Fair Warning to Others

Purchased a Ford Fiesta 2005 model at GIG Motors Strubenvale in April 2023 through Planet42. Barely had the car for a week when we noticed faults already. Car couldn't even do 80km/h on the highway, car shook like a rattle and cannot go over 90km/h. Heard the CV joints started to creak, smell of exhaust fumes when driving and window open, tyres had slow punctures: all 4 of them. Took the car to Tiger Wheel & Tyre in Boksburg to check it out. All 4 tyres were old and had cracks in it where the air leaked. 3 out of the 4 rims where bent and had to be repaired. Cost us almost R10 000.00 to repair the 3 rims and replace all 4 tyres. GIG Motors Strubenvale gave us the car with a spare wheel that won't fit as the car uses rims with 4 holes and not 5 as the spare wheel had 5, the tow hook didn't fit either.

Took the car to an RMI registered mechanic in Edenvale to do a checkup and diagnostic. Results were: gearbox had to be refurbished or reconditioned, both sides of the CV joints needed to be replaced inner and outer, ball joints needed to be replaced with struts, tappet covers needed to be replaced because it was leaking oil, clutch kit needed to be replaced with the thrust bearing, flywheel needed to be skimmed, battery had a fault as well as it was not was not connected properly. On the 30/09/2023, we were at a shopping centre in Parkrand, Boksburg. When the car needed to be started, an EAC Fail error were displayed. Meaning the Electronic Accelerator Control were also faulty. The car was towed by ourselves to home, as the car was not usable where it stood until 4 weeks later Planet42 collected the car as Planet42 decided to cancel the contract as the costs to fix the car, were greater than the value of the car.

After the car were collected, we received a letter from Planet42, stating that the account is fully paid up and contract cancelled. After paying 6 months, sending Whatsapp numerous messages and e-mails for 4 months to GIG Motors in Strubenvale and also Planet42 themselves to resolve the issue. All were communicated to both parties in time, after we had the car for 20 days only. Ryno, car salesman at GIG Motors in Strubenvale Springs, were told all the things we picked up in 7 days including a window rubber that was missing, CV joints making noises when turning, the smell of exhaust fumes when driving, the clutch pedal shook when the car reached 80km/h and the car itself shook with it. This was when Ryno took the car in to fix the levers on the seats for it to move forward for access to the back seat and the mirror motor fixed, all was communicated to him verbally on the same day.

When we got the car back few days later, almost nothing were done. Only the levers and mirror motor were fixed, all the other problems still persisted. Even a warning light on the dash board to check engine in which we took the car to GIG Motors in Edenvale where their mechanic said it was censors needed to be replaced. Some censors were replaced, but the last one were the CO2 censor which GIG Motors refused to replace. The warning were cancelled but only to return 2 weeks later, each time after the same person resetting the warning.

We even took the matter the Ombudsman for the Motor Industry, but after 2 weeks stating our case, sending mails of proof of communication and pictures, even screenshots of Whatsapp messages, they said the cannot assist. This truly unsettling as our concern is, how can dealerships and companies get away with things like this? The car passed roadworthy tests in which we question to this day. The tyres and rims could have been switched while in the test process but the rest of it, for example the car shaking while in 4th or 5th gear and doing 80km/h, with the gearbox faulty, clutch being faulty among things, CV joints inner and outer on both sides being faulty and oild leaking from the tappet covers, we believe the car could not have passed the roadworthy test at all. We were told by Ryno at GIG Motors Strubenvale, that Planet42 inspects the vehicles themselves and will not release the car under strict rules. This was definitely not the case.

The car given to us, a green Ford Fiesta 2005 model, was a hazard on the roads and a death bed on 4 wheels. After paying 6 months, not skipping a single month, the contract being cancelled by Planet42 out of their own decision and the car collected on 28/10/2023 and communicating to GIG Motors and Planet42 on the repairs issues, Planet42 refused to give us another car and insisted that we have to wait another 3 months before reapplying. This means we can only reapply in February or end January 2024 at least. No reimbur*****t were ever given to us or agreed upon with even a reconsideration to give us another contract and reimburse us with money spent on the car. Total spent on the car, were over R54 000.00 and to this day, we are still without a car. Money were taken from the bank account, which included the insurance which by the way, is also useless. The 5 year warranty is a farce, as it never actually exists, no one to claim responsibility for the car's repairs as the insurance states the parts are all worn (as if that makes sense as that excuse can be used on any car with even low mileage on it). The mechanical insurance does not cover the full price as stated in their brochure but only 50% and they also do not want to cover all repairs as well, they only select what they want to cover. In this case, the only thing they wanted to repair but also not the full price of the quoted repair price, were the gearbox's refurbishment which was 50% of the price quoted in the brochure. Nothing else, nothing at all. The total cost of the repairs, were also over R53 000.00 with labour costs included and also spares/parts. We had to pay R833.00 for the car to be released from the RMI mechanic for the services rendered, checking the vehicle as not the insurance, GIG Motors or/and Planet42 approved the repairs and claiming responsibility. Afterall, the car was a rental but no one, especially Planet42 assisted.

Today, we are without the car, spending so much money and got nothing to show for it. This is my eyes, is pure theft as the car were supposed to be ours since the contract were "paid up" and cancelled. Why would anyone purchase anything, pay for it but needed to given back with no refunds/reimbur*****t? To me, it's like renting a house but the repairs needed to be done by the persons who's renting the house instead of the owner but still needs to pay rent. This is like fixing something as a gift to them and scoring out of the repairs, like the geyser, piping, electrical connections and wires, etc etc. In the end, contract cancelled, rental payments withheld with the deposit and kicking the occupants off the property. That is not fair, as the same applies with the car. The car was still Planet42's property and refused to apply any repairs to make the car enjoyable and making it worthwhile paying for, collecting the car in the end and no assistance thereafter.

We were put on Planet42's "Green List" but but not approved to get another car, this is also something that is questionable. Why should we wait for another vehicle while this entire issue was not ours, as their customer's fault? The car given to us, was a dud with right from the start. All this money wasted on a vehicle that is now in the possession of Planet42, with 4 brand new tyres and 3 repaired rims at our cost. We have requested the refunds from Planet42 on the tyre's costs at least and the deposit of R17 000.00 as we do not have possession of the car anymore, but all have been denied.

I appeal to all reading this, DO NOT DO ANY BUSINESS WITH PLANET42. We have learned that there are similar instances with other Planet42 clients also, so we are not alone and it's also not the first time either.