Cape Town - A businesswoman was left fuming after she filled up her new car at a Cape Town petrol station – and later discovered her tank had been filled with contaminated diesel.
This ultimately led to a bill of R36 000 and months of frustration.
But the good news for Nicole September was that the car would be repaired at Total’s cost.
September and a co-worker visited a Total petrol station in Brooklyn on September 11, unaware the diesel they were about to have pumped into their company’s six-month-old Ford Figo was contaminated.
September, a fleet manager for the security arm of Greystone Trading, paid R580.95 for 43.16 litres of Eco Diesel Premium at 7.15pm on September 11 this year, according to the FNB Speedpoint receipt issued at Total Brooklyn.
“At that point we didn’t notice anything,” said September, 24.
Shortly after leaving the petrol station, the vehicle began to splutter.
“About 30 minutes later the car broke down and refused to start.”
September contacted the dealership where she had bought the car earlier this year.
According to tests run by Imperial Ford and Mazda in Diep River, the car had been filled with contaminated diesel.
“…the vehicle was brought into our workshop for non-starting and it was established that the diesel in the fuel tank was contaminated,” read a service manager’s letter.
The quote for the necessary repair work including replacement parts was about R36 000.
But September was determined to have the petrol station take responsibility and refused to pay for the repairs.
“It was not my fault the fuel was contaminated. I felt it was unfair.
NOT MY FAULT!
“The car was practically new so why would I want to spend all that money for something I did not do?”
September contacted Total Brooklyn dealer James Thompson and Hannarette Muller of Total SA’s marketing and services division.
Since then they have traded e-mails and phone calls while the vehicle remained in the dealership’s workshop.
“All I wanted was for them to settle my bill,” said September.
Being without the vehicle also had a negative effect on her business.
“There are extra costs involved for hiring a replacement vehicle.”
Following Cape Argus queries via Thompson and Muller, Total’s corporate communications manager Nonkosi Dyan confirmed they would cover September’s costs with immediate effect.
“Contamination of product is of great concern to Total SA and I would like to emphasise that Total remains committed to providing its customers with high quality product that meet OEM specifications and adhere to specific national quality standards,” Dyan said in a written response.
“As such, the product is currently not sold to customers at Total Brooklyn service station until results from the current product assessment are finalised.”
September said she was relieved the three months of frustration had come to an end.
“I just wanted them to pay for what they did wrong, that’s all.”
Cape Argus