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Formal Complaint – We Buy Cars George To: We Buy Cars Management and Consumer Goods & Services Ombud CC: ***, ***

Subject: A Desperate Cry for Justice – Betrayed by We Buy Cars George

Dear We Buy Cars Management and Consumer Goods & Services Ombud,

Please find below my formal complaint regarding a distressing and unresolved experience with We Buy Cars George (Western Cape). I am deeply frustrated, emotionally exhausted, and financially burdened due to the failure of your dealership to honor verbal warranty assurances or offer any after-sales support. I am copying the CGSO in hopes of a fair and urgent resolution.

Summary of Complaint: I purchased a second-hand 1.6 TDI Comfortline from We Buy Cars George after trading in my petrol Polo 1.4. The salesperson, Dihan, clearly assured me that I would receive a 3-month warranty, despite paying cash. Just three weeks later, the car broke down suddenly on the N2, leaving me stranded with engine smoke and extensive damage. A mechanic later confirmed that the injectors were destroyed, along with a cracked tappet cover and other critical issues — all of which I had to pay for.

Two weeks after the first incident, the car broke down again on the N2 with further injector failure. The total repair cost now exceeds R15,000, which I cannot afford. I am a single mother, relying on a disability grant and pension. Despite reaching out to Dihan, Ruan, and the dealership multiple times, my pleas have been ignored.

I feel deceived, abandoned, and completely unsupported. I request urgent intervention and accountability from We Buy Cars George and assistance from the CGSO in resolving this matter.

Full Complaint Letter: I write this with a heavy heart, overwhelmed by frustration, sadness, and a growing sense of helplessness. My experience with We Buy Cars George has left me not only emotionally shattered but also financially and physically drained. Every day has become a painful struggle — especially as I fight to get my son to and from school — all because of a vehicle that has brought me nothing but heartbreak and regret.

I traded in my petrol Polo 1.4 for a diesel 1.6 TDI Comfortline, thinking I was making a responsible decision for my family. I was assured — clearly and confidently — by the salesperson, Dihan, that despite paying cash, I would still be covered by a three-month warranty. I trusted him. I believed his words. That trust has now turned into betrayal.

Yes, Dihan mentioned some minor issues with the CV joint and shocks. I accepted them in good faith, hoping the rest of the car was roadworthy. But within just three weeks, while driving on the N2, my nightmare began. The car suddenly lost all power. There was a loud bang, like a gunshot, and smoke started pouring from the engine. I was stranded on the roadside, terrified and alone.

I tried desperately to get hold of Dihan. He shrugged me off, pushing me toward someone called “Uncle Ronnie” — a so-called mechanic who later disclaimed any connection to the dealership. I felt utterly abandoned. No help. No follow-up. No accountability.

In my desperation, a stranger — Josh from Premier Towing — came to my rescue. He helped me tow the car to Johan, a mechanic in Voorbaai. The verdict? Destroyed injectors, a cracked tappet cover, and perished seals. The repair costs fell squarely on my shoulders — with no offer of support from We Buy Cars George.

Barely two weeks later, it happened again. Same road. Same loss of power. Same gut-wrenching fear. Once again, Josh stepped in, and once again, Johan delivered the painful news: injectors ruined, repairs exceeding R15,000 — a sum that is simply impossible for me to afford.

When I reached out to the dealership again — clinging to hope — I was met with cold indifference. Ruan, the manager, outright dismissed me, saying I had no warranty and that they were not responsible. Dihan, the one who made verbal promises, has been ignoring my calls and messages ever since. I feel deceived, discarded, and deeply disrespected.

I am a single mother. I survive on a disability grant and a small pension. This car was meant to help me build a stable life for my son. Instead, it has broken me. Every cent I have is now being poured into travel costs and repairs that should never have been mine to bear.

I am at my breaking point. This isn’t just a complaint — it’s a cry for help. A cry for justice. I have been misled, taken advantage of, and left to pick up the pieces on my own. I will not remain silent. I know my rights, and I will take this matter to the Ombudsman. I will share my story across every platform necessary until someone listens and acts.

Please, I am begging for someone to take responsibility and help make this right. I cannot continue like this. I won’t allow this injustice to go unanswered

Sincerely, Samantha Meyer ***