**** about accident damage

I decided to buy a VW Up because of the 5-star safety rating. So, on 10 January 2020, I bought a second-hand one from Okoh Motors 2 (also trading as Dee Light Auto) at 45 Commissioner street, Kempton Park.

When I test drove the vehicle, I specifically asked whether the car had been in an accident and I was told, by a representative named Dennis, that it hadn’t been. It was only when I was submitting my paperwork for the sale a few days later that I was told that the vehicle had been repossessed.

Two days after buying the car, my stepfather viewed the car and informed me that it looked like it had been in an accident. The damage appeared to be at the back and the front, but the extent was to be confirmed. I immediately called Dennis to alert him that the car appeared to have been in an accident, which was not what was discussed at the test drive. I also told him that I’d like to return the vehicle for a refund.

Dennis said he didn’t know the vehicle had been in an accident. This is contradictory to his statement on our test drive, when he categorically said the car hadn’t been in an accident. He repeated that, as a repossessed vehicle, it was sold to me 'as is' and there was no option for refund.

Since then, I've taken the car for assessments at VW Melrose, Carello Auto panelbeaters, and Dekra (for a full technical assessment) and all three have found extensive accident damage to the vehicle - the kind of damage, I might add, that makes the vehicle incredibly unsafe to drive (so much for the 5-star safety rating).

As a woman with little car knowledge, I couldn’t see this damage until it was pointed out to me. I trusted the dealer was telling me the truth. But for a car professional to say they didn't know this car, with damage this extensive, had been in an accident is either a blatant lie, or these guys know so little about cars, they shouldn't be working in this industry.

Either way, if you're thinking of buying a car from these guys, run.