LVDB
Lorenzo Van Der Berg

1 reviews | Active since Aug 2019

19 Aug 2019, 19:07

OAKHURST DISGRACE!

I am writing this review to warns others that will come after me. I had an incident on April 6th when I went over a speed bump at a hight speed. This happened at night on a regional road with no painted bumps or marked signage. I did not notice any damage to the car as it happened in the dark. I only noticed the next day, after someone pointed it out to me, that water was leaking from the bottom of the car and a small tear in the bumper. At this point I already drove the car 8-10 km's not knowing that the car was damaged during the bump. I phoned my insurance Oakhurst for assistance and they asked if the car was drivable. I told them yes cause I drove it after the initial impact with no issues, however, that I was advised by a friend not to drive further as the radiator looked damaged. Oakhurst informed me that they will send out Road side assistance but warned me that should there be engine damage that they would not cover that. I accepted this as I thought there couldn't possibly be any engine damage as the car drove fine for the approximate 8-10 km's and that there was still water leaking out the next day, hence it was never completely empty and no warning lights ever came on. Here is where my battle began, it tool Oakhurst about 6 weeks of constant delaying tactics and endless back and forth between different departments and me constantly following up with them to approve my claim. They gave me the approximate cost for fixing and said that their assesor has assessed and advised me again that engine damage could only be determined once they start stripping the car to fix damages caused by the speed bump. The panel beater took about 2 weeks to fix the car and called to to collect. No one ever told me that upon stripping the car to fix it, and running their checks and due diligence that they noticed or determined any engine damage, to be fair they also did not say that there weren't any engine damage but, up until now they've constantly kept on reminding me that they won't cover engine damage. I took ownership of my car July 3rd and was told to sign a release form. I asked should anything be wrong with the car what would my recourse be and was advised by the panel beater that all their work is covered by a 1 year guarantee. I drove my car subsequently almost every single day averaging about 110 km a day between work and home. The car drive like a breeze at full speed without any issue up until July 5th when for the first time the warning lights came on and I noticed the temperature gage at maximum. I started applying brakes and before I could come to a full stop the engine cut out. This happened on a Friday on my way home on a regional road at night again at around 7pm. Upon calling Oakhurst they advised me that they could collect my car the Monday as the panel beater was closed over weekends. The following Monday, the panel beater called me and advised that they would pick up my car the Tuesday but was instructed again by Oakhurst that should there be engine damage that they would not cover it. They picked up my car the Tuesday and called me the Wednesday to inform me that the cause of the overheating was due to them replacing my damaged radiator with a faulty radiator, the radiator they fitted the car with had a manufacturing faults/ factory error as they put it. They panel beater said that because this is under warranty that they would source me a new radiator the next day and it would take an hour n a half to fit and some time to do a compression test. I asked Oakhurst if they could arrange with the panel beater to deliver my car the next day (Thursday), I received a call from my panel beater the Thursday to explain their tow truck is otherwise disposed and if you could drive my car to my house as one of their employees lives close to me provided I give him a lift after he dropped my car. I said that this would be in order provided they give me some kind of assurance that should anything happen to my car while their employee drives it to my house that they would cover it, I was rest assured after the panel beater told me that they're covered for sy n cases. The2.ew radiator arrived on Thursday round about 12 so I was expecting my car around 4-5pm latest that day. However, I was called by the employee who drove my car back around 8 pm that night. He informed me that during his trip that the car cut out twice again and he didn't feel comfortable driving further, he had to be towed back to the panel beater. The Friday came around and I tried numerous times to get ahold of both the panel beater and my insurance but both parties tht I have been dealing with and who has been giving me constant updates until now was not reachable. I received a call from Oakhurst that Friday after 4pm and they informed me that my top gasket had blown and that they would not be covering the damages because according to their assessment that damage was as a result of my driving the car for an approximate 8-10 km after the Initial impact on April 6th with the speedbump. I was flabbergasted! How? I Maintained that I would not be accepting their outcome and logged a official internal dispute with them. They again promised that they would expedite my investigation wich SLA is 14 days, they came back to me with their official response after 15 working days still maintaining that their repudiation my claim and that the cause of my gasket that blew was as a result of my 1st incident I had with the speedbump. No where in their assessment did they make mention about the faulty radiator that they fitted in my car which according to my limited knowledge about mechanics keeps the car cool and running. Nor did they make any reference to the panel beater that ran tests and signed off on work completed to their satisfaction and that my car was in working order nor to the panel beater driving my car to my house without reaching its destination. The faulty part that was supp**** was by KIA George. My question is does my warranty then still not apply? My car is brand new with 10 000 k's and has not even been for its first service. OAKHURST can't even tell me what exactly is the damage to my car and how much it will cost for me to fix it. Meanwhile they deduct their premium first out of all my debtors every month. I guess my. Ext step in this battle would be to go to the ombudsman but I would really appreciate any advise on here aswell especially if it's by one of OAKHURST's current or previous clients. I have opted to leave out any specific names of employees at Oakhurst as I don't want to slander individuals.

0
Replies (2)
Oakhurst Insurance Company
Oakhurst Insurance Company's reply20 Aug 2019, 10:22
Official
 Dear lorenzo

Thank you for contacting us. 

Kindly note that our turnaround time for complaint investigation is 14 days. A consultant from our Resolutions Team will be appointed to deal with your complaint. The appointed consultant will communicate directly with you using the contact details we have on our records or as provided by you. A comprehensive response will be sent to you on completion of the investigation and feedback will also be posted on this platform. 

We trust you find the above in order. 

Regards 

Oakhurst Resolutions Team

     

Oakhurst Insurance Company
Oakhurst Insurance Company's reply21 Aug 2019, 17:04
Official
Dear Lorenzo

We refer to your complaint logged on 19 August 2019, contents of which have been noted.
We confirm that a thorough investigation was conducted and our formal response was furnished to you on 15 August 2019 wherein all relevant queries were adequately addressed.

Kindly note that as you have approached the Ombudsman for Short Term Insurance (OSTI) for their adjudication, all future correspondences will be directed to them.
We trust the above is in order.
Sincerely,

Oakhurst Resolutions Team