Dishonesty and lack of Integrity !!!

It all started on the 17th of May, when I was driving home from work that Friday afternoon. There was a little bit of traffic coming off the N1 onto the R304 between Stellenbosch and kliphuewel.

I was in the left hand lane and sitting in traffic, I saw in front of me in the right hand lane was a flatbed towing truck with a vehicle on the back whilst towing another vehicle on a flatbed trailer. He wanted to come over into the left lane, didn't even ask for a gap, he just came over, but being the patient person that I am, I gave him the gap nonetheless.

He then proceeded to the stop street ahead where he attempted to cross over traffic turning right from the left lane. As he moved into the intersection I naturally moved forward towards the stop street and stopped behind the line in order to keep traffic moving. It was then that he realised that he wasn't making it through the intersection and was blocking the intersection for oncoming traffic. So he just started reversing without much time for others to react, being in traffic, I had many cars behind me, so by the time I had time to react, put my car into reverse and attempt to reverse without reversing into the person behind me, he hit my car !

He then still continued to reverse while I was hooting at him to stop, I had pulled my handbrake up in order not to involve the vehicle behind me in the accident. The towing truck in front of me proceeded to move forward eventually and then for some reason attempted to reverse AGAIN ! As if any of us standing there managed to move out of the way ?

Eventually he managed to move out of the intersection and off my fender. I did the normal thing and proceeded to move onto the R304 and parked in the yellow lane and put my hazards on. I then got out of my car and walked through traffic to get to his tow truck that was parked in the yellow lane on the on ramp towards the N1. When he just started driving off before I could get there. Out of shock all I could think of is getting in my car and follow him onto the N1 and attempt to pull him over and notify him of his wrong-doing.

While running towards my car I had someone shout at me that the trailer said 'Bassons' on it. I thanked the eyewitness and continued to get into my car and attempt to chase him down on the N1. Due to traffic I had lost a lot of time attempting to get onto the N1 that once on the highway I could not find him. So I was now a victim of a hit and run.

I had unfortunately not been able to do much about the situation the following week as I went in for a Sinus surgery. So 2 weeks later after recovery I was able to contact Bassons and I was helped by a very helpful lady in the towing department by the name of Elana. She had told me that I had nothing to worry about as she is aware of me accident. She told me that an eyewitness phoned in on the 17th (the day of the accident) to report the accident. I was told there and then that my car was going to be fixed under the cost of Bassons.

I was told to take my car to the Bassons work shop a few days later for a cost evaluation. I was then told by a man Dewald he was evaluating my car that he believes that Basson has no reason to pay but was quickly corrected by another lady who confirmed that apparently Michael Basson (the owner of Bassons) himself said that the car would be fixed under their cost.

A few days later the quote was drawn up and sent to Michael where he proceeded to contact me directly stating that he does not see how he is responsible for the fixing of my car. Calmly I explained my story and then he asked me to send him pictures of the damage so that he could submit for an insurance claim. I waited about a week before I contacted Elana asking for an update and she had none, proceeded to state that she will ask Michael to update me.

This carried on for about another week, I was getting slightly impatient so I decided to mail Michael directly on the same email address he supp**** me with. Waited a few days, phoned Elana and asked for an update an she proceeded to inform Michael of my mail.

I then received a mail stating that the he requires substantial proof of the accident and the his driver (Wynaandt who was apparently dismissed the week after the accident) was at fault cause apparently Michael phoned Wynaandt and asked him about the accident and Wynaandt said that he wasn't aware of an accident that he was involved in.

So I stated that the only proof that I have is a police accident report and the eyewitness that reported the accident. So I proceeded to contact Elana and get hold of the eyewitness details. I have been battling with this case ever since and has not moved anywhere, everyday is the same story. Michael is busy and will respond to me when he has time.

I have been very patient but now I am tired of this nonsense !! I have accepted my losses at this stage and probably will have to get my car repaired on my own but I felt I needed to report Bassons for their huge lack of integrity and lack of communication s****s. We are at a stage where Michael Basson is aware of the fact that Bassons is responsible for the accident but refuses to fix under their own costs but is forcing me to find evidence for their insurance claim.

I think this is absolutely ridiculous !! I don't care whether insurance paid for it, Basosns paid for it or the driver paid for it , they should take responsibility for what they did. Just shows their lack of honesty and lack of integrity as a company. I would not recommend them to anyone !!