RV´s of Merritt - odometer rollback
I Purchased a Motorhome from RV´s of Merritt in
Santa Cruz, CA and at the time was told and later verified through an odometer disclosure statement that the vehicle had 25,070 miles on it.
After having severe mechanical problems with the RV we discovered a box of receipts in the motorhome from the original owner indicating that in July of 1998 the Motor was replaced and the vehicle had 31,461 miles on it. Along with this receipt is an original notorized statement indicating the mileage at each oil change which indicates higher mileage than the 25,070 which was represented to us.
We then notified the DMV, they told us to give RV´s of Merritt a
chance to work it out.
On July 8, 1999 RV´s of Merritt told us to bring the Motorhome back and they would make it right. We returned the motorhome on July 9, 1999 to RV´s of Merritt.
On August 6th after several phone calls to them they informed us
that they believed that at the time of all of the documented
repairs the vehicle was reading in kilometers and that when we
purchased the vehicle the odometer was reading in miles. He sent us a letter to come pick up the RV on August 10, 1999 a month after we dropped the RV off and after Fleetwood, the manufacturer of the motorhome informed RV´s of Merritt that it was impossible to switch between miles and kilometers. RV´s of Merritt also contacted the shop which replaced the motor. The general manager of that shop said there was no way he wrote down kilometers and at the time the work was done the vehicle was indicating miles (31,461 per the receipt date July 1997).
I have always been told when trading in a vehicle the dealer pays wholesale because they have to assume the liability for the vehicle and that they will resell it at retail to absorb the cost of their liability. At this time the dealer is unwilling to live up to their liability. I would appreciate any feedback on what to do next or anyone who has had a similar experience.
Where do we go from here?