A Soweto pensioner who has been battling to get his money back from a car dealer has now been refunded some of his money, though in piecemeal.
After Consumer Line's intervention he has only been paid R150000 in two instalments, instead of the R300000 he had paid.
McDonald Twala, 65, of Protea Glen, bought a second-hand vehicle in August last year from Freeway Inspecta Car, on the corner of Main Reef and Crown Wood roads in Johannesburg, he said.
He does not know the terms and conditions of his agreement and has no receipts to show that the dealer received payment from him except a bank statement showing transfers to Freeway Equity Holding in August, September and October last year.
Twala said he was replacing his daughter's car after her Audi A4 was written off in an accident while he was driving it.
He said her car was not insured at the time.
The grandfather of three said he later visited Inspecta Car with an intention to buy a second-hand Audi but on arrival he found a BMW he adored which was selling for R490000. He said he was not told about the cooling-off period during which he could cancel the contract.
Due to financial problems he later changed his decision and decided to cancel the contract, which the dealer found acceptable, he said.
He was told he would be liable for a cancellation fee of 10%, which he accepted.
They promised to refund him within seven days, but instead of refunding his money they started to be abusive, he said.
"If their excuse is not about Wesbank being behind payments they would change the reason for the delay to pay me as soon as they have sold the car," Twala said.
Mohamed Bhabha of Inspecta Car told Consumer Line he had paid Twala in full, but could not produce his proof of payment.
He also claimed he had previously fixed Twala's car for free, justifying why he withheld R150000.
The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Compliance has agreed to investigate the matter.
lIf you have a consumer complaint you may also call the Gauteng contact centre on 0860-4288-634 and select option four or you may lodge your complaint via e-mail on consumer@gauteng.gov.za.
All consumer complaints lodged with the office are dealt with free of charge.
Dealer pays back half the money
A Soweto pensioner who has been battling to get his money back from a car dealer has now been refunded some of his money, though in piecemeal.
After Consumer Line's intervention he has only been paid R150000 in two instalments, instead of the R300000 he had paid.
McDonald Twala, 65, of Protea Glen, bought a second-hand vehicle in August last year from Freeway Inspecta Car, on the corner of Main Reef and Crown Wood roads in Johannesburg, he said.
He does not know the terms and conditions of his agreement and has no receipts to show that the dealer received payment from him except a bank statement showing transfers to Freeway Equity Holding in August, September and October last year.
Twala said he was replacing his daughter's car after her Audi A4 was written off in an accident while he was driving it.
He said her car was not insured at the time.
The grandfather of three said he later visited Inspecta Car with an intention to buy a second-hand Audi but on arrival he found a BMW he adored which was selling for R490000. He said he was not told about the cooling-off period during which he could cancel the contract.
Due to financial problems he later changed his decision and decided to cancel the contract, which the dealer found acceptable, he said.
He was told he would be liable for a cancellation fee of 10%, which he accepted.
They promised to refund him within seven days, but instead of refunding his money they started to be abusive, he said.
"If their excuse is not about Wesbank being behind payments they would change the reason for the delay to pay me as soon as they have sold the car," Twala said.
Mohamed Bhabha of Inspecta Car told Consumer Line he had paid Twala in full, but could not produce his proof of payment.
He also claimed he had previously fixed Twala's car for free, justifying why he withheld R150000.
The Gauteng Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Compliance has agreed to investigate the matter.
lIf you have a consumer complaint you may also call the Gauteng contact centre on 0860-4288-634 and select option four or you may lodge your complaint via e-mail on consumer@gauteng.gov.za.
All consumer complaints lodged with the office are dealt with free of charge.
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