HOLLARD INSURANCE turned a straightforward storm-damage cosmetic claim into a major financial and vehicle-value problem!!

Hollard turned a straightforward storm-damage claim into a major financial and vehicle-value problem!!

I am extremely disappointed with the way Hollard has handled my claim following storm damage to my brand-new 2025 Kia Seltos,which was still under the manufacturer's warranty.

Instead of sending my vehicle to a Kia-approved repairer, Hollard appointed a NON-Kia-approved panelbeater. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER COMPLAINING ON THE BAD WORKMANSHIP! My brand-new vehicle was there for approximately 30 days and was returned with poor workmanship, including an incorrectly aligned bonnet, skew bumper and incorrectly aligned headlight. THIS IMMEDIATELY CANCELLED MY WARRANTY as per Kia South Africa rules and Hollards own set out out conditions!!

I was then forced to take the vehicle to a Kia-approved panelbeater, who identified substantial additional work required to rectify the previous repairs and bring the vehicle back to the required Kia standard. The latest repair estimate is R102,433.25, vs initial of +- R26 000 which included a headlight! What concerns me most is that this is no longer simply about repairing the original storm damage. The Kia-approved repair now involves stripping and repainting the front of the vehicle, including the left front fender, which was not damaged in the original incident. These repairs will be recorded as part of the vehicle's repair history and may affect its future trade-in/resale value. I purchased this vehicle brand new off the showroom floor, with no previous accident or repair history, and I never expected it to acquire an extensive repair history as a result of how my insurance claim was handled.

I am now in the position of seriously considering getting rid of a vehicle that I purchased brand new because I have lost confidence in its repair history and future value. My complaint is not that storm damage occurred. My complaint is about how Hollard managed the claim...sending my car to a non approved dealer ME informing them after damaged repair that their chosen was NOT kia approved and no ownership of their mistake. I have received no apology, call or *** explaining how and why this happened! If there was no damage after i would have drivrn a car with NO WARRANTY as they did not care who thry used for cosmetic damage to my new car!! I expected my insurer to ensure that my brand-new vehicle was repaired correctly, particularly while it was still under manufacturer warranty. Instead, I have had to deal with a second repairer, substantial additional repairs, concerns regarding the manufacturer's requirements, potential impact on trade-in value and considerable stress and inconvenience.

This experience has left me questioning what exactly I am paying my insurance premiums for if I am ultimately left dealing with the financial consequences of an inappropriate repair process and poor workmanship.

Hollard NEEDS to take responsibility for the consequences of their non adhearance to their own requirements, now the full repair process, not simply the original storm damage.

I expect Hollard to address the impact this has had on my vehicle's warranty position, manufacturer repair history and potential trade-in/resale value, and provide a fair resolution for the financial prejudice and inconvenience I have suffered.