5 month nightmare of not having a vehicle while I’m paying the monthly installment

I was involved in a minor accident on the 12th of January 2025, I’m insured with CIB insurance, my vehicle was towed to Renewit Bedford view. The assessor took about a week to assess my vehicle and eventually issued authorization for the panel beater to fix my car. While they were busy with body works they discovered that the gearbox had been damaged, they informed the insurance about this and they were advised to stop repairs, the assessor will come check them gearbox damage as they are convinced that the damage was not accident related.. the assessor only went to assess the damage after 3 weeks.. we are now in month 2 of my vehicle being at the panel beater. The assessor advised that the vehicle must be towed to VW For a detailed investigation to get the report that the alternator damage was accident related or not, the vehicle was then towed to VW, however VW refused to conduct any assessment while the vehicle had body damage, they advised the panel beater to first repair the body then they can tow it back again to VW, we are now at month 3 with all the back and forths..

Panel beater repairs the body of the vehicle then tow the car back to VW, took them 2 weeks to do the investigation and they provided a report that the vehicle’s gearbox damage was indeed accident related and the gearbox needs to be replaced approximating the cost to R150 000, CIB felt that the money was a lot and they chose a cheaper way out by taking my vehicle to their other supplier for a second opinion which then advised that they can only change the parts of the gearbox and not replace the gearbox entirely. CIB authorized this and their supplier went through with fixing the gearbox which took approximately 5 days then the vehicle was towed back to Renewit Bedfordview for final QC inspection, they promised to hand over the vehicle this past Friday but they called to inform me that they will only be able to give me my car on Monday.

Long story short. I was without a vehicle for at least 5 months,My cutesy vehicle hire days lapse at day 60 post the accident and I had to return the vehicle to the hire supplier. I was then left destitute without a vehicle. I then arranged school transport for my son which was an extra cost I had to endure, similarly I had to hire a vehicle from my friend which he charged me R2000 a month, another unplanned cost totaling my monthly cost to R3500 while I’m still paying for the vehicle monthly installments and the insurance.

CIB really messed up my finances and my livelihood they made me live in so much debt and misery