AIBU to expect a £1300 tent package to leak everytime it rains...

[no73]

I posted this in Legal but it was mentioned I should put it here and see what people think and then send the thread to Camping World and Kampa

I wonder if anyone can give me advice please..

I bought a Kampa Filey Air 6 tent and have had nothing but problems with it, the zips get stuck and I have to get people to get me out and it leaks badly when it rains.

It has already gone back to the manufacturer who insist there is nothing wrong with it and its condensation therefore the shop is refusing to refund me the money or exchange the tent. They have stated I am not ventilating the tent. I am the back ventilation flap is always open regardless of the weather and if it is during the day then the inner door is also open (it has a porch area).

I went away in it this weekend and as soon as the rain started only light drizzle but went on for a few hours so did the leaks. It is leaking from the top seam and running down the poles and pooling there. If it rains really badly these are huge puddles extending under the carpet and the sleeping pods.

I have taken photo's of the puddles and the dripping from the seams but Camping World still insist its condensation. This only happens when it rains and no other time e.g. not after it has stopped raining, the sun has come out and then the temperature drop at night. I have taken photos at 06:00 after a day of rain to show that there is no condensation present which if it was a condensation issue there would be some evidence of this.

This is a huge tent with only myself and my 5 year old in it and so we are not creating much vapour and the sleeping pods inside never get wet like the rest of the tent does. I have never had this issue with tents not even the cheap ones and I have been camping for over 25 years.

I have sent the CAB letter to Camping World stating I continue to have this issue and that unless resolved I will be taking them to the small claims court. This tent package cost £1300 and so a lot of money for a tent that causes massive issues when it pours down and I have to take plenty of towels with me so I can mop up the water in the tent.

Camping World are still insisting there is nothing wrong with the tent because Kampa states its fine however are offering me sealant to seal all the seams. I am not happy with this because I do not think this will work well and I have spent an awful lot of money on a tent for it not to be fully waterproof. I also do not like the fact the zips are so difficult to get out of as the plastic trim on the outside, alongside the zip gets stuck in the zip mechanism.

I have friends who are all willing to state they have seen the rain coming in and the zips getting stuck and have also filmed and taken photos of the zip issue.

Do I stand a good chance of winning with my own evidence despite the report from Kampa? I really do no want to continue using this tent but I am having to to get evidence of the leaks. Its an awful lot of money to lose and I will have to buy another tent to use.

Hope someone can help advise me. Its bit out of my comfort zone tbh.

There is also evidence on forums that this is an issue with this tent as well and I wondered if I could use this as evidence in my case against Camping World

I love the coloured dye in watering can idea - that should really prove the issue!

Im in the middle of buying a tent and am very nervous about it now...

Good luck

I'd be very wary of coloured dye staining the fabric personally, that really wouldn't help OP get a refund.

My advice icebeing go onto UKcampsite website and check out the reviews of any tents you want. This tent had some good reviews but some were from people who had only used it once or had only put it up in their garden. There were many from people who had used it and had to take it back.

Do not buy from Camping World though as their customer service is appalling if there are any faults. Its great if there aren't but try taking something back and they are shocking.

Have narrowed it down to one credit card but as its a closed credit card I have to wait 5-7 days to get statements and hope that it was this one. Can you still get your money back under the credit agreement if the account is closed??

Sorry if i have missed it OP, when did you purchase it?

I purchased it in July 2013 and had one episode of it leaking but put this down to the fact I had not weathered it. Never had any further issues with leaks because all the following camping trips it never rained. Used it in July 2014 and it rained really hard all night and the whole tent was flooded with massive puddles and water dripping from the inner roof canopy where the rain was falling from the seam. The puddles extended right under the sleeping pods. I then took it back to the store who then sent it to Kampa stating it was condensation but that they reproofed it and changed leaking pipe as a good will gesture. Used it again and it leaked rain wasn't as bad but there was still huge puddles around all the poles.

I thought that I would just have to get rid of but was so unhappy that I had an expensive tent I couldn't used I looked at the Sales of Goods Act and tried to return it under the not fit for purpose and not satisfactory quality but Camping World refused stating that Kampa state it is just condensation.

Went camping this weekend and it leaked again but unfortunately for me only took pics and not filmed. It was only light drizzle so the drips were slow but have pics of that and the puddles at base of pole.

Just spoke to CAB who state that it is on me to prove that it is not fit for purpose and that because Kampa state there is nothing wrong with it I really have to have evidence and that possibly photos aren't good enough. My garden isn't big enough to put my tent up in.

Looks like yet again the poor consumer is screwed over.

I'm so sorry, OP. That is absolutely dreadful. It's awful when it's you against the world like that. I hope you find some solution.

I would also suggest tweeting, do you have a Twitter account?

I'm also in the market for a tent and was looking at this very tent. No way will I touch it now. And I won't be visiting Camping World either. So thanks for the warning.

I'm shocked that it seems the consumer can be so completely screwed over!

Hqve the CAB said what they think would count as evidence of leakage? I mean Kampa are not exactly unbiased, so I don't get why their conclusions the tent doesn't leak holds so much more weight over your experience

Please do yourself a favour and stop mucking about. Offer them one last chance for a full refund and then tell them you will be doing small claims.
Small claims is easy enough, don't be put off.

I think at this point you need to be sending a 'Letter Before Action'. Follow the template below and most importantly send it via recorded delivery so you can prove they have received it!

[Your address]

[Supplier's address]

Dear
Reference: [a single sentence summing up your claim]

As it has not been possible to resolve this matter amicably, and it is apparent that court action may be necessary, I write in compliance with the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct.

[Provide a summary of the facts of the dispute]
From you I am claiming [state what you want from the party you're claiming from]
I have calculated this sum [state how you have calculated the amount being claimed]
Listed below are the documents on which I intend to rely in my claim against you:
[List the key documents that you will need to use to prove your claim]
In accordance with the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Conduct I would request that you provide me with copies of the following documents:
[List any documents you want from the party you are claiming from]
I can confirm that I would be agreeable to mediation and would consider any other system of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in order to avoid the need for this matter to be resolved by the courts.
I would invite you to put forward any proposals in this regard.
[Alternatively you can set out details of any ADR scheme that you would be prepared to use]

In closing, I would draw your attention to section II (4) of the Practice Direction which gives the courts the power to impose sanctions on the parties if they fail to comply with the direction including failing to respond to this letter before claim.

I look forward to hearing from you within the next 28 days.
Should I not receive a response to my letter within this time frame, then I anticipate that court action will be commenced with no further reference to you.
Yours faithfully,
No73

I've sent them that letter and there reply was to state that nothing was wrong with the tent as per Kampa's report and they would offer me some sealant for free as a goodwill gesture.

My reply was that for the price I paid for this tent being offered sealant was not satisfactory and doesn't solve the issue of the zips.

I'm just wary of going to the small claims in case I lose really because I have only got photo's and they are a big company. Plus they really don't seem to care.

I'm not faffing about I was just asking for advice and opinions as its not something I have done before.

I've twittered the link to this and hash tagged camping world and kampa in it but I have never really used twitter so I'm doubtful anything will come of it

ooh just realised you can actually twitter to the companies directly....

If you don't win at the small claims court you'll be no worse off apart from the court fee.

Why waste further time and not just sue them in a small claim right now? You can get the claim started, judge their response, and while doing so gather further evidence. Possibly from an "expert" - someone who is knowledgeable about tents and camping. However, if you take proper sworn statements from your friends and family re their evidence, that should be reasonably sufficient.

You have a choice to sue the manufacturer, retailer, supplier - whoever in the chain of supply you choose. I cannot see the point in going through manufacturer's guarantee procedures when it seriously inconveniences you.

Don't be worried about going to the small claims court against the shop that sold it to you. Even in the worst case scenario that you lose, you won't have to pay their costs. It's a relatively straightforward process. In your claim, point out that they have effectively admitted that there's a problem by offering sealant: a tent that doesn't keep the rain out and which you can't easily get out of isn't fit for purpose. Get together photos (including one using coloured water as suggested upthread, and ones showing no pooling when there is no rain - if they have times and dates on, so much the better) and the evidence of witnesses, and include copies of entries in this thread and the ones linked to about general experience of these tents.

It could also be worth contacting Which to see if they've had complaints about this tent.

Honestly, don't worry about small claims. It's there to help in exactly these circumstances . Fwiw, I had a very expensive Robens tent that leaked after two years. Difference being that I bought from Cotswold outdoor. They sent it off to be looked at, concluded that it did leak and have me a credit note for the full value. They were fab and I have since spent quite a bit of money with them....

Offer up the tent as evidence. Shut the representative of camping world in the tent and tell him to get himself out using the zips. While he's stuck in there, pour coloured water over the roof.

If he isn't covered in coloured water when he uses the zips and doesn't need someone to let him out his case is made. On the other hand......

Oh never though about contacting Which and didn't realise they could give you info like that.

Thanks for advice and support

I think Watchdog has just started a new series, contact them as well.

Hettie, thanks for the recommendation for Cotswold Outdoors, I know where to go tent shopping in a few weeks!

and make sure I avoid a Kampa Filey Air 6 tent!

I know it's been a while but did you get a result from your problem?
I also have a Filey 6 air and have had a lot of problems with it, water pooling at bottom of poles, zips getting jammed and poles leaking. Had 3 poles leak this weekend alone !