Delamination and split GRP Panel on a 2 year Swift

Seems like things have gone downhill at Swift.

We had three Challengers, a 480, and then two 530's, all from new, and each one kept for three years. The last one was in 2008, after which we gave up caravanning.

Unlike the Baileys we had before them, no problems.

Hope your issue reaches a satisfactory conclusion.

When you say legal advice, Pootle, do you mean a fully qualified solicitor experienced in consumer rights issues?

I ask because I have heard of judgement being awarded against a supplying dealer (and it is the dealer who is answerable as he sold it to you) in respect of an older van because it should be reasonably expected to last longer than the length of time yours has. I’m no expert mind but the phrase "of merchantable quality" springs to mind.

I hope you achieve a good outcome.

Tinwheeler - I spoke to the legal line at Caravan and Motorhome Club and whilst she was very helpful she said that under the Goods Act 2015 I have to give Swift the opportunity to repair the fault and unfortunately it's each new fault so I could end up going back and forward like a yo-yo. 

I have also spoken to a solicitor (although not a consumer right specialist) who said much the same but perhaps I should find one with consumer experience. Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately much like Dave L S this has all left a nasty taste and I will sell the caravan once fixed and never go back to it. I just wish I had kept my Challenger 480 (2007) which had no issues at all.

You do need to give them a chance to rectify a fault if you're outside of the 30 days from purchase deadline, Pootle, but I understood it was just one chance. However, as I said, I’m no expert.

Incidentally, it’s not Swift you have to give the chance to correct the fault but the dealer. Your contract is with the dealer and what transpires between dealer and manufacturer is of no matter to you. Your dealer should, perhaps, be leant on a bit harder to provide a loan van as this whole issue is his to resolve and his responsibility.

One other avenue you might be able to explore is the liability of any finance company involved. This isn’t just for personal finance loans but applies if you used a credit card for part of the payment - over £100, I think.

CAB might be another avenue worth exploring as might joining the Swift Talk forum.

Good luck.

That’s a very sorry tale, so I’m not surprised that you won’t be staying with Swift. Though we have one, the third in a row, without major problems like yours. I’d be very disappointed indeed to have to wait until February for repairs to commence, but a further six to eight weeks to complete the repair is insulting and utterly unacceptable. As others have said, your dealer needs to take proper ownership of the inconvenience which this is causing you by providing a loan caravan of similar value, until your own is returned fully repaired.

Regretably, a percentage of pretty well any make of caravan, will suffer major faults. In the 1990s we had a Lunar with damp and a delaminated floor, which we successfully repaired ourselves.

jenny, 6/8 weeks for repair is about right as have to remove all the van, replace floor then rebuild van so I would say quicker to build a new van than do a repair. all manufacturers would take this long. It takes Lunar 3 months to supply parts to repair a van. If we keep buying new vans, then the manufacturers will keep throwing them out with substandard built quality. It's a shame that all the clubs don't do more to protest to the manufacturers about build quality and stop doing reviews of caravans.

We have had two swifts in the past (a challenger and ta conquerer) both had delamination of the floor and the last one also had severe damp in the front,and also had to have the awning rail replaced, all luckily under warranty,when we came out of the "darkside"we have had one Elddis (absolute nightmare)but are now on our second Bailey and so far have been more than satisfied with both plus good backup from our dealer

Where did the legal advice come from. The sale will be covered by The Consumer Protection Act and your rights are against the dealer with whom you have a contract. This requires the defects to be repaired within a reasonable time and to me next February for the start is not reasonable.

Under the act there seems to be ample scope to sue for the loss of use while the repair is being carried out because of this unreasonable  delay. I would write a recorded delivery letter to the dealer saying that if they adhere to that timetable they are in breach of the terms of the act and you will be suing for damages if no  are agreed without litigation.

Have you tried the clubs Legal Helpline as they are very familiar with this type of problem, probably more so than the average solicitor.

If you paid any part of the purchase price by credit card or used HP the company or companies involved also have equal liability to the dealer and you should contact them wit a view to a claim.

Do not be fobbed off.

See Pootle's post of 28/9 19:12, WW, and my response.

having spent some time in quite a few vans last week, caravans and MHs, it's no surprise that many fall apart almost straight away.

'walls' that flex and bend, doors, drawers that either won't open or shut due to poor alignment, cupboards that look like they would come apart if anything of any substance was placed in them, bathroom fixings that are Poundland standard....

seatboxes that I wouldn't feel safe sitting on (and I weigh only 60kg), 'pull together' bed mechanisms that only 'pull apart'....microwaves that are secured by a few small self tappers (an accident waiting to happen)...

...and so it goes on....

chipboard/cardboard making up tne greater part of the internal 'construction'.....all nicely covered up with the latest upholstery, taking the untrained eye away from what is (or isn't) lurking underneath...

...and the reason for all this....attempts at weight reduction...

everyone wants their new van loaded with goodies but makers can't let the vans just get heavier as this restricts tow car choice (caravans) and affects owner license restrictions (MH).. 

so we get flimsy, destined to break construction.....and reliance on dreadful, painfully slow warranty back up...

Colin Chapman (Lotus cars) always said 'lightness had to designed in' and presumably not just taken out.....

however the maxim 'less is more' stays true as prices continue to soar.

as far as I could see, it makes little difference whether you pay £15k or £25k for your caravan....just the size and the number of gadgets accounting for the price difference....oh, and the latest upholstery.

shoddy and (ought to be) shocking, but I've seen it in so many vans for so long now...

it looks like premium MHs are still pretty good, more fat in that hefty price tag no doubt to stick with decent build, and often weight isn't an issue on larger vans, over 3.5t.

however, many cheaper 3.5t MHs are also subject to the latest weight saving measures as more kit finds it way into the lower priced models, with larger, 4/6 berth 3.5t vans being subject to the most weight cutting as it's virtually impossible to run a family van at this weight.

be careful out there...