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“I didn't click any stars at first, but that wasn't...”

written by mandymermaid on 28/07/2009

I didn't click any stars at first, but that wasn't acceptable! I actually don't believe it to be worth any stars.

I had a Kyam XL tent for 9 years and it stood up to everything the weather had to throw at it. Minor problems on the bedroom corner, but otherwise great. I bought the Chatsworth last year,as I liked the thought of an inbuilt groundsheet. The first time I used it was fine. There was a little rain, but all went well. The second time there was heavy rain and the bedroom pole bent, allowing water to pool and then drip into the tent. I contacted the supplier, who suggested a) storm damage (no storm), b)someone had fallen on it (no) or 3) it's only a summer tent (it was summer and the tent was expensive). The supplier agreed to send me a new pole, which I was reluctant to accept, but did so on the proviso that they would do something about it if the same thing happened this year. I have just returned from a camping trip and the same thing happened after a mere 15 minutes of rain. After looking at all the other tents on the field, we realised that the straight pole on the bedroom was a basic design fault - there was no gap in the pole sleeve, so water quickly accumulated and pooled, weighing down on the straight pole, which then bent. I wrote a letter last year, saying the tent was not fir for purpose, so have since emailed the comapny again to see what they are prepared to do.