Need help with Florida lemon law

[Fxrscotty]

My parents live in Florida and have been having nothing but trouble with a new Class C. They have been given a hearing date, the manufacturer has had the unit for five months without even offering a loaner. My question is do they need a lawer at this point or wait untill after the hearing. Thanks for any help. Scotty.

[Fxrscotty]

My parents live in Florida and have been having nothing but trouble with a new Class C. They have been given a hearing date, the manufacturer has had the unit for five months without even offering a loaner. My question is do they need a lawer at this point or wait untill after the hearing. Thanks for any help. Scotty.

[RV Wizard]

I would think that the State Attorney's Office could answer some of the technical questions as to the Lemon Law. Hopefully so can one of our members to help out in the mean time.

[Hitchhiker]

Maybe this link to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website discussing the Lemon Law will help?

[Tom N]

Who is the manufacturer??

[Miles]

I would also like to know the manufaturer. It would be interesting to see who does not back their product and allows a problem to go on for that long with out resolving the issue?

[Gary RVRoamer]

A lawyer would be useful if your parents aren't experienced in dealing with contentious legal & business matters. They need careful documentation of their problems and their attempts to get it repaired satisfactorily.

Florida lemon law does not provide blanket coverage for Rv problems - mostly just the "motor vehicle" part. Any problems that have to do with the "house" part (appliances, interior trim, cabinets, etc) will generally not be admissable in the hearing. Get the Florida Lemon Law brochure and discuss with the state Consumer Affairs people mentioned above. If your parents aren't comfortable presenting their case, get help. Tears and "not fair" don't cut it a hearing, even though it is not a formal court room procedure.

[Fxrscotty]

I am hesitant to name the manufacturer as I know they whatch these sites and don't want to make a bad situation worst. They are one of the majors, and have had the RV for allmost six months without so much as a letter/phone call explination, offer of loaner or anything. Nice way to treat cust's. Scotty.

[Fxrscotty]

I will tell the whole story and give names when it is resolved. Scotty.

[Fxrscotty]

The manufacturer has had this unit now for over seven months, out of state and claims now that it is the chasis that is bad not the coach? I guess my folks were supposed to bring it to the ford plant for for service? I don't believe they bought it there. The manufacturer is also saying they only have a one year warrenty when it clearly states two in the paperwork and sales brocher. The manufacturer also has discontinued this model after one year. I will give all the info on this as soon as I know they have exhasted all the legal avenues they have. They have caught them in several lies (documented) and the court doesn't care at all. The consumer is not protected in Fla that I can see at all. Scotty.

[Gary RVRoamer]

The chassis is separately warranteed, as are many other things in an RV. And the cahssis may indeed have a different warranty period than other components. The owner often gets caught in the shuffle if the main manufacturer decides to go by the letter of the agreement rather than the spirit and good customer relations. That's one reason why invoking the legal system can be counter-productive.

It's true that Florida is not a state that is actively pro-consumer, unlike some of the northeast and western states. And the Florida lemon law is primarily aimed at motor vehicles and does not apply to the "living facilities" of RVs, whether motorized or not.

If you believe your parent's RV was misrepresented, you may want to sue for breach of contract or violations of Fair Trade laws rather than pursuing a lemon law claim. You defintely need a lawyer if that's the case.

[RobAndTeresa]

Fxrscotty,

My understanding of the Florida Lemon Law is as stated above, that it is for the "Chassis", not the "house" portion.

Given that, maybe the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act will be of some help to them, I put the link for it below.

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=116&did=749

Hope all works out well for them.

Take care.

[Fxrscotty]

Thank you for your replies. I believe like my Class C the chasis has a three year 36 thousand mile warrenty. They haven't owned this unit for a year yet and are being told they are out of warrenty? I wish i lived closer than 1500 miles so I could personally tend to this! Scotty.