A haven for abused and neglected children in Mitchells Plain says they want to expose a car dealership which sold them a broken minivan for R180 000 and is now refusing to refund them.
Solomons Haven in Woodlands lodged an official complaint against BNA Motors in Parow with the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (Miosa), who found in their favour.
The complaint was lodged in April, and in August the Ombudsman resolved the matter under the Consumer Protection Act. He ordered that the shelter be allowed to return the VW Caravelle TDI 2007 minivan to BNA Motors to either be repaired, replaced or refunded.
According to the order, this was to have been done within seven working days, but Alec Solomons of Solomons Haven says up till Thursday they have yet to hear anything from BNA.
The shelter cares for 16 neglected and abused children, and Alec says he bought the van in January from BNA, which was paid for by a generous donor.
SCANDAL: BNA Motors in Parow sold faulty car to shelter.
He was told the van was in a “good working condition”.
“The vehicle was to be used to transport our children to and from school, to hospital, court, and on excursions,” explains Alec.
He says the trouble began a few weeks later.
The vehicle’s gearbox packed up while he and the children were out on an excursion in Paarl.
Alec says management at BNA Motors charged them R80 000 for the repairs, of which they had to pay
R40 000 for the gearbox.
“We took our children on an excursion with the vehicle and we experienced problems with the gearbox after which we returned it to BNA,” he says.
“A week later we were told that the vehicle had been repaired, but upon further investigation, we were told by the mechanic that the vehicle was never booked for repairs.
“I then took the vehicle to Barons Tokai for a diagnostic test and was made aware of all the other problems
that existed before we purchased it.
“We then, with the diagnostic report, returned the vehicle to BNA Motors and were informed that it would cost R80 000 to repair the gearbox.
“I was informed that I needed to pay R40 000 and they will give R40 000 to have the gearbox fixed as the gearbox comes from Johannesburg.”
SHELTER: Solomons Haven situated in Mitchells Plain.
Alec says the shelter relies on funding and they could not come up with the money.
In addition, the van was still under guarantee.
After waiting months for the gearbox to be fixed, a gatvol Alec made a case with the Motor Industry Ombudsman, which then ruled that BNA either fix, replace or repay the shelter.
He says the shelter had requested a refund from BNA, but he was told “it’s going to be a long wait for the money”.
On Thursday, after numerous calls, BNA’s owner Andrew Cornelius, responded, claiming the vehicle is being fixed but has been delayed because they are waiting for parts.
“The vehicle is currently at Torque Converters (which is) repairing the gearbox.
“Miosa ruled we needed to repair or refund, we chose to repair the vehicle.”