Active since Aug 2022
(We are very happy to share the extensive video, photo and WhatsApp evidence of all our correspondence) When you buy a new car the last thing you expect, almost three years later, is faults that came with the car, that have never been fixed. On May 29 2023 I purchased a new car for my girlfriend Stephanie Marais. We purchased it from MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY. As Stefanie’s old car had broken down repeatedly and was at the garage so often we were extremely relieved to finally have a new car with a warranty that would allow her to take her 3 kids to school safely and reliably. Two days after the car was delivered the vehicle service light went on intermittently indicating there was an issue. After a few days of having the issue MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY came to fetch the car to “fix” the problem. The problem was not fixed and in addition to this problem the apple car play started giving issues. It would not connect or it would show its connected but not play. Our sales assistant from MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY asked us to send a detailed complaint to Citroen to him escalate the problems with our new car. Meanwhile the list of issues was mounting. The indicators started flashing erratically and the boot would not open while the car was on. On July the 16th we received an exact replacement Citroen C3 as the original one we received from MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY 6 weeks earlier. On 20th July 2023 the same issues started on the new car. The service light would keep flashing. And the Apple car play would connect but not play. We were then advised by MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY to have the vehicle looked at by CMH MOTORS UMHLANGA. On the 3 August 2023 CMH UMHLANGA said they could not pick up any faults on the diagnostic machine and therefore could not repair anything. The issues still persisted and MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY offered no plan to rectify anything. I eventually started a WhatsApp group with all the relevant people from MIDBAY MOTORS RISHARDS BAY to document this ongoing problem. Stephanie would send videos and the date of the service light intermittently flashing and the apple play intermittently not working as well as any other issues. We hoped this would make MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY take this problem more seriously and put pressure on them to fix our problems. The Dealer Principle a MR KENNETH HODGSON was also on the Whatsapp group. After one week of having the WhatsApp group KENNETH HODGSON categorically stated “I am leaving this small issue in a small car have bigger issues to deal with -1 been a profit based dealership completely -Jenine will sort you out “ When I confronted him on this comment and his lack of taking ownership for a new car his company sold to me he said “if you want a car with no problems buy something more expensive” I am writing this on the 14 March 2024 and to this day we are still having the same problems. We also have faulty wiring problems on the headlights causing the bulbs to blow intermittently as well as the fuel cap cover which keeps popping open. We app**** at the ombudsman to have our matter heard but have yet to receive a reply. We then used an attorney to send a legal letter threatening legal action. Their attorneys rep**** saying they would make an offer on the car at the current value of the car less the AA rate per km of the car. This once again meant we would lose over 90k if we were to do that. We subsequently rejected the offer and have proceeded to go to court. At this stage MIDBAY MOTORD RICHARDS BAY have not opposed the action. The sad part is we bought a brand new car with a warranty because of all the issues we had with the old car. This “new “ car has caused us so much time wastage and effort and emotional upheaval. We have questioned ourselves so many times as to whether we should be fighting for wanting a car that has no issues. Yes these issues don’t result in us breaking down on the side of the road just yet. But surely when you outlay good money on a new car you should get something that works perfectly. After all isn’t that the reason you buy something new? And surely it isn’t fair that MIDBAY MOTORS RICHARDS BAY should walk away after selling a substandard vehicle and still make a profit?
I bought an outdoor 8m rope light from the Balito AcDc store 3 months ago. It came with a year guarantee. After 3 months all the globes barring one were faulty. I bought new globes but the problem was the cable. Took it to the store and asked for a refund or another unit. The manager a Sureya said he couldn't do either and would have to give it in to suppliers to either fix or give me new one. It would take a month he said. I told him I couldn't not have lights for bnb for that long. Eventually I had to buy a new unit. He said he would call when they had an outcome. One month later I went in as no one had called. The manager told me the suppliers had said that corrosion had caused the problem and that they couldn't refund or give me a new one. So when you buy an outdoor rope light at a branch in Balito and when it breaks after 3 months because of corrosion from being near the sea ----is that the customer's fault??? I told the manager this outcome was ridiculous and unacceptable. He said he would talk to them again and call me. Two weeks later I went back and he told me he would talk to his head office and they would get back to me. Whilst I was there he was dealing with an extremely upset pensioner customer who also wasn't able to get a refund for some unreasonable reason. I waited another two weeks and heard nothing. I am 56 years old and very seldom have I encountered such poor customer service and quite frankly this is fraudulent behaviour on the part of ACDC and its suppliers. You cannot supply a product at the coast of KZn with a warranty and then when it breaks say it was corrosion and not honour your warranty!
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