Unfair Servives

On Sunday the 2nd of September 2018 I was traveling from Bushbuckridge to Gauteng with my uncle, niece and nephew. We stopped at a Total Garage Hazyview at around 19H40 to fill up the tank for the long road. The petrol attendant by the name of Ephraim filled the with unleaded 95 petrol instead of diesel (R600).

Unfortunately no one relised that we had filled up with petrol. I then proceeded with our journey and drove about 66km from Hazyview to Nelspruit, where the engine suddenly died at Engen garage Riverside around 08H30 . It took us about 20 minutes before we could figure out what was the problem until we checked the till slip and realized that we had filled up with petrol instead of diesel. We then explained our situation to the ladies on duty at garage and they told us to contact the Total Garage.

We tried calling the number on the till slip but no one answered, we then decided that my uncle would hitch hike back to Hazyview at 09H50 where he then explained the situation to Ephraim whom he also confirmed that indeed he filled up with petrol. Ephraim then suggested that because his manager was not on duty we get a car machanic to drain the petrol from the diesel tank, we pay him send the invoice back to the garage.

I then managed to get hold of a guy named Henk from H & M Tuneup, whom he arrived just after midnight, he assisted with draining and flushing of petrol from the tank and engine which took about an hour or two. He charged a total amount of R 3337. 50 which we paid.

After all these hours of struggling at 03H00 we were happy that we will continue with our journey to Gauteng, we then tried to move the car and realized that the car does not have power to pull. We then called Henk who had already left and he explained that the car was on safe mode it needs to be diagnosed, and he can only assist after 08H30 in the morning.

We then decided to sleep in the car and wait 08H30. At around 08H00 we then decided to call Total Garage Hazyview and I spoke to a guy named Alex Du Plessis who happens to be the manager of the garage. I explained to him our story and he said he was aware of the situation and assured he is going to assist. He promised to get us tow truck that will take the car to Ford Nelspruit. We waited for about 3 hours and nothing happened. We then called Alex again and he promised a tow was on the way, but nothing happened.

The tow truck then arrived at around 12H00 and moved the car to Ford Nelspruit. We waited for about 3 hours before the car could be checked. Finally at around 15H00 the car was checked and this took about 50 minutes. At around 16h00 the was ready and guys from Ford felt sympathy and fix the car for free.

I then emailed the invoice from Henk to Alex for him to refund us, then he asked for proof of banking details which I forwarded to him. He promised the payments would be made as soon as possible.

On Tuesday the 3rd I called Alex to do a follow up and he said that the payment had been processed and that they only make payments on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that I should expect the payments in my account by Thursday the 6th.

Thursday passed... And Friday passed... No payment was made.

Today the 8th I called Alex and he he just told me he will look at this on Monday.

PLEASE HELP