******* sales activity at WeBuyCars

On the 16th of Dec 2022 My Wife and visited the WBC Springfield branch to purchase a 2012 Landrover 4 Tdsd V6 HSE, Discovery. The Vehicle was advertised with a Full Service History and a Clean Dekra Report.

We had already paid a holding deposit online of R2500. As soon as we arrived we made our salesman aware (Camaren, who was very pleased to assist us). Camaren asked us to take a walk to the vehicle while he goes to get the keys. I arrived to the pod however the vehicle was not there, I advised Camaren that the car wasn't there, he then found out that one of the managers was using the car for the weekend (Justin). Justin was contacted and asked to return the car to the dealership as soon as he can. Our salesman then updated us that the car will be in the branch in 30 minutes.

When the vehicle finally arrived, Camaren, our salesman was busy with a delivery for another customer and asked his colleague Sithembile Magadla to assist us. 1. The Vehicle was not an HSE as advertised, it was actually an SE. (My Salesman, advised regardless of the incorrect description on the website, the price stays the same and WeBuyCars will not make any adjustments). Sithembile took me for a test drive, and the car drove fine. He showed me around the vehicle, and I was not told about any faults or defects. I asked for the logbook from Sithembile, we both looked for it in the car but could not find it. Camaren had a look at the next service stickers that were on the vehicle and advised that the service was up to date.

Sithembile then proceeded with the invoicing with my wife, while they were busy with that, Justin (The manager who was using the vehicle) walked past and I asked him for his opinion on the vehicle, I quote he said "amongst all the Disco 4 we have, this one is the best", and he left some fuel in the car, so we are lucky. I was very pleased with that response.

As soon as we got the vehicle, we booked it in for detailing/polishing and only received it back on the 28th Dec, as we planned our trip to Cape Town.

Our first official drive - We left Hillcrest on 1 Jan 2022 and rested in Bloemfontein. I notice the vehicle was very heavy on diesel - I was getting less than 400km on a full tank. I pressed the cruise control button at 110km, but notice that the vehicle wasn't maintaining the speed, I then canceled the cruise control and press my foot on the gas, but the speed just kept dropping and suddenly it displayed "Reduced performance" and the engine cut off. it was 17:45 on the 2nd Jan 2023. The location was in Richmond just before Three Sisters. The vehicle refused to start after this. We had the car taken to the nearest BnB where we stayed for 3 nights while trying to figure out a way forward, We were charged R2500 which we paid. The BnB's were all full and we had to spend the night in the car with the kids (2 and 4 years old).

I contacted my salesman the next day and advised him that we'd broken down with the vehicle and asked him how he can assist us, he responded that with a cash deal, WeBuyCars cannot assist us, only on a finance deal we can get assistance and we will have to speak to our insurance in this case.

We finally arrived in Cape Town on the 5th Jan 2023 and had to leave the car behind in Richmond. We were unable to get anyone to have a look at the car until the 9th Monday. The mechanic in Richmond advised that the vehicle broke the timing pulley, and he suggested that the car be inspected properly for damages following a timing belt failure. We Paid R3800. We logged a New Concern: 34790 on Tue, 10 Jan at 09:25 with webuycars, and waited 24 hours to be contacted. We were contacted by Simphiwe Tshabala on the 11th, my wife explained what has taken place. Below is an email from Simphiwe following the Telephone call:

Simphiwe Tshabalala <***> To: ***

Wed, 11 Jan at 09:00

Good day mam,

I trust you are doing well.

As per our telephone discussion. Please kindly send the quotation from the workshop along with a picture of the current mileage reading on the vehicle. Once I have this information in my possession, I will escalate the concern to head office and revert accordingly within 72 working hours.

Kind regards

Simphiwe Tshabalala Customer Care Agent

***

We responded to Simphiwe as per his request with the estimate for the repairs and current mileage on Wed, 11 Jan at 15:17

72 hours later still no response from Simphiwe, I contacted customer care numerous times, and not once was I able to speak to Simphiwe. I contacted my Salesman on the 23rd of Jan and he advised me that Simphiwe is at work, I asked for his contact number and he advised that he is not allowed to give out other staff members' numbers and that he will ask him to contact us.

We had the car taken by a flatbed from Richmond to Cape Town, for which we paid R11800. While still waiting for WeBuyCars to respond to us, LandyLogics stripped the car and inspected it for the cause of engine failure. Below is the report from LandyLogics:

From: *** <***> Sent: Tuesday, 24 January 2023 16:40 To: '***' <***>; '***' <***>; '***' <***> Subject: Concern34790- ngwekazi

Dear We Buy Cars The above vehicle SALLAAAF3CA614007 KM 268407 Reg NP173473 came into Landylogic with on a flat bed with a query re the timing belt broken.

We were advised by the customer to go ahead and repair. Once we have striped the vehicle we found the following. There was a broken bolt on the timing belt tensioner.

The pickup on the right side cam is broken, and no evidence it was working.

The right side of the engine head had broken bolts and broken rockers, missing bolts, the cams bolts were loose and could be loosened by hand, some had come out and were lying loose on the head.

There is no evidence of any exhaust gases leaving the right side of the engine for a while now. There is no evidence of the right turbo having any exhaust gasses. It looks like someone tried to repair this and did not put it back correctly. There is a lot of movement on the engine pistons in the block.

To do this job properly one will need to strip the heads send away for testing, Remove turbos and have them tested as we not sure why this was not working. This is going to be approximately R80 - R100K However there is also no evidence of excess fuel etc on the right side of this engine. its only once we put it back together will be able to see if there is any other issues with the ECU or injectors. However there is a lot of play in the pistons rings and we cannot guarantee the block itself.

Please advise if you want to inspect the vehicle as I must remove it from the lift in the next day as we are unable to use this bay. Alternatively we will have to store the vehicle until we are advised on how to proceed. Please contact me should you have any queries. Warm Regards

Barry Landylogic

Twickenham Park 5 Marconi Road, Montague Gardens Cape Town *** We waiting for a response from WeBuCars and still no one in the business was concerned. The only thing we were told is that they are waiting for Head Office. I explained to my sales man that I cannot get to work, we can’t take the kids to school we are completely stuck. We were relying on Checkers 60 sec delivery for food essentials. This whole situation was beyond frustrating and rather depressing. No word from we WBC, they were still waiting for Head Office, Still haven’t heard from Simphiwe ever since the 11 of Jan when he promised to respond in 72 hours. On the 29th Jan I decided to make a trip from Cape Town to Durban Springfield branch, then finally I met Simphiwe on Mon 30th Jan, and he advised that he has been waiting for head office to respond. I advised him that he had promised to respond in 72 hours, and the workshop is about to charger storage for the vehicle, and they need the workshop space. He advised that he will escalate again to head office. The next day 31 I went to the branch again, I spoke to Navin the Front Desk manager and explained my case, he showed me emails that Simphiwe has escalated the concern with Head Office the previous day and they are waiting. I advised Simphiwe of the Storage chargers at the workshop where the car is standing. On 30 Jan 2023 at 13:38 LandyLogic advsied that they have now put the car together and have an invoice for inspection of R15,697.50. They also advised that the vehicle needs to be collect by the 1st of Feb or storage will be charged at R250 per day, which I made WeBuyCars of. On the 1st of Feb Simphiwe asked me if I was advised by Salesman that the car had minor defects on Engine, Gearbox, Drivetrain were detected - the function is not impaired. I told him no one mentioned that. He said generally they ask the customer to take the immediately for checks and repairs if it is a Major mechanical faults. Simphiwe added, that in our case this was not a minor defects – and a minor defect wouldn’t have caused the car to breakdown. (This vehicle was being used by WeBuyCars Manager – he had taken it for the weekend and had to return it since it was being purchased) My question was Justin (The manager going to take the car to a machinic while he had it for the weekend in his position??)

After my visit to the branch Simphiwe has been in contact with us telephonically daily providing the same update that he is waiting for head office. We demand a call from the Regional/General Manager by Mon 13 Feb 2023. Failing which legal action will be taken and we will make claims for all our loss and cost involved trying to get this query resolved. Will further have this report posted on all social media platforms and submitted to the consumer ombudsman. We are no longer interested in getting the vehicle repaired and demand a refund from WeBuyCars. It has been over a month that we are in this situation, I am Back in Cape Town with my family with no vehicle and WeBuyCars continues business as usual with no concern about their aftersales customs.