Refuse to be liable for having not replaced the radiator cap on my car as a result the TOP BLEW

<p>Below are events that led up to me contacting you on today and seeking assistance regarding my car.</p> <p> </p> <p>On Wednesday the 9th of November at approximately 06h30 I went to go check my water and oil at the BP garage in Vosloorus. I opened my bonnet and an attendant approached me and offered to help. So I decided to go and fetch the water canister an fill it water and bring it to him. I sat in my car as he did his job . When all of this was done I drove off. On the 10th as I was driving to work I noticed that the thermostat gauge was extremely high and this was alarming to me as I drove just about 10km’s. I decided to pull on the side of the road and check what the problem was. I opened my bonnet and noticed that my radiator cap was missing and there was no water in the radiator. I smsed my mechanic to send a tow truck aid. We towed the car back to Vosloorus (home) and my mechanic then started examining it but my car still wouldn’t start. After some more examining he advised me that the top had blown. We then towed my car to the garage and asked to speak to someone in charge, Nokulunga the supervisor of the store advised me that the owner was not around but I was more than welcome to speak to her and she would relay the message. After telling her what had happened I requested to view the CCTV footage from the previous day and she told me she wouldn’t be able to assist me. She then gave me a book to write down what had happened and that she would give it to the owner as soon as he got to the filling station (this was around 09h40) Nokulunga called a few of the attendants from the previous day and asked which one remembered helping me. Tiesetso an attend said he remembered me from the previous morning anf that he helped filled the canister with water for me. I was asked to describe what the attendant looked like, I told them he was about the same height as Tiesetso and that he sang while assisting me. They called an attendant by the name of Sipho and asked if he remembered assisting me as he is the one who loved to sing and he said he didn’t remember helping me. After asking I around I decided to make my way home.</p> <p>At 15h00 after not receiving any form of correspondence from BP I decided to walk back and inquire. I was told that the owner was still not around. I asked for his cellphone number and Nokulunga told me she was not allowed to give out the owner’s cell phone number. I asked for his name and surname and that was given to me (Neo Molisane). I was reassured that the owner would be in touch on the very same day after hearing this I decided to go back home. Nokulunga gave me a call back just before 18h00 and told me she was knocking off and that Neo was still not at the filling station. Neo never called on the 10th.</p> <p>On Friday the 11th at approximately 9h40 I received a call from Mr Molisane and he requested that we meet on the same day or on Saturday at 10:00 I told him I would confirm the time with him asap. After speaking to my manager and requesting that I leave work early in order to meet with Mr. Molisane, I then called Nokulunga and requested that she advise Mr Molisane that I would be coming in the very same day just before 3pm. I got to the Bp filling station at around 2pm and was advised the Mr Molisane was not around, I waited for him and when he arrived we went into his office. He requested that I explain to him what had happened which I then did. We then viewed the CCTV footage and the petrol attendant was called in. I then asked the attendant why he denied helping me the previous day when myself on Nokulunga confronted him and he said he had forgotten that he had helped me the previous morning. Mr Molisane asked where my car was and requested that I provide him with the address which I did. I later received a call from Mr Molisane asking if I give consent to have my car towed to a service station in the South of Joburg so that it can be assessed. I comp**** to this.</p> <p>On Saturday the 12th I received a call from a guy named Ntila who advised me that he was sent by BP to tow my car. I requested that my mechanic come with us and we all went to Aloe Auto Repairs in Rosettenville and we met up with Syd who then started accessing the car. He confirmed that the Top had blown as previous confirmed by my own mechanic, he however could not confirm how this came about. Mr Molisane called to speak to Syd and as the I was listening to their conversation I overheard Syd tell Mr Modisane that we should go 50/50 on the payments towards the damages on my car and I flipped. I told him I would not do no such thing as my car was in good running condition and had it not been for the negligence of the attended I wouldn’t be in this predicament, especially since I was about to check my own water and oil when the attendant came to assist me. Had he left me to check on both the water and oil I my car would be in good working condition. Mr Molisane came to Aloe Auto Repairs Centre and asked Syd what his observations were Syd then confirmed what he had previously confirmed to Mr Molisane over the phone. Mr Molisane then went to comment on the status on my car and I advised him that this is an old car and it was due for service and my mechanic and I had concluded that it was going to be serviced on that very same day had it top not blown. He then said the onus was on me to ensure that the radiator cap was replaced properly he also asked me why I did not come back the following day to refill the water. I then explained to him that I do not fill or check the water on a daily basis and I believed that people who do so on a daily basis are people who know that they have radiator issues and I on the other did not have such. We exchange words as in not so many words he was insinuating that it was my fault that the top blew. My mechanic intervened and the exchange of words seized. We then spoke to Syd who said the car would be stripped and the top send to the relevant engineers to access the extent of the damage.</p> <p>On the 14th I followed up with Syd and I was told that my car had not been stripped and that can only do so on the 16th. I did not follow up on the 16. I received a call on the 18th from a lady by the name of Michelle from A Bestone and Associates (sp) and she asked where my car was and that she was sent by BP to run assessments on my car. This confused me as I was under the impression that assessments were already done. After hanging up I called BP Vosloorus and asked to speak to Mr Molisane whom I was told was not available. I then called Syd from Aloe Auto Centre and he told me that Bp insurer advised them not to touch my car. I am furious and highly inconvenienced by all of this. No one is communicating with me accordingly and I feel taken advantage of. I even went to an extent to call the BP customer service centre with the hope of having this issue resolve failure to do will leave me no choice but to seek legal advice. As we speak I have yet been r4e-embursed for the money I payed to the tow truck to have my car towed from the freeway to my house and again to my mechanics house 10th of Nov.</p> <p> </p> <p>I received a call from Aloe Auto on the 9th of December advising me that the insurer had contacted them and that they had agreed to pay just 70% and that I would pay the 30%. I requested that they send me this in writing and that was never done...</p> <p> </p> <p>BELOW IS THE FINAL EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM TAZMA WHO WORKS FOR BP:</p> <p>Good Morning Caroline,</p> <p> </p> <p>I have consulted with the Dealer and management with regards to your claim.</p> <p>It has been decided upon that due to this being a forecourt issue and that the dealer has assisted you by arranging with his insurance to review your claim.</p> <p>The insurance will cover 70% of the claim and you will be liable to pay the shortfall of 30%, as the responsibility is on both parties to ensure that the water cap was put back on. </p> <p> </p> <p>Thank you for understanding</p> <p> </p> <p>Kind Regards</p> <p>Tazma</p>