bl.... hell it's new!!
Makes you wonder why anyone goes down the new route when these stories keep cropping up I know I wouldn't even if I could afford to.

 

[Mack100]

Bite the bullet and get shut pronto, you're wasting your time trying to go down the legal channels but in the meantime name and shame the manufacturer and dealer.

I don't quite understand, do you mean go ahead with the repair by the converter and then sell or reject the motorhome now as I intend to do?
It would be tempting to name and shame but I'd like to keep my powder dry for now.

It doesn't bear thinking about does it, it would drive me crackers, don't know how much money is involved but it's got to be in the tens of thousands, afford

The precise figure is £41,000 and your right, it's starting to affect my health, sleepwise for instance.
Yesterday I "amused" myself by imagining I got a full refund and I was looking around for a replacement.
Found quite a few, none UK built and none new.

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[tambo]

I don't quite understand, do you mean go ahead with the repair by the converter and then sell or reject the motorhome now as I intend to do?
It would be tempting to name and shame but I'd like to keep my powder dry for now.

The precise figure is £41,000 and your right, it's starting to affect my health, sleepwise for instance.
Yesterday I "amused" myself by imagining I got a full refund and I was looking around for a replacement.
Found quite a few, none UK built and none new.

Whilst it's easy for me to say and I sympathise with you regarding it effecting your health ....This is a lot of money at stake here

Whatever you do don't sell the van to a dealer in that condition they aren't stupid they will check for damp and offer you pittance if they even show interest at all.

Whilst accepting the repair may seem easier in the short term I think longterm it may cost you dearly.

I'd say grit your teeth and stick to your guns , fight your case for a full refund or replacement vehicle , i don't imagine it will be easy but worth it in the long run

I'd even consider involving watchdog or "don't get done get dom" trading standards and a solicitor if necessary

And a large banner on your van parked outside the dealers front gate might get their attention too

 

[Terry]

I'd even consider involving watchdog or "don't get done get dom" trading standards and a solicitor if necessary

And a large banner on your van parked outside the dealers front gate might get their attention too

That is exactly what Roclaire did to Swift many yrs ago --
You will have to see what response you get from the dealer and Swift -but rejection/money back is the way forward -Failing that then the banner outside the dealer will get action -DON'T FORGET SWIFT WATCH THIS FORUM
TERRY

 

[tambo]

One thing for sure dealers don't like bad publicity

 

[rolandrat]

Whilst it's easy for me to say and I sympathise with you regarding it effecting your health ....This is a lot of money at stake here

Whatever you do don't sell the van to a dealer in that condition they aren't stupid they will check for damp and offer you pittance if they even show interest at all.

Whilst accepting the repair may seem easier in the short term I think longterm it may cost you dearly.

I'd say grit your teeth and stick to your guns , fight your case for a full refund or replacement vehicle , i don't imagine it will be easy but worth it in the long run

I'd even consider involving watchdog or "don't get done get dom" trading standards and a solicitor if necessary

And a large banner on your van parked outside the dealers front gate might get their attention too

Unless you have been in Mac100's position or others who have had the misfortune to have bought a dud and been stone walled by a manufacturer or dealer you have absolutely no idea of the deep down stress that it can cause. It would be best to part exchange it out of town and put a little extra to the deal for a motorhome that hopefully would be trouble free. If not the saga could drag on for many months and still might not be to your liking. Coach built motorhomes are more prone to water ingress than van conversions, you certainly don't get soggy ceilings and floors with them.

 

[tambo]

Unless you have been in Mac100's position or others who have had the misfortune to have bought a dud and been stone walled by a manufacturer or dealer you have absolutely no idea of the deep down stress that it can cause. It would be best to part exchange it out of town and put a little extra to the deal for a motorhome that hopefully would be trouble free. If not the saga could drag on for many months and still might not be to your liking. Coach built motorhomes are more prone to water ingress than van conversions, you certainly don't get soggy ceilings and floors with them.

And do you seriously think that any dealer would take in an 11 month old motorhome worth 40k in a p/exch without giving it a good check over?

I've seen some bad advice in my time but seriously that's up there with the worst

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[Mack100]

Any prospective dealer purchasing this motorhome would have to have defective eyesight as well as an inability to use a damp meter.
The ceiling of the wash room is now showing blue staining and surface rippling.

 

[tambo]

Any prospective dealer purchasing this motorhome would have to have defective eyesight as well as an inability to use a damp meter.
The ceiling of the wash room is now showing blue staining and surface rippling.

Honestly mack I feel for you as do others in this thread and I sincerely hope your health doesn't suffer from this but take strength from where ever you can and nail the bastids!

 

[rolandrat]

And do you seriously think that any dealer would take in an 11 month old motorhome worth 40k in a p/exch without giving it a good check over?

I've seen some bad advice in my time but seriously that's up there with the worst

You're missing the point mate, the motorhome has a manufacturers warranty which would cover any problem that was obvious. Of course a dealer would give it the once over. To go down the Trading standards and legal route is soul destroying and very costly with no guarantee of winning. The dealer could get any court proceedings stopped on a little technicality and he would loose the shirt on his back.

 

[MikeD]

Unless you have been in Mac100's position or others who have had the misfortune to have bought a dud and been stone walled by a manufacturer or dealer you have absolutely no idea of the deep down stress that it can cause. It would be best to part exchange it out of town and put a little extra to the deal for a motorhome that hopefully would be trouble free. If not the saga could drag on for many months and still might not be to your liking. Coach built motorhomes are more prone to water ingress than van conversions, you certainly don't get soggy ceilings and floors with them.

And do you seriously think that any dealer would take in an 11 month old motorhome worth 40k in a p/exch without giving it a good check over?

I've seen some bad advice in my time but seriously that's up there with the worst

Thats a bit harsh. I read it as it may be better for your long term health to take the loss.

 

[tambo]

You're missing the point mate, the motorhome has a manufacturers warranty which would cover any problem that was obvious. Of course a dealer would give it the once over. To go down the Trading standards and legal route is soul destroying and very costly with no guarantee of winning. The dealer could get any court proceedings stopped on a little technicality and he would loose the shirt on his back.

Exactly it has a manufacturers warranty so if a dealer can claim on that warranty after stealing the van at a cut down price why can't the op?

As he says the damage is very visible they've already offered to repair the van so have admitted liability .... that and the fact the van has had multiple problems since purchase within a year is a good case for rejection in my eyes

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[tambo]

Thats a bit harsh. I read it as it may be better for your long term health to take the loss.

Easy to say when it isn't your loss I guess

 

[rolandrat]

Mac100, my main point was to highlight the toll it can take on your health the longer this sorry situation can go on for. How you deal with it is none of my business. I was only offering friendly advice as I've been in a similar situation and I resolved it knowing that if I'd let it drag on it would have affected my health and well being and that of my family. Unfortunately I haven't got the constitution of a horse or I might have considered another way. I was once involved in litigation where if I had lost my family would have ended up in a tent, I would have lost everything. Fortunately I won but it took 3 years. 3 years of hell.
Good Luck.

 

[Mack100]

Honestly mack I feel for you as do others in this thread and I sincerely hope your health doesn't suffer from this but take strength from where ever you can and nail the bastids!

Thanks for the encouragement Tambo, it's when you realise that belonging to a group like FUN is not like simply subscribing to any old web forum that you can find some strength.

@rolandrat, no worries, I fully understand what you've been saying it's just that if the dealer stonewalls me, as I fully expect him to, then I see no alternative than to go down the Trading standards and legal route.

 

[Mack100]

Just an update, damp of up to 55% now confirmed by independent engineer and the supplying dealer. All papers now in the hands of solicitor, if they think there is a greater than 51% chance of success then they would proceed.

Me being a confirmed pessimist can't see this happening!
We'd love to go away in September but the solicitor is not sure whether using the MH would prejudice our chances of success in front of a judge.
Only used it for 3 days so far this year

 

[Terry]

Thanks for the update I WAS GOING TO PRESS LIKE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE CONFUSION
terry

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[Abacist]

Just an update, damp of up to 55% now confirmed by independent engineer and the supplying dealer. All papers now in the hands of solicitor, if they think there is a greater than 51% chance of success then they would proceed.

Me being a confirmed pessimist can't see this happening!
We'd love to go away in September but the solicitor is not sure whether using the MH would prejudice our chances of success in front of a judge.
Only used it for 3 days so far this year

If you want to reject the motorhome you have to reject it! You can't use it otherwise that will be construed as acceptance of it with its faults.. Sounds to me as if the solicitor is not sure of himself! Make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing. You need someone from a large regional firm which has specialist departments - you need one from the commercial department. Ask for a list of the cases they have dealt with under the Sale of Goods act. One of your problems is going to be the handover of the motorhome in exchange for your money back. You might have to put yourself at risk here!

 

[Terry]

If you want to reject the motorhome you have to reject it! You can't use it otherwise that will be construed as acceptance of it with its faults.. Sounds to me as if the solicitor is not sure of himself! Make sure you get someone who knows what they are doing. You need someone from a large regional firm which has specialist departments - you need one from the commercial department. Ask for a list of the cases they have dealt with under the Sale of Goods act. One of your problems is going to be the handover of the motorhome in exchange for your money back. You might have to put yourself at risk here!

Once handing the MH back there should be no risk at all -everything will/should have been agreed -Like you say get a solicitor who knows what they are doing

 

[Mack100]

The solicitor is one of the largest in the UK and she specialises in breach of contract claims. I have no reason yet to have any lack of confidence in her abilities.
I'm going to wait until she advises me of the strength of my claim before I reject it. I don't want to make a complete arse of myself by rejecting it only to have to withdraw after advice.
Why should I be at risk during any handover? Should I engage my own heavies?

 

[chaser]

Why should I be at risk during any handover? Should I engage my own heavies?
Sounds a bit extreme, but depending on who you are dealing with it might be a good option

 

[Mack100]

Why should I be at risk during any handover? Should I engage my own heavies?
Sounds a bit extreme, but depending on who you are dealing with it might be a good option

I'll take along little Archie our miniature schauzer, that should do it!

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