Mis selling a motorhome (1 Viewer)

[max taylor]

In Oct 2022 and because it was winter it went into storage. We took it out in March 2023 for a short run and the petrol gauge and fuel gauge were not working. It went back to the garage and were then told it was all fixed. In April we took it out for a short holiday to Wales. The weather was quite bad the first night to our dismay the roof leaked and my granddaughter and her bedding were soaked and also the sink tap flooded we had to go home. We then took it back to the garage and was supposedly repaired, we went back out again to wales at the end of May and they replaced the tap but had not secured the pipes correctly and the Motorhome flooded once again. When we started the Motorhome to come home it would not start. RAC were called out and said the battery was faulty. Took it back to the garage yet again and was told the rac was talking rubbish apparently there was nothing wrong with the battery. Took it out for a 4th time and this time black smoke was billowing out of the exhaust and the RAC were called out again who then told us it was not drivable as the injectors had failed we waited for 14 hours for the Motorhome to be towed back to the garage, there were over 17 faults on the Motorhome which couldn’t be checked prior to actually taking it out so by this time we decided enough was enough and we wanted our full money back. Our insurance company provided legal support which have told us they can’t pursuit the case because they can not check if the dealership is financially viable. We are at our wits end now and if anybody has been in a similar situation and has any advice I would be so grateful. Many thanks

 

[Otter Spotter]

In Oct 2022 and because it was winter it went into storage. We took it out in March 2023 for a short run and the petrol gauge and fuel gauge were not working. It went back to the garage and were then told it was all fixed. In April we took it out for a short holiday to Wales. The weather was quite bad the first night to our dismay the roof leaked and my granddaughter and her bedding were soaked and also the sink tap flooded we had to go home. We then took it back to the garage and was supposedly repaired, we went back out again to wales at the end of May and they replaced the tap but had not secured the pipes correctly and the Motorhome flooded once again. When we started the Motorhome to come home it would not start. RAC were called out and said the battery was faulty. Took it back to the garage yet again and was told the rac was talking rubbish apparently there was nothing wrong with the battery. Took it out for a 4th time and this time black smoke was billowing out of the exhaust and the RAC were called out again who then told us it was not drivable as the injectors had failed we waited for 14 hours for the Motorhome to be towed back to the garage, there were over 17 faults on the Motorhome which couldn’t be checked prior to actually taking it out so by this time we decided enough was enough and we wanted our full money back. Our insurance company provided legal support which have told us they can’t pursuit the case because they can not check if the dealership is financially viable. We are at our wits end now and if anybody has been in a similar situation and has any advice I would be so grateful. Many thanks

Your insurance company is talking BS, they can check company house accounts to see if there is an issue, they can use credit agencies to determine if the dealership is having problems.
I think your problem is that you should have done a few ‘shake down’ trips in the MH soon after purchase so you could find the issues now have, but that doesn’t help you. I assume you have had an independent engineers report detailing the issues and causes, if not maybe now is the time.

 

[HarryML7]

What warranty came with the van when you purchased it?

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[Abacist]

You might need a solicitor's advice and a letter from them to the dealer - a letter before legal action is taken!

 

[dazandandrea]

So you bought it in October and went for your first drive in march the following year?

 

[max taylor]

Your insurance company is talking BS, they can check company house accounts to see if there is an issue, they can use credit agencies to determine if the dealership is having problems.
I think your problem is that you should have done a few ‘shake down’ trips in the MH soon after purchase so you could find the issues now have, but that doesn’t help you. I assume you have had an independent engineers report detailing the issues and causes, if not maybe now is the time.

That sounds like a good idea, could you possibly tell us where we could find an engineer that could give us a report. We did approach citizens advice on the 4th incident and they assured us that according to the consumers rights act with the evidence we supplied to them that we had a legal right to our money back we had lost all confidence in this Motorhome by this time. My husband and I are both getting on so it’s all been a bit overwhelming.

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[max taylor]

So you bought it in October and went for your first drive in march the following year?

Yes

 

[max taylor]

So you bought it in October and went for your first drive in march the following year?

What warranty came with the van when you purchased it?

12 months warranty

 

[max taylor]

You might need a solicitor's advice and a letter from them to the dealer - a letter before legal action is taken!

That’s what I wanted from this solicitors but they seem very reluctant to do this for us because they’re saying he’s not financially viable for any claim but my husband and I worked out on his website that this man has £1,732000.00 worth of vehicles on his lot.

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[mikebeaches]

That’s what I wanted from this solicitors but they seem very reluctant to do this for us because they’re saying he’s not financially viable for any claim but my husband and I worked out on his website that this man has £1,732000.00 worth of vehicles on his lot.

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances with the van.

Regrettably, your calculation of the value of stock held by the dealer may not reflect the financial viability of the business.

Many dealers have their vehicle stock financed with loans and don't own the capital value of the vans.

I hope you can find a route to resolve your difficulties.

 

[JRT]

Sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances with the van.

Regrettably, your calculation of the value of stock held by the dealer may not reflect the financial viability of the business.

Many dealers have their vehicle stock financed with loans and don't own the capital value of the vans.

I hope you can find a route to resolve your difficulties.

They also broker vans for individuals so may not actually own some of them.

 

[Otter Spotter]

That sounds like a good idea, could you possibly tell us where we could find an engineer that could give us a report. We did approach citizens advice on the 4th incident and they assured us that according to the consumers rights act with the evidence we supplied to them that we had a legal right to our money back we had lost all confidence in this Motorhome by this time. My husband and I are both getting on so it’s all been a bit overwhelming.

Where abouts are you in the country ?
Regarding his stock, many of the MHs may be sat on his lot as commissions sales, so technically still owned by campers.

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[Just smiffy]

I’m known on here for not really liking dealers… but you do have a duty of care to your van, leaving it in storage for so long before you truly tested everything and some of your post problems my well be that you did not fully winterise your van for the winter, broken taps, burst pipes and knackerd batteries are typical symptoms of a van not being prepared for winter storage..

I’m afraid you are on a road to spending some money, whether that’s throwing money away trying to get some back or fixing the problems elsewhere and using it or moving it on…

It’s probably not what you want to hear but I’m afraid we have seen it many times on here…

Best of luck

 

[stevewagner]

As far as stock is concerned they usually use a finance house to fund the cost. They then settle each one as they are sold.

 

[stevewagner]

If it was me I would spend £300 and get professional advice from a specialist solicitor. The problem with forums is that advice offered although well meaning, is not necessarily correct.

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[headlight]

max taylor who is the dealer ?

 

[Boringfrog]

 

[tonka]

max taylor who is the dealer ?

Doubt you will find out... Now a free member, used all their free posts.
Unless they get £20 out and subscribe..

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[dazandandrea]

All sounds a bit iffy to me.

 

[RM_Marine]

I have to admit that it sounds like they didn't get the van ready for winter like someone else said

Also it's £20 why wouldn't you pay it after spend a small fortune on a house on wheel

 

[Lenny HB]

I’m known on here for not really liking dealers… but you do have a duty of care to your van, leaving it in storage for so long before you truly tested everything and some of your post problems my well be that you did not fully winterise your van for the winter, broken taps, burst pipes and knackerd batteries are typical symptoms of a van not being prepared for winter storage..

I’m afraid you are on a road to spending some money, whether that’s throwing money away trying to get some back or fixing the problems elsewhere and using it or moving it on…

It’s probably not what you want to hear but I’m afraid we have seen it many times on here…

Best of luck

I think you read my mind Garry it appears most of the faults were self inflicted so I don't think he has a leg to stand on.

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[scotjimland]

In Oct 2022 and because it was winter it went into storage. We took it out in March 2023

this is March 2024 ... so where has it been for the past 12 months.. ?

all seems a bit odd .. have you got the dates correct.. ?

 

[Jim]

You don't know that. You can't know that. Generalised statements like that made on a public forum are just dumb. They hurt businesses and get you and me sued, which is why they are not allowed here. See Rule 2

 

[Live Life Now]

That’s what I wanted from this solicitors but they seem very reluctant to do this for us because they’re saying he’s not financially viable for any claim but my husband and I worked out on his website that this man has £1,732000.00 worth of vehicles on his lot.

Said it before and I'll say it again.
NAME AND SHAME THE DEALER!
You probably won't get satisfaction with or without solicitors ripping you off, but you'll feel good and possibly do others a favour.
Caveat, make sure of your facts.

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[Jim]

NAME AND SHAME THE DEALER!

Go and open a naming and shaming website. Make sure you have plenty of insurance in place.

 

[Spriddler]

Is that the one on the A23 near Handcross?

IF it is that one, I've known one of the partners quite well for about 30 years having been (and I still am) a customer of his other motor related local business and have always found him to be a thoroughly decent chap.

 

[TheBig1]

Be very very careful. If an insurers solicitor has deemed the dealership not financially secure enough to recover the money, it puts you in dangerous territory. It seems to happen every year or two where a dealership struggling along on credit folds in cases like this. If you happen to have handed back the van and keys awaiting a promised refund and they call the receivers in, you lose the van and the money owed. Have seen this happen several times over the years

My best advice is have it repaired and sell the van if you have lost faith in it

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[Jim]

That’s not how I read it. Just be careful. If you have first hand experience then we welcome your honest reviews, otherwise, rather than your libellous statement, let’s keep it factual and in the review section. Thanks.