First for women, NO GUARDIAN ANGEL!

I have been with FFW for the past 4 years, i pay almost 1600 per month, my payments are always on time and they never hesitate to increase my payments either. I’ve NEVER claimed in the 4 years for anything!!

On the 8th of April 2019 at approximately 19:30, I was on my way home from Varsity traveling on the M1 South, when I experienced mechanical difficulties with my Vehicle (VW POLO GT) i could no longer put my car into gear or change gears thus I could not continue driving home. I pulled over on the left hand side of the road where there are roadworks taking place, at the split on the M1 (on the left hand side you go to town, on the right hand side of the split you continue on the M1 South bound) as soon as I pulled over I called first for women, where I had spoken to Dimaktso, I told her that I am alone, where I am is not safe and that I require assistance (guardian angel and a tow truck) as well as a lift home. She had then given me the number to which I should WhatsApp my location and I did so. She had told me that she will call me back shortly. While waiting for the call, 2 armed men had approached the vehicle, held me up at gun point asking if the car can drive, I had told them that I am unable to as the gears do not work, they had then taken my cell phone (iPhone XR) my sunglasses, my textbooks and my jacket that was in the car, and walked away. After this incident road side assistance or my guardian angel still had not arrived. I had then gotten out of my car and stopped a stranger in traffic to wait with me, and to allow me to call my mother for assistance, the guy (Thurston, @ firsthelp) had also called first for women I had spoken to Dimaktso again telling her what had happened and that my help had still not arrived she said that the driver is 10 minutes away from the original location I had sent her. My mother coming from home to where I was had arrived there and road side was still not there, my mother who had seen how shaken up I was and also feeling unsafe had asked Thurston to please tow my car home as she can no longer wait for assistance, she would pay cash for the tow truck.

First for women ensures that we pay for our safety in such situations, and we pay for their assistance, however in this instance that was not the case. There was no sense of urgency, nor was there any regard taken for my safety. We pay so that we feel comfortable and safe even when our cars let us down, we pay so that we do not have to call strangers out of traffic to assist us in times of need. We pay so that we do not have to be held at gunpoint or lose any of our belongings, because our guardian angel will be there and on time.

I am deeply saddened by what had happened to me and now need to seek counseling, I am disappointed in the way service was rendered or the lack there of. The financial implications this has had on me, having to pay for the tow truck driver when I am already paying insurance, having to now pay for a phone I no longer have. I do believe if roadside had gotten there on time or if first for women had placed an urgency on the fact that I am a young female, alone, in a polo in a spot that is unsafe, this incident could have been avoided. I have since emailed first for women seeking a way forward regarding this issue, wanting to know if I’ll be reimbursed in any way, they haven’t even responded to my email, they should remove the ads they have on TV promoting that women are safe with them! I’m saddened by this incident! And I’m looking into changing my insurance to one that will actually place my safety first.