treehouse
Free Member
- Jun 4, 2014
- 4
- 3
- Funster No
- 31,805
- MH
- Just looking
- Exp
- Since I was born, but never owned one.
Hello everyone, I thought it was time I joined a forum. My partner and I have been looking for a motorcaravan for a month or so and nearly got stung twice, learning as we go. The first one was unchecked by the dealer because he had not bought it, but agreed to put it on his forecourt for the owner and sell it on his behalf, instead of the usual PX. This very reputable trader saved us from a terrible bill by eventually feeling too uncomfortable with this arrangement and putting it into the workshop, where he found that most of the habitation stuff didn't actually work and would take thousands to fix. We had arranged an RAC inspection of the van, so we had to cancel that and lose the deposit (£15.50 - a cheap lesson). I would trust the dealer to the ends of the earth, but unfortunately he doesn't normally have anything in our price bracket. That was Dick Lane (not a person, the address), Bradford, Yorkshire. Top notch.
The second one, which I dare not identify for fear of a libel suit, but is in Preston, Lancs, was just about to sell us a camper for three grand which he somehow managed to persuade us he would have to get us to sign for as "unfit for purpose", "otherwise, the customer has a guarantee, even if I write 'sold as seen' or anything else". He had just got it in PX and hadn't had time to look it over, he said. We were this || close to getting it, but fortunately he suggested we think about it overnight and call back in the morning. After doing some research, I realised this was ridiculous, very bad practice and probably illegal. Traders have a duty to know enough about the vehicles they sell to make them fit for purpose and describe them accurately, including major faults, or presumably to sell them as "spares or repair" or "scrap".
I phoned up and dug a bit more, already pretty sure I wouldn't buy a walking-stick off him - should I arrange a tow truck? - Oh no, you won't need that, it's fine, it was driven here. How can I be legally insured to drive it off the forecourt when I've signed to say it's unfit for purpose? - Oh, you don't have to tell the insurance company that, just answer the questions they ask you. Basically it came down to signing for a piece of junk without my consumer rights, but with an unofficial statement that it was indeed fit for purpose and worth £3,000. He said most people understand that arrangement, and I said it was quite convenient as a second-hand car salesman that most people don't know the law. It's very cheap for a camper, obviously, but still a lot of money to pay for a piece of rubbish. I decided in the end not even to bother doing an HPI check and just .
Pity - it could be a nice van, but I can't be party to that, and I'm going to report them to Trading Standards. Still, that was better than the first one we went to see at another dealership. Three grand again, but a heap of rust and filler held together with duct tape and fitted with a new exhaust and tyres.
Back to the drawing board. Trusted dealers or even careful private sales is what we're thinking now. Also tempted to do a self-conversion, but maybe next time, when I know a bit more. I've never owned one, but I'm finally following in the family tradition. I have very fond memories of the early days in the '60s when my dad and grandad both had Bedfords and drove around in tandem. Whoever was in front had a signal - the driver held the kettle out the window, meaning they would turn into the next suitable layby for a cuppa.
The second one, which I dare not identify for fear of a libel suit, but is in Preston, Lancs, was just about to sell us a camper for three grand which he somehow managed to persuade us he would have to get us to sign for as "unfit for purpose", "otherwise, the customer has a guarantee, even if I write 'sold as seen' or anything else". He had just got it in PX and hadn't had time to look it over, he said. We were this || close to getting it, but fortunately he suggested we think about it overnight and call back in the morning. After doing some research, I realised this was ridiculous, very bad practice and probably illegal. Traders have a duty to know enough about the vehicles they sell to make them fit for purpose and describe them accurately, including major faults, or presumably to sell them as "spares or repair" or "scrap".
I phoned up and dug a bit more, already pretty sure I wouldn't buy a walking-stick off him - should I arrange a tow truck? - Oh no, you won't need that, it's fine, it was driven here. How can I be legally insured to drive it off the forecourt when I've signed to say it's unfit for purpose? - Oh, you don't have to tell the insurance company that, just answer the questions they ask you. Basically it came down to signing for a piece of junk without my consumer rights, but with an unofficial statement that it was indeed fit for purpose and worth £3,000. He said most people understand that arrangement, and I said it was quite convenient as a second-hand car salesman that most people don't know the law. It's very cheap for a camper, obviously, but still a lot of money to pay for a piece of rubbish. I decided in the end not even to bother doing an HPI check and just .
Pity - it could be a nice van, but I can't be party to that, and I'm going to report them to Trading Standards. Still, that was better than the first one we went to see at another dealership. Three grand again, but a heap of rust and filler held together with duct tape and fitted with a new exhaust and tyres.
Back to the drawing board. Trusted dealers or even careful private sales is what we're thinking now. Also tempted to do a self-conversion, but maybe next time, when I know a bit more. I've never owned one, but I'm finally following in the family tradition. I have very fond memories of the early days in the '60s when my dad and grandad both had Bedfords and drove around in tandem. Whoever was in front had a signal - the driver held the kettle out the window, meaning they would turn into the next suitable layby for a cuppa.
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