Trader gives bidder tall tales, not his car

Most consumers think buying goods at an auction is a simple way of saving money or getting the best for less.

Vusi Mabizela, 55, of Kibler Park, said he was the victim of an auction scam.

Mabizela, a father of three, said he went to Alegrand General Dealers and Auctioneers (trading as Grand Auctions) at Corner Rose and Nirvana Drive in Lenasia, where he successfully bid for a car that was then sold to another bidder.

He has been battling for the last seven months to get his full refund of R85 000 that he paid for a VW Polo 1.6 in December 2016.

“I was issued with cheques which bounced, they literally stopped them so I could not cash my money,” Mabizela said.

He later enlisted the services of an attorney, but that did not help either because the auction company, which is owned by Zuberi Mohammed and his partner Ishmael Jassat, also ignored the letter of demand sent to them in June.

Before bidding, Mabizela inquired about the auction procedure and paid the required R5 000 to participate.

Mabizela said he was advised to pay the full amount within 48 hours, but because it was the festive season, he was given leeway to pay the balance on January 3.

He said he was told he could not take possession of the vehicle until the bank released the papers, which he understood as most people were also on holiday.

Mabizela kept visiting their outlet until one day he discovered that the car had been sold to another client.

As they failed to give him another car, they later offered to refund his money in full, he said.

So far, they have refunded R20 000 after he told them that there was a death in his family, he said.

“It’s an unfair business practice... at the expense of consumers,” Mabizela said.

Mohammed said he would refund Mabizela in three weeks and that they could not honour the cheques issued to Mabizela because they did not foresee that there would be insufficient funds in their account.

Mohammed said Mabizela could not take delivery of the car because he could not raise the full amount on the agreed date. However, proof of payment seen by Consumer Line showed Mabizela paid the full amount on January 3.

Mohammed said Mabizela may not be the only client with such a problem because some clients do not follow the terms and conditions.

He said he did not get a handdelivered letter of demand from Mabizela’s attorney.

“I will make sure that Mabizela gets his R66 168 in three weeks,” assured Mohammed.

Vusi Mabizela was the highest bidder for a VW vehicle on auction day, but did not get his car on the day of collection as it had been sold to another person. The auctioneer says he’ll be refunded in three weeks.