BAD SERVICE, FALSE INFORMATION AND LIES

I recently experienced very bad service, empty promises and alot of lies from Group 1 Strand and Stellenbosch.

I recently browsed the market looking for a Panelvan for the courier business i was starting. I was referred to Group1 in Strand where a sales consultant contacted me and said he is going to help me in finding the perfect panelvan for the courier business.

He contacted me on the 4th of April 2022 asking me what panelvan I'm looking at and what is the budget. I specifically told him it MUST be a DIESEL panelvan, as to PETROL is to expensive. I told him I'm looking at a Toyota Quantum (Diesel) Panelvan (HIGH ROOF) or my second choice was a Nissan NV350 (DIESEL) panelvan (HIGH ROOF).

He said no problem, he will start searching as soon as possible. I didn't qualify for the panelvan as my income was to low and was declined. I told the salesman that my father in law said it's fine he will send me his payslips and everything to back me as i didnt qualify and he give me full consent, to deal with the salesman as I will be owner of the vehicle.

The salesman contacted me saying that we were approved by the bank for a the Nissan nv350 Diesel Panelvan( Payment was about R6300p/m) that was at Group1 Uitenhage, they were only waiting for a driver to bring the panelvan up to Capetown then we can take delivery of the vehicle, that is what the salesman told us.

3days went by still waiting on this panelvan as the salesman and I was in contact every day. After the 3 days the salesman contacted me saying there's been a mix up with that panelvan but he found another Nissan nv350 but it was a Petrol. I told he NO im not interested in a Petrol Van as the usage of petrol wil be to expensive. After 2days he contacted me again saying about the 2017 Nissan nv350 petrol Panelvan but the payment is much less(R4600) i told him fine I'll take that van as he knew how desperate I was for a panelvan because my business was on hold.

On the 20th of April the salesman phoned me again saying they have found the perfect Panel van it is a 2018 Nissan nv350 DIESEL with only 4300km on the clock for R7400 a month. I told him the payment is abit high but I'll take it because it's a Diesel panelvan. He told me the vehicle is at there show room, i told him ill come make a turn to see in what condition the Van is. He convinced me multiple times that its in great condition and it's a Diesel van. He even asked the Sales manager he he told him it's a Diesel van everything i wanted. They send the contract via a Link over the phone for us to sign.

When we receive the contract the odometer reading was 169000 km on the contract and i immediately phoned the salesman ans he said NO its not its 43000km the lady at their head office in Stellenbosch made a mistake. And ONCE AGAIN HE CONFIRM WITH ME ITS A DIESEL PANELVAN. We sign the contract on the 20th of April and the next day I can take delivery of the Panelvan.

On the 21 April (Friday) he contacted me saying the panelvan is ready for collection and I was excited to pick up my new vehicle only the be disappointed again in Group 1s service as with in the previous 2weeks i already had 3 different panelvan from Group1 that never pitched, and finally when i arrived at Group1 in Strand it was not the vehicle that I was Promised. It was a 2018 Nissan nv350 Petrol panelvan with 48000km on the clock!

I told the salesman that this is not the vehicle they promised me and the salesman told me but everything he told me he got it from his Sales Manager. I told the Sales Manager that this wasn't the vehicle they promised me. He said. "you said you will take a petrol panelvan". I told him that I told the salesman I'll take the petrol panelvan which the payment was R4600 p/m. The Sales manager told me that he already bought in this vehicle for me and i already signed the contract.

I was disgusted by the way the Sales Manager handled the situation, as they knew i was desperate for the vehicle otherwise I would've lost the contract at the courier company.

Now I'm left with a very HIGH monthly installment on a vehicle that don't match the vehicle i was promised. The salesman rather told me there is nothing he can do about it and is will to cover the van first service at 60000km. I told them that i recently discovered that the Van is leaking in at the windscreen bear in mind i only had the vehicle for 5days!!! He told me that the Sales manager said it's fine i can fix the windscreen and they will refund me. Im still waiting on my money!.

So I will be waiting on a responds on this email as soon as possible and I'm not going to leave it here i will be taking this matter further because i have all the evidence regarding this matter. I feel that it was *****. Now I'm sitting with a huge payment on a vehicle i was **** about.

I would like feedback on how Group1 is going the handle this matter.

I SEND THIS EMAIL TO THEM ON THE 8th of May 2022 AND I HAVEN'T RECIEVED ANY FEEDBACK ON THIS EMAIL, NO ONE EVEN PHONED ME ANYTHING! PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS DEALER. DISGRACE TO THE NAME GROUP1?!