Absa iDirect did worse than the accident

I was insured with ABSA iDirect (Absa) for my car for the past year. Last Sunday (18 Nov 2018) I was involved in car accident where I hit a pedestrian. My car was damaged on the bonnet and windscreen where the pedestrian had landed as a result of the impact.

I then called Absa and asked them to tow the vehicle as I would not be able to see past the broken windscreen. After waiting nearly an hour my vehicle was towed and I was advised that it would be towed to an Absa assessment center. The next call I got, on Tuesday, was from a dealership/ workshop advising me that they need to first strip the vehicle to assess the damage - I told them that the mechanics of the vehicle are fine and that I even drove the vehicle off the road at the night of the accident so that it was not blocking traffic. Moreover, no one had advised me that my vehicle was now at a dealership in Sandton nor did I consent to it. Absa had not appointed an assessor until Wednesday.

Absa repudiated my claim and I told them that all I want then is to get my vehicle back. I was advised that I had to go collect my vehicle. However, because I had not authorised my vehicle being moved to Sandton, Absa then offered to drop it off at a place of my choice. They told me that I should have my vehicle on Thursday morning, I followed up with Absa about my vehicle being delivered and I was told that everyone has gone home and there's nothing they could do. I called again on Friday morning to follow up and my vehicle was onlt delivers at 17:00 that day.

Upon delivery the following came to my attention 1. The wheel nut in one of my wheels was now missing; 2. My car showed a warning light that the battery of my car was "discharged" or low; 3. My fuel was now missing; 4. My sunroof was now not working; and 5. There was now a warning light about the function of my headlights (not there on the night of the accident).

I didn't expect Absa to fix my car but I certainly wasn't expecting it to be worse off than it went in. Other insurance companies may be a little bit more expensive, but cheap is certainly not always great.