POOR SERVICE AND UNRELIABLE CAR

I hired a car from yourselves on Saturday the 31st of December 2023 in Capetown when I arrived for my holiday.

I approached yourselves because I have used your services before. The first thing i did when i got off my flight in Cape Town on Saturday morning. I tried to hire a car from yourselves but i was intially told that there are no cars available and I should come back later. I returned that afternoon and eventually got a car at 12pm a Toyota with registration EFV311GP. I was not given any paperwork, when I asked they said they will send it to me. I was directed to where the cars are parked and given a piece of paper with a number on it to fetch the car. When I got there I noticed that the car is damaged. I told the employee who was there assisting me and asked him where is the document to check the car out, he didnt have one and he said it doesnt matter because he knows about it. So I decided to take photos and took the vehicle.

My holiday has been ruined and inconvienienced due to the car and service received from yourselves. On Monday morning the 01st of January 2024 I was stopped by the police and they asked me "did I know that I do not have registration plates on the car" of which I advised that I did not know and that the car is a hired car and does not belong to me and its Woodford's car. I was threatened with arrest. I had to sit there while they checked the car and they further advised and pointed out that the licence disc had expired for already a year.

Your company put me at great risk, what would have happened if I was involved in an accident with the car? I would have been held liable as the car had no valid disc, no registration plates and was also damaged. The police eventually let me go however, this totally ruined my morning and my plans for the day. I tried phoning your offices with no luck as no one was answering and kept holding for a long time.

I immediately went to one of your centres/ agents in town. When I got there the manager was not there and I had to sit and wait and wait. When he eventually came I told him what had transpired and he seemed not bothered and was exceptionally rude and had a "this is no big deal" attitude. He then went on to inform me that "by the way there is damage on the car" and according to the documents he was given there was no report of any damage to the car, insinuating that I must have damaged the car. I lost my temper and went on to show him photos that I had taken when I was given the car which clearly showed one of your staff members with damage on the car. He didn't know what to say. I then asked him if I could bring the car back to them as I did not wish to deal with your company anymore and had to hand it in at 12pm and he said I could but did not have any other car. He went on to do some type of document and told me that there is no problem with the licence disc anymore. My morning was totally ruined and I want to be compensated for this serious inconvenience.

From there I tried to get to the airport before 12pm and the car would not start, the battery was flat. I was furious at this stage and then decided that I will return the car the next morning and went on with my day. Last night I went out, once again the car would not start and was stuck. I sat in the car until 3 am when someone helped me with jumper cables. I then went to the airport and was given another car, however, the staff at the airport advised that there is something wrong with the Toyotas with the cabling, which means your company is aware of this issue but continues to rent out this type of vehicle.

I have never in my life experienced such bad service, my holiday has been totally ruined with all these inconviniences and I need to be compensated.

I'm appalled at the service and require recourse for the inconvience and frustration..