First for woman are not "first for women"

To whom is may concern,

Good day, I would like to express my complete disappointment with First For Women by whom I have been with since 2018.

On December 23rd 2021, I was involved in an accident that was not my fault at all. It happened at Verkeerdevlei tollgate outside of Bloemfontein. I immediately submitted a claim. Eversince, I have been given very bad service with limited advice, guidance and feedback.

I was on my way to Cpt when this occurred and my car got stuck in Coleberg. Of which I had to sleepover and pay for accommodation at my own expense as I was stranded. I tried contacting FFW but obviously nothing came of it. Eventually, my partner tried to get the vehicle started on his own and just by luck managed to do so and we continued with our trip to Cpt.

Finally, arriving in Cpt, suddenly the vehicle just stopped driving on the road in the middle of a place I didn't have a clue about. I contacted FFW and again, I had to sort myself out. I managed to get the vehicle to my accomodation in Cpt and got the car towed the following day (Christmas morning).

I was now in Cpt without a driving vehicle and had to sort out the rental myself. Of which I still haven't gotten my money back by the way. (R800). I organised the rental, I was told that i would get the Tucson as stated on my policy as I am paying for but I didn't. and AGAIN I had to sort that out myself. During this whole process I also tried making contact with FFW Head Office and to this day, still no response, guidance nor feedback.

My vehicle was held for 5 days for an assessment of which I had to keep checking feedback for via calls and emails. I was assured that the problem of why my vehicle wouldn't start would be fixed and resolved before driving back home to Pretoria. I was first told that the car wasn't ready to drive and that I would personally need to make a plan of my own to get the car back from Cpt as soon as it would be "fixed" at my own expense.

After I ranted about this and expressed how upset this made me...the vehicle was miraculously "fixed" and "ready" to "drive" on the long road without a FULL assessment report only after my numerous requests. Upon the collection of my vehicle, it clearly appeared to me that my vehicle had been further damaged whilst undergoing assessment. While on the trip home, I fread through the report upon my last request and saw that the reason why the car was not drivable has not been resolved and that it was simply bypassed.

Driving the vehicle, it came to my attention that the gearbox is faulty and that the car is revving up to 3000 at a complete stand still for no reason. Me being a young woman, having an insurance that supposedly claims to put women first, communicated this with my claims handler Harols Jabar, seeking some sort of guidance without any response or any empathy towards me and my situation.

Only after I submitted a complaint against him and how he is handling my claim, I then got a response via email. (proof is in the pudding).

My main request was that the vehicle be taken for a reassessment and I be furnished with a new report thereof. My dad (Mr Curt Williams) who is on my policy, witness to the accident and co driver has also tried to handle this matter at hand under my authorisation as I got really occupied at work. Still to this day no one has contacted me or offered guidance at all. I mean if the Head Office wont even respond to me, why would their staff?? It's laughable really with so much regret that I'm insured with these people. Maybe...just maybe men shouldn't work here.

My main concern is me being without a vehicle for the duration of the replaced work on the vehicle. My policy states 15 days. to my knowledge within 15 days, my vehicle should be completely fixed. However, I was told that it won't be. By the way I am currently driving an unsafe vehicle without working safety features that I'm paying for. My 2nd instalment has only gone off the 26th of January 2022. But jaaaaaaa FFW claims to be "First for Women".

When my policy amendment was sent to me, No terms or conditions were communicated with me. I have read through all my documents and I cannot find where FFW states they cannot be held liable for parts on a vehicle that might take up to 3 months to order and retrieve. When I have communicated this, AGAIN no response, no guidance. I am definitely moving my insurance to another company as soon as I'm done with my claim here.

Please assist me in resolving this matter, I cannot afford to stay without a car. I am a working MOTHER with a partner who often travels with his vehicle across the country. I need a car!!! Please help

The only response I have gotten was asking for my I.D. I would never advise any1 to be insured with "1st for women". If you are already, wait and see what happens after you submit a claim 😉