***** & malpractice in vehicle assessment

Claim number: *** Discovery Consultant: Collen Baloyi

My car was ****** and retrieved by netstar within two hours. On recovery the car had a mechanical fault. Discovery Insurance uplifted the vehicle from the SAPS pound for assessment. During this process my tracker Netstar notified me on two accounts during this process that the car ignition was on the car was mobile. The car was subsequently delivered to a panel beater to be stripped for assessment. Again netstar notified be that the ignition is on and the car was mobile - this was on Monday 01 August 2022, a trip report was generated to this end. Friday 05 August 2022 I contacted the Discovery claims consultant for an update on my vehicle, being that I was now approaching 2 weeks without it. The consultant responded that the vehicle had been “declared a write off” - this came as a surprise because:

1 - the car was not subject to an accident or external damage as a result of impact. This is confirmed by the vague and high level assessment report. The issue with the vehicle was mechanical and the assessor does not have the capability to make a technical diagnostic assessment , only Mercedes Benz does. The assessors review is a view on the basis of observation, particularly in circumstances where the issue is mechanical and there was no damage to the body of the vehicle. I have confirmed this process with Mercedes Benz Santon, as per practice with insures in these circumstances and the dealership has tendered its urgent availability and support. Furthermore Sanrose (discovery panel beater) representative advised that this is a process that is followed and they do submit cars to Mercedes Benz for diagnostic on the approval of the Insurer. In order to establish a vehicle has a write off a diagnostic report of the actual damage and quote for repair or replacement.

2 - as previously mentioned the vehicle has been mobile on three accounts according to netstar, one of which was at Sanrose. That would not be possible if the engine was knocked, unles it was subsequently damaged by Sanrose. How has the car been mobile on three accounts if the engine is knocked

3 - on Friday 05 August, I arrived at Sanrose unannounced and requested access to the vehicle. I was surprised to find it suspended given that it had been assessed as a write off off site. I was further alarmed when on my request that the vehicle be lowered from suspension to find that the vehicle battery had been removed as a result it was not responsive to the keys for remote locking nor was the ignition coming on. I must further note that there was a bottle of Sasol bought coolant in the back seat. The Battery is 2 months old, which can be confirmed by purchase details and it was not cited on the report as damaged. It has yet to be established why it was removed and where it is

I’m approaching two weeks without a vehicle after a traumatic ordeal. I did not anticipate that my insurer would enable further theft - it’s apparent that it is being advocated that the vehicle is not be declared a write off to advance a competing interest that does not prioritize the owner.