Misleading clients and poor service

<p>I recently bought a car and was contacted by Dial Direct for insurance purposes. When contact was made, I enquired as to whether the company is going to send me a contract or documents that I need to go through before accepting the insurance, as that's how most contracts are concluded, but I was told that they dont use paper and that their contracts have been made easy in that they can be concluded telephonically.</p> <p>I was told that my excess will be R5 300.00 in the event that I need to claim. I was allowed to register my dad as the regular driver of the car as I was asked who will drive the car more frequently that anyone else. I informed the consultant that it will have to be my father as I work just opposite where I am staying and in no need to make use of a car etc.</p> <p>To cut the long story short, the car was delivered at my registered address and not my parental address. I tried to take out the car and hit a wall with the car and only the back part of the car was damaged. I called the insurance and they sent a towing company to my place and pictures of the accident were taken.</p> <p>When I enquired about my claim after a day or two after the accident I was then told that I have to pay R13 500 as that includes my basic excess and additional excess as I am under the age of 25 and not registered as the regular driver of the car. I was shocked as I was only aware of the 5 300 I was thoroughly informed of. I requested the manager to contact me regarding the matter as I was never told about all those other amounts when taking up the insurance, I was then told that if everything was to be explained telephonically then it would have taken about 2 to 3 hours. The manager called and told me that the consultant did make mention of the fact that additional excess may apply. My question to the manager was why was I not thoroughly informed of that as I dont even recall nor do I not know what additional excess is as this is my first car etc, I also informed the manager that telephonic contracts mean that everything has to be disclosed it doesnt matter how long it would have taken for us to concluded the contract. I had to get back to work and requested that he call me back at lunch time, up until this day he hasnt called me back.</p> <p>The insurance went dead quiet on me regarding my claim and had to always be the one calling to ask what's going on. My car has been at the panelbeaters for weeks and only last week did I get a message serving as feedback that my claim is still being finalised and this was after I called them a million times. I was also informed that there is a problem with my claim as the regular driver was not the one driving the car, hence it was taking so long to finalise. After being informed of that, I enquired again as to what is going to happen if my claim is not approved as the company is just quiet and my car is at the panelbeaters and parked outside with the back screen being broken and with us experiencing heavy rains this side. The consultant then informed me that they will be responsible for costs of storage and of any further damages that may result since they sent someone to tow it.</p> <p>On Tuesday I was called by the senior loss adjudicator telling me all sorts of stories, starting with how is it my dad is the regular driver whereas the car is mine. He also informed me that my parents know nothing about my dad being registered as the regular driver etc. what I found funny was that my parents called me before he could even call me and informed me that they only called to confirm their address and to ask if they have seen the car and nothing else.</p> <p>I was also asked about another insurance company that had made contact with me, as to how that is of any relevance to my accident and my claim, beats me. I was also told that the fact that I had my car for a few days and then had an accident will be a problem when coming to the claim. Am I missing something here, doesnt the insurance carry the risk from the day on which the car leaves the dealership? Or is it now working like funeral policies with waiting periods?</p> <p>I have not had my car in a month and they are busy coming with all sorts of excuses so that in the end they will be excussed from liability. They approved my insurance with all the info given to them without any hesitation and now that they have to pay up they ar trying to find loopholes. They are at fault as I was never thoroughly informed of things and again they make use of *********** people to assist with the policies and then when things are as they are now, they try to shift the blame.</p> <p> </p> <p>The day consultants stop putting their commission before quality service, the better the service we will get from insurance companies.</p> <p> </p>