I am not financing with these guys ever again

I bought a second hand vehicle from Aurinia Motors Silverton, a Ford dealership, and got finance through Wesbank. My first car purchase, excitedly, I made all the classic mistakes. Anyway, a week after the purchase I took the car to the OEM because the aircon was not blowing cold air. Upon collection of the vehicle, the mechanic tells me the reason why the aircon had to be re-gassed is because the vehicle was in a collision and he can see traces of repair. This costs R600. For a car that has clocked 2 200 kms when I bought it. I take the car back to the dealer so they can have the car inspected against my claims and produce a report to prove me wrong. A month later I do not hear anything from the dealer. I then log a complaint with Wesbank since they are financing the vehicle. In my initial logging of the complaint nowhere did I mention I was going to stop paying my monthly instalments. The first response I get from Wesbank after having to follow up why I was not hearing anything from the case manager was: “We would like to remind you of your obligation to uphold the monthly instalment payments in respect of this finance agreement, even whilst you have a complaint pending. A complaint does not alter the terms and conditions.” I send all my correspondence with the dealer to Wesbank as they requested, and in my response I state that I am honouring my credit obligations. Again, the response from the case manager ends with the same message: “We would like to remind you of your obligation to uphold the monthly instalment payments in respect of this finance agreement, even whilst you have a query pending. A query does not alter the terms and conditions.” 2 weeks pass and no feedback from Wesbank. I then follow up. Coincidentally, they received feedback from the dealer that very same morning of my follow up. This is the response: “We received feedback this morning and wish to advise that, the dealer is not willing to assist with cancellation as there are no grounds warranting cancellation. They have further advised that the vehicle was no involved in an accident as you have told the bank. They have advised that the vehicle is ready for collection at the dealership and would like to know when will you go collect it?”

From this message I get the sense that I am no longer a client of Wesbank, but the dealership is their client. The fact that the dealer can communicate with me through Wesbank, and that Wesbank chooses to believe the dealer over someone from whom they collect monthly instalments are proof enough. Also, Wesbank is also willing to play postmaster between myself and the dealer is egregious.

I then ask Wesbank what proof they have to believe the dealer over me. This is the response:

“You are the one who said the vehicle was involved in an accident, therefore, you need to provide proof from your side to support your allegation.” I then go collect the car from Aurinia Motors Silverton and I find the car abandoned in a parking lot, dirty and rained on. I have picture images. They did not take the car for the inspections as we had agreed. I take the car to Dekra for a technical inspection. Dekra comes back to confirm that the car was repainted, welded on, repaired. Lots of other traces of damage and stitch ups. The Dekra report contains colour pictures of where the repairs were made. Dekra also confirms the airbag has been deactivated before and that the ABS and clutch systems are also faulty. This costs R2 500. I forward the same report to Wesbank, along with the pictures from the OEM of where both Dekra and the OEM clearly show are repairs after a collision. Wesbank asked for proof, right? Again, more than a week later I have to follow up because there is no response. Here is the reply: “We had followed with the dealer following the evidence submitted and the Dekra report thereto. Unfortunately, the dealer is not willing to entertain your claim. We advise that this complaint has reached a deadlock status. Unfortunately, we are unable to assist you any further. As such we regard this matter as finalized. Should you feel the need to pursue the matter further as this is the Bank’s final stance, you are welcome to address your concerns with the Regulator and we will gladly comply with the ruling.”

Again. I am not a client of Wesbank. The dealer is. Wesbank is willing to take the dealer’s word, not mine. I am not a client of Wesbank. They just want to take my money every month and collect their annuity income for the duration of the finance term. Wesbank hs nothing to lose. Should anything to the car, responsibility of settlement is all mine after all.

I then logged a HelloPeter complaint against the dealership. Now the dealer is suing me for R250 000 defamation because of the HelloPeter post. The legal threat arrived this afternoon. Thank you, Wesbank for all your help.

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