EA
Emma A
Active since Feb 2019
20
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
20 reviews5 months ago
Wheeler Dealer sold me a faulty car - the National Consumer Tribunal agreed
I bought a vehicle from Wheeler Dealer Auto Sales in Strand on 11 March 2022. In the first week, the alternator stopped working. The owner of the dealership told me to claim from the warranty he had sold me. This was not possible because the warranty had not yet been loaded. I paid for a new alternator, took the broken alternator back to the owner of the dealership, and he refunded me. Four months later, the vehicle began leaking oil. I took it in for a service and to have the oil leak looked at. The vehicle had blown a gasket and had a cracked engine block caused by overheating die to a faulty thermostat. I informed the dealership, represented by Mr Nicholas Grobler, and he again told me to claim from the warranty, even though the breakdown occurred less than six months after the vehicle was purchased. The repairs were way in excess of what the warranty would pay (even on the cheapest quote), and the dealership continued to deny liability – or even to engage with me. I went to MIOSA, then to the National Consumer Commission, and finally to the National Consumer Tribunal. I had to hire lawyers to pursue the case. At numerous times, my attorneys offered Wheeler Dealer the option to settle the matter – but he was not interested. The case was heard before three members of the National Consumer Tribunal on 16 May 2025. The judgement was issued in August 2025. Available on the website of the National Consumer Tribunal, the judgement reads: “The vehicle failed to meet the standards required under section 55(2)(a) to (c). The respondent failed to comply with its obligations under section 56(2)(a) to repair the vehicle at its risk and expense following the applicant’s report of the defect. In doing so, the respondent infringed the applicant’s rights in terms of the CPA. The respondent’s conduct accordingly not only contravened sections 55(2)(a) to (c) and 56(2)(a) but also constitutes a textbook example of the type of prohibited conduct the CPA seeks to eliminate. In conclusion, the respondent demonstrated a complete disregard for the applicant’s rights and the statutory remedies enacted by the legislature to protect consumers. The respondent failed to accept responsibility and persistently raised various defences in an apparent attempt to evade liability. Its repeated instruction to the applicant to claim under the contractual warranty is indicative of the respondent’s general attitude towards consumers who report defects. The applicant has suffered considerable economic loss and remains out of pocket because of the legal costs she incurred in pursuing this matter. The cumulative effect of these circumstances has caused the applicant significant inconvenience and emotional distress. Such conduct must be strongly condemned.” It should also be noted that the National Consumer Tribunal stated in the judgement, “The respondent is cautioned to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the CPA, and future contraventions may result in the imposition of severe penalties, including an administrative fine.” Even after this ruling, getting the dealership to comply with the judgement has been an uphill battle, and to date the dealership has not meaningfully engaged to settle the judgement debt – despite knowing the economic hardship and emotional distress his actions have caused.
0 replies
6 months ago
Bonitas routinely rejects PMB claims, promises to fix it, and does then nothing
Over the past three years, Bonitas has routinely rejected PMB claims. When I phone, I get the runaround and promises and sometimes there is some progress, but mostly not. Then when I take it to the Council for Medical Schemes, Bonitas pays. Bonitas knows these are PMB claims. It is clearly their practice to reject claims and see if you fight. We have multiple PMB chronic conditions as a family - none of which Bonitas is not aware of - yet every claim is a fight and a series of broken promises and inaction that drags on. Now, the last two times I have phoned, and spent literally 40 minutes of my own airtime trying to sort the latest set of claims out, the call gets dropped. I even spoke to someone at Tendahealth who promised to sort it out, but nothing has happened. This claims issue is in addition to the massive levies I pay every month on chronic medication for PMB conditions and serious delays in providing authorisation for critically important and PMB care. Even if a consultation is on the care plan Bonitas sends, they will still reject the claim. I don't have any peace of mind with Bonitas as a medical aid. I actually avoid chronic care now because of this.
212 replies
10 months ago
MiWay not responding after towing my vehicle away more than 2 weeks ago
I had a vehicle collision and reported it to MiWay. The vehicle was already towed to a repairer, but they towed it again to a yard belonging to an auctioneer. I was alarmed as this was done without my knowledge. The claim was rejected, which I disputed on 3 June, including with the ombud. The app then said the claim was approved on 6 June, but I received no formal communication. Since 3 June, no one from MiWay has contacted me. Tenda Gumula is supposed to be handling the dispute, but hasn’t been in contact with me despite me sending emails and phoning and it has been well over 7 working days. Today, I phoned MiWay and was told my vehicle is still at the auctioneer as that is where the yard is - and the call centre could give me no more information. I feel like I’m losing my mind: I don’t know where my car is or what is happening to it, and MiWay is simply not responding to my requests for information.
106 replies
19 months ago
MTN blacklists without notice on expired contract and won't update payment with credit bureau two months later
I had an MTN contract that then expired and is on month-to-month. I hardly ever receive statements, and I no longer have the sim card. I became aware that MTN had logged a default on my credit record for this contract (that is month to month, and which I do not use, because I don't have the sim card) in July this year. I paid the full amount that MTN claimed was outstanding. I phoned to ask for a paid-up letter and statement of account, and was told "we'll send it when we send it". Two months later, I still have not received it and the credit bureau has not been updated, despite me requesting this THREE times and TransUnion requesting feedback from MTN - which was never provided to them by MTN. I have phoned twice in the past two days, and each time, I get told I am going to be helped, with "apologies for the inconvenience" and then the call is dropped by MTN. I am trying to cancel this contract. I don't have the sim card, the contract is on month to month, I don't receive statements, the call centre is no help, and MTN is making it impossible to cancel it. MTN is also simply refusing to update the credit bureau as is their legal responsibility in terms of the National Credit Act. I am beyond frustrated.
53 replies
21 months ago
Vodacom deleted my number
Vodacom deleted my number after I had paid them in full - even though I don't understand how they came up with the amounts as the payments I was making and the billing didn't add up. I struggled to get hold of them when my phone went dead as the customer care line did not recognize my number - because Vodacom had just deleted it that morning, without telling me, even though my two payments were already reflecting on their side (I could see them as received on the app and it showed I owed them R0 BEFORE my line died completely and I was disconnected from the network). I paid for the calls to customer care because I had to make it from another network because on the Vodacom network, the call wouldn't go beyond telling me my just-deleted-by-Vodacom cellphone number didn't exist and ending the call. After a good two hours of trying to get through by any possible means (including going to a store that would not help), subscriber collections said oh yes, you have paid, we'll send your number for reactivation and it will take SEVEN DAYS. After about 20 years of being with the same cellphone provider, I think I am now done with Vodacom.
277 replies
22 months ago
Distressing customer service from Absa bank
I opened an ABSA cheque account in February 2022. I was told I would qualify for all sorts of things - but this did not work out, and in fact I didn't qualify even though the sales agent assured me I did. I continued to be charged the full Absa cheque account fee, even though I was not using the account. I tried unsuccessfully to close the account. I was told I need to go to the branch, but there is no branch near where I live. I explained this over the phone multiple times and was told I would be called. I was eventually phoned by Absa near the end of April 2024 and was assisted by a very nice woman who said she would change my account from a cheque account (which is R270 a month) to a savings account (which is R5 a month) and I would be credited the arrears that had built up that month from account fees - she assured me it could be done over the phone and I did not need to go to a branch. I agreed and a few days later, on 26 April 2024, my account was indeed credited with the account fees from that month and I assumed that the account had been switched over to a Savings account - and there were adequate funds to cover the fees in the account for May. However, at the end of May 2024, I was once again debited R270 for the account charges - which was not what had been arranged over the phone, and I assumed it was an error that would be corrected. Then Absa Collections started phoning me. I tried to explain to the woman on the phone today that the account was switched over to a Savings account and there was a mistake. She said I needed to go to a branch. I asked her to please listen to the recording of the call I had with the Absa agent in April. She said, "I'm not going to listen to that call." And continued to insist it was impossible and I needed to pay the account fee of R270, and repeating she wasn't going to listen to the recording of the previous call. This is not the first time Absa has phoned me, made an arrangement over the phone, and then phoned me again a month later saying there is no arrangement and they're not listening to the recording of a call they made. I had the same problem with AVAF last year. It is really frustrating and I wouldn't recommend banking with Absa simply for this reason: they say one thing, I agree and sign, and then they come back and say it never happened. Or, you call, make an arrangement, or ask to speak to a particular department, they won't give you the number and say they'll call, and they don't, and then they come back and say you never spoke to them about something you did speak to them about.
53 replies
22 months ago
Great customer service from Bheki who assisted me in having my car towed after a mechanical breakdown
Great customer service from Bheki who assisted me in having my car towed after a mechanical breakdown. It was the first time I needed my insurance with MiWay and it was a great experience.
53 replies
25 months ago
Vodacom lies about delivery dates
I was phoned to upgrade my phone on contract on 26 March 2024. The consultant who phoned me was very helpful and I agreed to the upgrade and she said the phone would be delivered in 1-3 working days. I also checked on the Vodacom website, which said if the order is made before 12pm, the device will be delivered the next business day. So, if I was called at 4pm on 26 March 2024, the phone should have been delivered on 28 March 2024. It is now a week later - 4 April 2024 - and no device has been delivered, no message, no call, and no tracking found. I have phoned Vodacom upgrades three times. I was told on Thursday 28 March that the phone had been dispatched and was with RAM. I asked for a tracking number and they gave me the order number. I used it on the RAM/Vodacom tracking system, and no tracking was found. I phoned again and was told that there was a hold up on RAM's side, and the phone had not yet been dispatched but would be fetched that day by RAM. Tuesday came and there was no phone, and no tracking found with RAM. So, I phoned again on Wednesday 3 April, only to be told the phone had not yet been dispatched and no deliveries were being done last week 'due to the holidays'. I asked for a clear date that the phone would be delivered and was told they could not give me a date, and it is 3-5 business days. This is NOT what I was told when I did the upgrade, neither is it what is written on the website. It has been extremely inconvenient to have to stay home all the time *in case* RAM comes, and to have to continuously phone and be **** to about when it is coming, and then told, "I can't tell you when it is coming." Vodacom, if it takes more than a week to deliver an upgrade, SAY SO at the start. It is now the FIFTH BUSINESS DAY and still no delivery, no message, and no tracking found on RAM.
106 replies
32 months ago
Harrassment from Life Healthcare Credit Control over account that has been paid in full and more
My complaint is about a Kingsbury Hospital emergency room account that has been paid in full and more. Miguel Sebastian from credit control keeps phoning my father and telling him he wants proof of payment. I have sent this to his direct email address. I have also told this man on multiple occasions to phone ME and not my father and provided my cellphone number on multiple occasions. He continues to phone my father. Despite this account being settled in full by my medical aid, this account also forms part of my debt review court order (it is is literally ON the court order) and Kingsbury Hospital is receiving payments from the iPDA from my debt review payment. I got the medical aid to pay after I took them to the Council for Medical Schemes as the ER visit was for a PMB. I have sent the medical aid's notification of payment, as well as the debt review court order, and the iPDA statement showing what has been paid to Kingsbury Hospital, but Miguel keeps phoning my FATHER and demanding payment. Please sort this out. It has been paid in full and more.
60 replies
35 months ago
Car doesn’t go after R72k of repairs and staff blame ME
I am gutted. I just spent R72000 on getting my engine repaired and the vehicle lasted 22km. It’s gone back to Car Service City and they are yelling at me that the battery specified for the vehicle that I purchased is too small BUT it is the battery specified for the vehicle, and the vehicle broke down saying “CHECK INJECTION”. CSC wanted me to pay them ANOTHER R6K for a 658 battery - way above what the specs are, and there is no way even a 658 costs R6K. So they said bring the battery yourself - so I did, according to the specs of the vehicle. They accepted the battery and put it in. Now that the car doesn’t go, they blame me… once they already have R72k from me. When the vehicle arrived there, everything was checked and Chad told me what was missing - the battery was not listed as missing then. Mysteriously, the original battery disappeared and all CSC Montague Gardens staff can say is, “I wouldn’t know, I wasn’t there at the time.” I drove 100km in a borrowed car to fetch a car that got me 22km away. Then I was stuck in s highway waiting for CSC to come. Then they phone and tell me it’s MY fault. I am so tired of these people.
262 replies
Review Distribution
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2 (10%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
1 (5%)
2 Star
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1 Star
17 (85%)