What Do You Do When You've Bought A 'lemon'?

M

MaisieM

Free Member
Joined
Apr 16, 2015
Posts
9
Likes collected
8
Location
Oxford
Funster No
35,871
MH
C Class
Exp
1 year
We bought a new MH as our first MH 15 months ago. We've had no end of problems, major and minor, since. We currently have a couple of potentially serious problems which we're 'working through' with the dealer. It's all very well for the dealer to keep taking it in to fix problems but, individual problems aside (as everyone will have experienced different problems), we feel we paid a lot of money for a first class product and have been sold a 'lemon'. Do we have any comeback? Any one with a similar experience?
 
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Yes... Explain more please. Brand, issues etc.. Maybe then we could comment.

My new van, Autotrail, was found to have 40% damp readings on it's first 12 months hab check..
Serious, yes. But visit to factory for a re-seal and all seem's ok now...
Impressed no and as much as I love AT'S will not be my next choice of van..
 
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tonka said:
Yes... Explain more please. Brand, issues etc.. Maybe then we could comment.

My new van, Autotrail, was found to have 40% damp readings on it's first 12 months hab check..
Serious, yes. But visit to factory for a re-seal and all seem's ok now...
Impressed no and as much as I love AT'S will not be my next choice of van..
Click to expand...
Hi Steve, I'm afraid you've done yourself no good if you try to sell on the Funsters Forum! hope your getting better. (y)
 
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Autotrail Delaware (from Brownhills). Internal door fell off on way home from dealer after purchase, replacement tap within a month, habitation door mount replaced within a couple of months as all hinge attachments were cracked, cracks in bodywork around fuel filler , LED light strip replaced twice, 2 x switch/socket panels faulty and replaced, fridge leaking, sink outflow pipes repeatedly disconnecting causing flooding, crack in bodywork where nail coming through from insidevarious very poor quality finish issues etc. etc......

Current concerns are:
1 - half a dozen 'pound sized' blisters in bodywork on above-cab bubble
2 - two areas nearby where bodywork skin looks as if it's had holes and been repaired before we got it
3 - styrene odours (we're told) that Autotrail initially denied smelling, but fortunately Brownhills could. We were told the odours might take up to a year to go, but they are still there after 15 months, are worse in hot sun, collect in the back of the vehicle on a hot day and prevent us opening the cab windows while driving because of the fumes (we were told to use the AC instead) .

We are fulltiming in Europe and have travelled 4000 miles having to go back and forwards or give up our trip.

No one has even said ' Sorry'!

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MaisieM said:
Autotrail Delaware (from Brownhills). Internal door fell off on way home from dealer after purchase, replacement tap within a month, habitation door mount replaced within a couple of months as all hinge attachments were cracked, cracks in bodywork around fuel filler , LED light strip replaced twice, 2 x switch/socket panels faulty and replaced, fridge leaking, sink outflow pipes repeatedly disconnecting causing flooding, crack in bodywork where nail coming through from insidevarious very poor quality finish issues etc. etc......

Current concerns are:
1 - half a dozen 'pound sized' blisters in bodywork on above-cab bubble
2 - two areas nearby where bodywork skin looks as if it's had holes and been repaired before we got it
3 - styrene odours (we're told) that Autotrail initially denied smelling, but fortunately Brownhills could. We were told the odours might take up to a year to go, but they are still there after 15 months, are worse in hot sun, collect in the back of the vehicle on a hot day and prevent us opening the cab windows while driving because of the fumes (we were told to use the AC instead) .

We are fulltiming in Europe and have travelled 4000 miles having to go back and forwards or give up our trip.

No one has even said ' Sorry'!
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DISGUSTING! That's the only word I can think to fit your experience. :cry::cry::cry::cry:
 
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MaisieM said:
Sounds much more polite than some of the words we've thought of! We're hoping someone can advise how we proceed.
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You can get 30 minuets to an hour's free advice from a solicitor, but remember, you must see a solicitor who specialises in these actions. Contact the CA for recommended legal firms.
 
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Portland said:
Hi Steve, I'm afraid you've done yourself no good if you try to sell on the Funsters Forum! hope your getting better. (y)
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Derek... Most know of my past isssues, never hid it and have all paperwork to show any future owner.. I can always go back to Morocco and give it another dry out.. (y)

@MaisieM That does sound like a nightmare... I would NOT reply on the Brownhills hab check, get an independant one done.. Why not take it back to the factory with all the defects, thats what I did.. Remember year 3 warranty is via a third party company and there may be limits to what they pay out so get sorted ASAP..
I have heard some people get their cash back as "not fit for purpose" but it's a hard fight.. :(

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We've arranged to have an independant report done soon so will see what that says. Perhaps next step is legal but we've never spoken to anyone who's gone down that road.
 
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MaisieM said:
Perhaps next step is legal but we've never spoken to anyone who's gone down that road.
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Take great care with that one now that you've let it run so long.

This might frighten them ( and you )
============
Styrene is regarded as a "hazardous chemical", especially in case of eye contact, but also in case of skin contact, of ingestion and of inhalation, according to several sources.[4][11][12][13] Styrene is largely metabolized into styrene oxide in humans, resulting from oxidation by cytochrome P450. Styrene oxide is considered toxic, mutagenic, and possibly carcinogenic. Styrene oxide is subsequently hydrolyzed in vivo to styrene glycol by the enzyme epoxide hydrolase.[14] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has described styrene to be "a suspected toxin to the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and respiratory system, among others."[15][16]
============

One good plan, if you can afford it, demand a good deal on a new MH, perhaps not the same make though most have teething problems.
 
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MaisieM said:
Perhaps next step is legal but we've never spoken to anyone who's gone down that road.
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Are you a member of CC or C&CC? If so, they both have a free legal helpline for members. Might be worth a call for starters?
 
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sad story..and bet you have not weighed or damp checked yet. Please contact CAB office and Citizens direct before throwing bundles at a solicitor. will take ages . I know cases that have gone on years:cautious:

you have comeback via consumer protection so use it ...:)

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hilldweller said:
Take great care with that one now that you've let it run so long.

This might frighten them ( and you )
============
Styrene is regarded as a "hazardous chemical", especially in case of eye contact, but also in case of skin contact, of ingestion and of inhalation, according to several sources.[4][11][12][13] Styrene is largely metabolized into styrene oxide in humans, resulting from oxidation by cytochrome P450. Styrene oxide is considered toxic, mutagenic, and possibly carcinogenic. Styrene oxide is subsequently hydrolyzed in vivo to styrene glycol by the enzyme epoxide hydrolase.[14] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has described styrene to be "a suspected toxin to the gastrointestinal tract, kidney, and respiratory system, among others."[15][16]
============

One good plan, if you can afford it, demand a good deal on a new MH, perhaps not the same make though most have teething problems.
Click to expand...

I don't think we want to panic the OP too much, I believe the hazards you quote are predominantly for liquid styrene where the OP is talking about an odour from the GRP construction, not nice but it will be very very low concentration, we used to mold polyester GRP and a little styrene fumes goes a long way.
 
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My Autotrail Scout was showing it's age in various ways including damp ! It was starting to haemorrhage money so that's why it had to go !
I should have bought a Hymer, but I didn't know about the quality of them !
But, hey ho, I now have a superb Volvo and a caravan with the cash from the sale and off we go to Scotland after the elections !:party2::party2::party2:
 
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Stephen & Jeannie said:
My Autotrail Scout was showing it's age in various ways including damp ! It was starting to haemorrhage money so that's why it had to go !
I should have bought a Hymer, but I didn't know about the quality of them !
But, hey ho, I now have a superb Volvo and a caravan with the cash from the sale and off we go to Scotland after the elections !:party2::party2::party2:
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will Scotland still be there?:coffee:

:LOL:
 
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Judgemental said:
you have comeback via consumer protection so use it ...:)
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Just some "nocturnal" pre-read if legal is the course you decide to take!

If not bought on HP it's Sale of Goods Act 1979. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54 (paras 14 and 48 may be of particular interest)
If on HP it's Supply of Goods Implied Terms Act 1973. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/13/contents

Some useful info here http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act

Remember your claim is against the retailer (Brownhills) and not the manufacturer (Auto-trail).
 
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Judgemental said:
will Scotland still be there?:coffee:

:LOL:
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Without a shadow of a doubt. (y)

MaisieM, I'm really sorry to hear about your woes regarding the shoddy build quality of your MH. :cry:

I am not in a position to offer any advice, not already posted above, but I do wish you well with the forthcoming fight. (y)

All the best,

Jock.

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So upsetting for you, can't say more than has been already. Hope you get a happy ending. My son had a new (to him) car on credit, they gave him the run around for a while with all the problems but the term 'fit for purpose' came into it, he got all his money back and the account credited to a better vehicle.
 
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Thanks all for great advice. Originally we were told the fumes were exhaust or fibreblass which we did write to them about citing sources identifying them as carcinogenic. We've missed the info on styrene - so big thanks.

We have recently had our first habitation check and no problems then found the blisters three weeks later. Also have weighbridge certificate (showing underweight) from last visit home.

Will get some CAB and/or CC&C legal advice asap before visit to dealer. This would be our perfect MH if it had done what it said on the tin!
 
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If your insured be CCC by all means, do you have insurance protection, CAB is where you should start and they will explain all and get you on the right track!.

Good news at least on damp-weight front ...they can be major issues. So not all bad. :)

Who did the hab service....
 
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funflair said:
I don't think we want to panic the OP too much.
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Fair enough but no harm in panicking the makers :-)

I wonder if there is a connection between smell and defective skin, is this a bad batch of resin or hardener ?
 
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