We Buy Cars

Good day

I initially approached the We Buy Cars “buy department” on the 08th of February 2023. We met on the 10th of February 2023, and an offer of R120 000.00 was mailed to me on the same day. I was informed by the buying department, that I still owed R113 000.00 on my current car. Which means I have R7000.00 deposit. I visited the Midstream branch the following day on the 11th of February 2023, after which I test drove a Ford Eco Sport. I informed the salesman to proceed with the arrangements I am interested. The price of the car was R175 000.00. I was informed that a R3000 delivery fee will be charged, even though I would have collected the car. The car will also have to be serviced, which will be added to the sales price. It was indicated that I will hear back from them on Monday, 13th of February 2023, once the various banks were approached to conclude the finance.

My issue with We buy cars stems from two branches namely, FNI and the sales branch.

The first feedback I received, after numerous calls from my side and without my calls being returned by FNI was on the 15th of February 2023, 2 days after the agreed date. The price suddenly came to R214 696.96. A service plan, warranty, tracker, delivery and registration were added. Which raised it by R 39 696.91. I declined the quote and received feedback on the 16th of February 2023 that there is room for negotiations.

After again failed attempts to contact the FNI department I received a revised quote R200 330.75 ( R14000) cheaper. After scrutinizing the quote, I released the Tracker of R6520 was still included!!!!!!

I finally received the revised quote on the 17th of February 2023, 5 days later than initially indicated. There were still mistakes on the final quote, the financing bank was listed wrong. I was finally able to collect my car on the 20th of February 2023. I first had to go to the buyer’s section to sell my own car, after which I was informed that the money still owed on my current car was not R113 00.00, as previously informed but closer to R114 00.00. Which means that the quote would have to be revised yet again, as the original deposit of R7000.00 would not have been correct. The buyers department informed me that FNI should have confirmed the settlement amount and FNI said that it was the buyers department’s responsibility. Nevertheless, I was able to drove my new car home. On the 23rd of February 2023 I phoned the sales person complaining about an unsettling noise coming from my breaks. I was informed that it might be dust as the car was taken to a service prior to collection and everything should be fine, the breaks would have been inspected.

On the 24th of February 2023, on the way to vacation, my family and me had to do an emergency stop in Ermelo as the noise became unbearable when breaking. After the breaks were inspected by an accredited workshop, I was shown that the brake pads were completely worn out. One of the pads had no “gripping” material left. This also caused the break discs to be damaged. To total cost will be R1800.00, I tried to phone the salesman, there was no answer. I explained the situation to him via. Whatsapp messages with photographical proof. I was informed 3 hours later that the salesman will inform his superior and the possibility of a refund for the breaks will be an option. I followed up at the end of the day, no feedback were received from We buy Cars yet.

On Monday, the 27th of February 2023, after I phoned yet again, I was asked to send proof of my bank. I was then refunded on the 3rd of March 2023.

I would definitely not advice anybody to make use of We Buy Cars