Unauthorised Tow, Lack of Clarity, and Ongoing Inconvenience

Following a recent accident, I received a call from a blocked number shortly afterward, claiming to be acting on behalf of my insurer. Without my full understanding or consent, a tow was arranged — and my vehicle was moved by First Help (PTY) Ltd.

I was later billed R5,750 for a service that lasted under 10 minutes, which felt unreasonably high given the circumstances. At no point did I receive a clear breakdown of the charges or confirmation from my insurer that this service was authorised. This raises concerns about how my personal details were accessed and used to facilitate the tow.

After posting my initial review, First Help reached out and informed me that someone would be calling me to follow up. It has now been over 4 hours, and I am still waiting for that call — all while my vehicle remains in their custody, with no clarity on what steps I need to take next.

I believe greater transparency and accountability are needed in how towing services operate, especially when assisting individuals who are already dealing with distressing situations. I urge others to seek full clarity before engaging, and I hope that industry regulators continue to examine the broader practices and customer protections in this space.