Santam service

Santam

My name is zacqlee Govender, i bought a vehicle in Dec 2020 in a private sale. I immediately contacted my broker and sent him all the details to take out insurance cover, he told me to register the vehicle within 21 days. Amid all the covid regulations, i went to the licensing office, first day i went at 9am but i was not able to get in because of the number restrictions. Next day i was in the queue at 6am, waited for 5 hrs in the rain ,only to go the window and be told the seller owed fines and i needed to get another form signed by the owner. I tried numerous times to contact the seller but to no avail. I immediately sent a message to broker who advised me to contact sanlam sos, i did and they told me to email or call owner again but if it fails to get a lawyer. On jan 18th 2020, i appointed a lawyer. My lawyer advised me to only take the vehicle for short runs because if it gets impounded, the situation will be difficult. The case is still open to date. I contacted my broker via watsapp in May and gave him an update to inform him about the situation and asked if i will still be covered although the vehicle was not in my name. He assured me as long as i had payment proof, i will "enjoy the benefits of the cover". In dec 2021, there was a terrible hail storm and the vehicle was damaged physically and mechanically. I immediately contacted the broker and arrangements were made. After more than a month, vehicle was collected, to go to a panel shop for assessment, santam has still not returned my vehicle to me to this day date. At the end of april 2021, i was visited by a santam consultant and told that the vehicle will not be covered because i did not disclose that i was not the registered owner. I showed him the WhatsApp message with the broker being present and i was told that i never informed santam directly. I dont understand why i was debited for all these months if my car couldn't be covered, my premium for this month also went , dispite santam rejecting my claim. I was under the assumption that my broker was a representative of santam and all communications with the broker were valid. I have never contacted santam ever ,except for the sos call, everything i did even with my previous vehicle was through the broker. Why has all my communications with the broker become invalid. This claim was only declined after santam received repair quotes. Why send my vehicle for evaluation and then decline under the fact that i am not the registered owner. They should have rejected the claim when i registered it, not after the quotes came back from the panel shop. I am very disappointed in santam services.