WBC Springfield Warranty **** and False Advertising

“Each and every fact and remark in this review is sustained by concrete evidence, documentation, and copies of communications between, JAMES NKO – Sales Manager at WBC Springfield, GIFT LETHU – Sales Person, and ELEANOR CHETTY – Finance.

I saw a vehicle on We Buy Cars website that caught my eye at the branch in Springfield Durban. I drove from Bethlehem in the Free State on Sunday 19 May 2024, to inspect the vehicle and take it for a test drive. As the vehicle was as advertised, condition, km reading, service book and warranty in place, I decided to purchase the vehicle. I paid a holding deposit. The salesman was Gift Lethu and Eleanor Chetty was the lady I was introduced to, to complete the quote (OTP).

I was promised the OTP before the end of the day, but after numerous requests only received the OTP on Tuesday 21 May 2024. The OTP now suddenly included a 24 month Warranty in excess of R16 000.00, which I was informed by Eleanor is compulsory, when purchasing a vehicle from We Buy Cars – this whilst the vehicle is advertised with a Manufacturing Warranty up to and including 2024/10/17.

WARRANTY **** I am able to get a Warranty from my insurance company for R90.00 a month, with much better benefits. Eleanor Chetty informed me that you cannot purchase a vehicle from WBC without purchasing a WBC WARRANTY that starts the day you purchase the vehicle, which is for: 1. Contravening the Consumer Protection Act requires from Used Vehicles Retailers to provide the purchaser with a 6 month written warranty, on the vehicle bought. Therefore the 6 month warranty as stipulated in the Consumer Protection Act, will cover the vehicle until the expiry date of the vehicles Manufacturers Warranty, and the waiting period of 60 days for the Insurance’s own Warranty. 2. Ridiculous – No insurance company will let you purchase a used vehicle and cover you immediately, to put it in perspective, NO medical aid will cover you with immediate effect when you become a member, there is always a waiting period of 3 months,

When enquiring about the above Vehicle Manufacture Warranty that only expires on 2024/10/17, I was informed by Eleanor and Gift that it was a mistake on the adverti*****t, and that the vehicle’s warranty has run out long before the advertised date.

THEREFORE A FRIENDLY ADVICE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS FROM WE BUY CARS, ADD R16 000.00 FOR A WARRANTY TO THE ADVERTISED PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AND THEN COMPARE IT TO THE REST OF THE MARKET. (Keep in mind all dealers do charge on the road costs between R 4 000.00 and R 6 000.00)

FALSE ADVERTISING: This very same vehicle is still advertised on the WBC Website at Springfield branch, during the past month the price was changed twice BUT the vehicle is still advertised as being under Warranty. The latest screenshot was taken yesterday. It is therefore obvious that attention was given to the adverti*****t by making changes to the purchase prize, but falsely advertise it as still being under warranty to lure and solicit potential buyers, like it was done to myself, and **** them into purchasing the vehicle with a compulsory WBC Warranty.

I did try to resolve this matter with the Sales Manager, JAMES NKO, on several occasions, but to no avail. I was promised the refund of my holding deposit on 6 June 2024, but till now 19 June 2024, it was not done.

My recommendation to potential buyers is: 1. Buy with your mind, not your heart, 2. Add at least R 16 000.00 to the purchase prize before you decide to buy from WBC, 3. Never pay any holding deposit to WBC, you will struggle a lot to try and get your money back, like I am still waiting since 6 June 2024.

I feel sorry for Faan van der Walt, and his brother Dirk, who build-up a company of integrity, and high standards, and is now taken over by greed.