First Help Towing is Refusing to Release my Vehicle

My daughter was involved in an accident in my car around 9am on 19/05/2022 on Oxford Road just before Riviera Avenue in Johannesburg.

First Help got to the scene and the tow truck driver from First Help claimed to have called Outsurance as they are our supposed insurers, which they are not. The gentleman claims my daughter told him we might be insured.

The tow truck driver claims to have spoken to a “Craig” from the insurance company, whom he claims to have given authorisation to tow the car to First Help Roodepoort assessment centre facility. The car was then towed to their Roodepoort insured.

Please note we are not insured with Outsurance.

We went to their facility the same morning to assess the damage on the car and also find who gave authority to tow the car. We tried to retrieve the car too.

We then requested the car to be released and we were informed that we need to settle a bill of +R11 000.00 for towing and storage costs.

My wife then called said insurance company to find out whether a call was indeed logged, only to find that it’s not true and the insurance company does not have any records of our vehicle as we are not insured with them.

I have a recording of the tow truck driver confirming everything regarding him speaking to said insurance and them giving authorisation, furthermore, in the recording, the tow truck driver states that if there is no insurance or authorisation the vehicle would not be towed and it was only towed because the insurance company gave authorisation.

First Help is refusing to release the car unless we pay the fee of +R11000.

How do we get the car released?

Hello Peter please help!