Giant RV, Irvine, sold us a trailer that had been on their lot for 11 months. We cannot honestly say that we investigated them as a company before making the purchase. It was only AFTER we had made our first walk-through, prior to delivery (0n 5-16) that we found many problems and requested they be required under the OEM (R-Vision, Inc.) Warranty Agreement.
Upon returning 6 days later (5-22-04) to pick up the "repaired" trailer, we found nothing had been done and, we were told we had to sign a NEW CONTRACT, but this time, it would have the so-called "Extended Warranty Agreement" included in it, for which we were charged $1448.00.
Upon completing the New Contract paperwork, we left the trailer, again, never having picked it up. When we returned a week later, no one was able to locate our trailer. They told us it was in a "locked-up" warehouse and that they would get the repairs done ASAP.
On June 3, we received a call stating that the "repaired" unit would be dropped off at our home and that the repairs had been completer. The trailer was dropped off, and the tow truck operator had us sign a "Notice of Delivery form, " and left, hurriedly. We looked at the trailer and not one thing had been fixed except for the replacing of a broken rear bumper which they had not put the sealant on, promising to do it when the sealant (which was on order) came in.
Lo and behold, we then learned that there was no way that the Irvine location could make repairs because they were not an official "repair center."
6 months later, when we were given a Repair Date and a notice to bring the trailer in, we discovered that the company had been negotiating for a property in Irvine upon which to build a repair center but the deal fell through because it would have been to expensive. We were told that the only "legitimate" repair center for Giant RV was in Colton, CA, and that repairs would be made under the repair plan from R-Vision.
R-Vision sent us a letter assuring us that, unless we were completely satisfied, we would not have to accept the trailer repairs and they would take it back to their manufacturing plant in Indiana, at no cost to us, and repair it properly.
What we later found was that we had bought an 11 month old trailer and, that the warranty was due to end on 5-22-05, according to Giant RV, but, R-Vision told us that it was "OUR FAULT" that the roof leaked because we didn't make an inspection every 9 months (as required by their manual, which we NEVER RECEIVED!).
The impact of that information was that three (3) inspections of the roof should have been performed from the time Giant RV accepted delivery of the unit in JUNE of and we bought the trailer in MAY!
The delivery of the trailer to Colton, CA for repairs was in FEBRUARY. The trailer has been at that location ever since with about 70% of the requested repairs made, with NO GUARANTEE that the roof was "mold free, " as we had requested. The leaking roof had occurred during a particular rainy period at the end of 2004. We had NEVER ONCE used the trailer for travel, and only lived in the trailer from NOVEMBER 29 to FEBRUARY 17.
It would be useless to recite here all of the problems we encountered with the trailer, and Giant RV, including missing fuses, lights, parts, said User's Manual, and totally unusable Dinette and the inability to completely empty the black water tank, because it had been in use on the Irvine lot as a place in which the Sales People sat and did paper work, ate lunch, and used the "facilities, " Unfortunately, they used the wrong toilet tissue, and then they blamed us!
The Dinette fell apart upon my husband's sitting down to the table. (My husband is of average weight). He fell through to the floor, and was scratched by a nail which protuded from the back of the seating area. That was the only nail in evidence. The rest of the booth had been put together with staples, and no glue! Fortunately, he did not severly injure himself, that he could tell.
Other people's reportage, on the R-Vision Forum Site, stated that the chief complaints they had were with the dinette and the emptying of the toilet. A part in the toilet had been installed backwards and COLLECTED debris; paper, etc., thus, would not empty. The display panel for monitoring the grey and black water tanks did not work. This was because they were absolutely responding to the facts! We were blamed, using the term: "CUSTOMER ABUSE" for these defects.
Here we are, fourteen (14) months later, still not having the trailer, and, Giant RV never having sent it back to R-Vision but, threatening us with one legal action after another, including a "Mechanics Lien, " and "Storage Charge."
We, obviously, are not guilty of anything they can claim as worthy of a "Mechanics Lien, " because we have continued to make payments on the trailer, have kept the license current, and have paid the insurance. Giant RV approached our Insurance Agent (State Farm) and attempted to gain private information, and also informed the Agent they were going to file a Mechanics Lien. Once they found out that they had no grounds for that, they dropped it and, instead, the President of GIANT RV, BOB BAROUTI, has taken it upon himself to take us to Small Claims Court for "abandoning" the trailer, and his desire is to obtain $2,400. ("Storage Fees") at the rate of $20.00/day.
Even though R-VISION was willing to take the trailer back and do the repairs to our complete satisfaction, we had by that time decided that there was no way the trailer was habitable, and that our need to buy another trailer for that period of time, made better sense than paying rent somewhere.
R-VISION has not replied to our communication sent to them at the same time we notified GIANT RV that our acceptance of the trailer was not an option, since they did not do the repairs as requested, and, had fraudulently created a document showing our approval for repairs. The reason we have not gotten a complete repair job is simple: THEIR IS NO SUCH THING AS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. The California Lemon Law interprets that as a violation of the Law.
Let's top that off. The proper agencies like the DMV, and the District Attorney for the area we live in, are "passing the buck" to each other! The DMV, upon initial contact said, "We have nothing to do with the California Lemon Law, " yet, the paperwork directed us to the DMV! We contacted the District Attorney at our previous location and were told there was "nothing they could do." Now that we are in Orange, CA, we have contacted the Attorney General of the County of Orange (after being referred to him by the Districat Attorney of Orange) and we have been given direction by the AG to go to the DMV!
And, so it goes.
We are out $50,000. Because of GIANT RV, and now have no way to pay an attorney to represent us at law.
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