Buyer refunded for faulty Volkswagen camper conversion

A motor dealer which promotes itself as being a specialist in converting and selling VW Campervans and Transporter vans can’t be surprised if customers hold them and their products to a higher standard than a standard dealership.

If the quality doesn’t meet that standard, and the dealer doesn’t deal with complaints properly, they can’t be surprised if the customer finds skeletons (or damp or dodgy plumbing) in the cupboard.

A defective Volkswagen Transporter makes for a broken down campervan conversion

Miss S wanted a luxury VW Campervan to take her children on weekends away and European travel. She researched suitable Campers online and decided to contact a firm which specialised in converting VW transporter vans to a high specification, so that she could get exactly what she needed.

It was a big-ticket purchase; she wanted it to be perfect and spent some considerable time weighing up a bespoke conversion or an ‘off the shelf’ vehicle.

Having decided on the right van, she excitedly prepared for the first trip but after only a few hundred miles, it broke down.

A garage looked at it and informed Miss S the engine seemed noisy, the cam belt needed changing and the oil looked contaminated.

Miss S expressed her dissatisfaction with the Campervan to the seller and told them she didn’t want it anymore, but they refused her rejection.

How we go about getting a campervan dealer refund

With extensive knowledge with Volkswagen vehicles, transporter vans and camper conversions both in terms of the engines, engineering, and the conversion process, Miss S wanted us to deal with her complaint.

Our experience in VW main dealerships and the process for preparing used vehicle sales means we are well placed to understand pre-delivery check and job cards.

We scrutinised the documents, noting gaps in the service record along with service records which seemed spurious, calling the service agent to check the authenticity- it didn’t quite stack up.

The cam belt and oil contamination suggested the Van hadn’t been recently serviced, which  cast doubt over the pre-delivery inspection.

Further investigation revealed the VW was also subject to a stocking loan which appeared outstanding.

The supplying dealer had the help of a legal services supplier who tried to counter our arguments supporting a refund, but they were unsuccessful.

After a number of offers and counter offers, it was eventually agreed that a refund would be paid to Miss S, which it was, freeing her to make a more suitable purchase.

Problems with a converted campervan? We can help

If you’re looking to be refunded for a campervan conversion that’s gone wrong, we’re the experts to trust; contact Stormcatcher Law for advice on 0333 700 7676.