Nando’s grilled over crashed car storage fees

A KING William’s Town man whose vehicle was involved in an accident with a local Nando’s vehicle 11 months ago, is crying foul over the food outlet’s decision not to pay for the storage of his vehicle, although Nando’s fixed the car.

The owner of the towing company where the vehicle is being stored is now refusing to release the Nissan NP200 bakkie until more than R70 000 in storage fees is settled.

However, vehicle owner Kwandiwe Mbande, who is the provincial social development department’s human resources development manager, says Nando’s is liable for the fees.

Mbande said Nando’s should bear all costs as the food outlet’s management contacted Thompson Breakdown Services and ordered them to tow and store the vehicles.

Mbande’s said his ordeal started on January 5 when his two vehicles – the bakkie and a Volvo S40 – were damaged by a Nando’s bakkie driven by a company employee.

Both vehicles had been parked outside his home. The Volvo sustained minor damage.

Mbande said that after the accident, he was joined by the franchise’s then manager to report the matter to police where an affidavit committing to giving him a courtesy car was also signed.

Mbande claims that was never honoured.

He said he had to use taxis while his car was gathering dust and he was still paying monthly instalments for the bakkie, which had clocked just over 25 000km at the time.

“Yes, the company insurers paid me

commitment R26 000 to fix the bakkie and R21 000 for the Volvo.

“Even though that was not enough, I accepted the payout, but what is frustrating is their refusal to settle the storage fees.

“I did not ask them to take my car there. They did that on their own and thus they should be liable for such fees.

“When I checked in September, the storage amount was around R70 000 and escalating,” Mbande said.

The company’s Coglan Naidoo refused to comment, saying they had handed the matter over to their insurance company.

The towing company’s owner Ben Thompson confirmed the vehicle was still on his premises.

“We normally keep cars up to three months and if not paid, we sell them to defray costs.

“However, the owner has been in contact with us and informed us he was having trouble with the company, hence we cannot just willy-nilly sell this car while we know what is going on,” Thompson said. —