WORST SERVICE EVER

We have just had the worst experience with Panasonic (Lumix) South Africa. My husband started experiencing problems with his Panasonic Lumix FZ80 camera (lens problem). The camera was given in at ORMS in Bellville on 18 November 2019 in a good and functioning condition and was going to be sent to the relevant service department at Panasonic as the camera is still under warranty.

For two weeks we did not hear anything so I phone ORMS and spoke to Liezel. She informed us that the technical department at Panasonic said that the camera had a "lens stuck" problem and would be fixed under warranty. When we again did not hear what was happening I sent an email to ORMS asking for the job card proof and relevant exchange of emails after which suddenly my husband received a phone call from a service agent at Panasonic saying that now the camera had "sand/dust" in the lens and it would cost R1700.00 to fix as the warranty does not cover this problem. My husband politely informed him that we would not go ahead with the repair as the cost does not justify the fixing of such a cheap camera.

On receiving an SMS from ORMS Bellville on Tuesday 17 December we went to pick up the camera and thank goodness Liezel was very alert. She asked us "did you send the camera away with loose *****s". To our shock and dismay we received the camera back with loose parts in a bag and *****s missing in the hot shoe. Turning on the camera it made a seriously strange noise.

My question is: how can Panasonic send the camera back in "pieces". Why did it change from a stuck lens problem to a "sand" problem. Our feeling is that it is because the warranty is due to expire soon and we did not want to go ahead and fix the camera. Are they trying to let the warranty expire so that we will have to end up paying.