Santam is the worst insurance company in South Africa

I would like to give a review about Santam, I getting the worst service ever. In September I took my car for repairs to the panel shop that was recommended by Santam as my car was involved in an accident, my car was repaired within two weeks. I then went to fetch my car and only drove it for 30 minutes then it lost power and couldn't move. The panel shop went to collect it and I told Grant the insurance assessor on my claim. The next morning (1 October 2021) he called me to say my car might be written off as the engine is faulty but he will give me a confirmation the next day and after the confirmation I will be paid the write off amount within few days.

This was very strange to me as my car was driven by me to the panel shop with no problem of losing power and it never showed that warning sign of an engine problem. I have been phoning this Santam assessor almost everyday to ask what has Santam decided regarding my car. He never gave me a straight answer. Last week I called him on last week Tuesday he promised to sort out the documentation that was required in order for Santam to make a decision whether to write off my car or not, I called him on Wednesday to ask what is the progress he said the mechanic is still waiting for Kia to send them an engine quote these days Santam wants to know what is the cost of the engine before writing off the car. I took it up by myself to call Kia where I bought the car and asked them for the engine quote because I need this to be resolved asap as I don't have a car. I'm using Urber to Cape Town and its costing me R460 daily and they never gave a car to move around.

The quote was sent to Grant the same day he told me the machanic was waiting for an engine quote and he was asked if theres anything else he needs from Kia. Grant never rep****. I called him the following day to ask if he had received the quote he said yes but thats not the issue however thats what he told me he was waiting for. He said hes waiting for something else that I couldnt really get I asked Grant to send me an email with that he was telling me as he was now telling me a different story that yesterday. Grant said he wont, I told him its my right as a client to get all the communication via email so that there's clear understanding and proof of the claim that when he said he will send me the email. On the same day I sent his manager Jacques an email complaining regarding this terrible service from Santam he never answered that email even today.

The following day I decided to go to Santam Insurance office in Bellville I asked for his manager Jacques I was told he was on lunch working from home. When he was back from lunch he never answered all his phone even today when I called him never answered. Jacques colleauge was very helpful he assistaed me to call Jacques with no lunch he then called Grant who only gave me the answer regarding my car after two weeks of waiting for the answer. He told me his manager decided the car will not be written off and the engine wont be replaced as that will cost Santam a lot of money and repairing the engine will costs R30 000. I am disgusted that Santam only gave me an answer after two weeks of waiting from them while I didnt have a car to move around. They kept my car at that panel shop for a month now. I'm even more disappointed that they were saying my car will either be given a new engine or they will write off the car. Then Jacques decided no they wont do any of that instead they will do the cheaper way which is fixing the faulty engine of which I dont know how safe will my car after that. Even today Santam hasn't fixed car I still dont know when will they fix. Their service is disgusting to the stomach.

I would never recommend Santam to anyone.