Back to Forum Page - Post No. 61

 

Pro-Beat Roadside Assistance vs Mr. G van Malsen - THANK YOU

 

From: Ettienne Pel [mailto:ettienne@utasa.co.za]
Sent: 12 May 2011 08:07 AM
To: 'Alicia Perkins'
Cc: Booysen Smith
Subject: RE: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN] - THANK YOU

 

Good morning Alecia,

 

Thank you for the feedback. I am glad we could assist you. This is exactly what UTASA is about, and that is to assist and protect the consumer where possible, ensuring that our members do ETHICAL business and Toe the line.

 

Kind Regards,

Ettienne Pel

National Chairman UTASA               

C:    082 310 8727           ( 24 Hours )

F:    086 689 4840

 

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From: Alicia Perkins [mailto:alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 3:54 PM
To: Ettienne Pel
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN] - THANK YOU

 

Dear Ettienne,

Just a follow up - Pro Beat has now released the bike.  (I suspect there is no towing slip to produce.)

I would like to sincerely thank you for your time and effort you spent on this case.  I will surely remember your name and kind assistance.

Regards



Alicia Perkins

Admin Manager

Stuttaford Van Lines - Pretoria

Tel : 27 12 800 1001

Fax : 27 12 800 1704

email : alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com
 

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-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]
From: Ettienne Pel <ettienne@utasa.co.za>
To: 'Alicia Perkins' <alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com>
Date: Wed May 11 2011 09:25:06 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)

Hi Alecia,

 

If this is the case, I would support you one hundred percent. My suggestion is that you then contact Pro-Beat, and make them the offer again, and if they refuse, you can either inform them of your way forward and proceed with the action. I trust they will be wise to accept.

 

Obviously you also need to keep in mind that I have only your version of the incident, and not that of Pro-Beat.

 

Kind Regards,

Ettienne Pel

National Chairman UTASA        

       

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From: Alicia Perkins [mailto:alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 9:21 AM
To: Ettienne Pel
Cc: GRAEME
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]

 

Hi Ettienne,

There is absolutely NO documentation with authorisation - I have asked them numerous times to send the "towing slip" - but to no avail.  Mr Van Malsen offered them R500 - I feel this is fair seeing that they acted unfairly and have basically no legal right to hold on to his property.  As stated before it took Mr Van Malsen (Graeme) two and a half months to locate his bike - at his own expense.  My feeling is that the bike should be released immediately with NO further cost to Graeme.

Regards



Alicia Perkins

Admin Manager

Stuttaford Van Lines - Pretoria

Tel : 27 12 800 1001

Fax : 27 12 800 1704

email : alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com
 

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-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]
From: Ettienne Pel <ettienne@utasa.co.za>
To: 'Alicia Perkins' <alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com>
Date: Wed May 11 2011 09:16:17 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)

Good morning Alecia,

 

Well as I stated, how did Pro-Beat get the Authorization? This is of utmost importance in deciding the way forward.

 

Should no documentation be available, it obviously leaves Mr Malsen in the position to negotiate fair terms with Pro-Beat, alternatively approaching the courts. The latter I would suggest as a last resort.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Ettienne Pel

 

National Chairman UTASA               

C:    082 310 8727           ( 24 Hours )

F:    086 689 4840

 

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From: Alicia Perkins [mailto:alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 9:00 AM
To: Ettienne Pel
Cc: GRAEME
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]

 

Good day Ettienne,

Thank you very much for your detailed response.  What are we to do now ?  How do we proceed to get the bike released and handed to Mr Van Malsen ?  Can I phone Mike at Pro Beat or maybe send him your response - or can you contact him ?

Kind Regards

(Graeme - please see response from UTASA below.  I will keep you up to date.)


Alicia Perkins

Admin Manager

Stuttaford Van Lines - Pretoria

Tel : 27 12 800 1001

Fax : 27 12 800 1704

email : alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com
 

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-------- Original Message  --------
Subject: Re: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]
From: Ettienne Pel <ettienne@utasa.co.za>
To: 'Alicia Perkins' <alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com>
Cc: "Booysen Smith" <booysen@utasa.co.za>
Date: Tue May 10 2011 20:20:57 GMT+0200 (South Africa Standard Time)

Good day Alecia,

 

Thank you for your patience regarding this issue.

 

I have perused your mail as well as the attached “Invoice” and Letter from Mr Malsen.

 

What concerns me, is that there is absolutely no document where Mr Malsen has signed any agreement for the removal of the said vehicle. This obviously, leaves said complainant in the position to approach the courts, requesting a court order releasing the said vehicle. Obviously, one would need to submit all relevant information and proof.

 

The other concern to me, is how did Pro-Beat manage to get to tow the said Motor Vehicle without authorization? What does the initial injury report from the Ambulance Service state as to the state of the patient? The Injury Report would support condition of patient and whether the patient was incapacitated due to injuries to make any clear decision at the time of the incident.

 

In terms of the National Road Traffic Act, Section 61 read together with Regulation 320, it clearly states the procedure before a vehicle may be removed from any Incident. It states that ONLY the OWNER or DRIVER, or any other person who has the LEGAL right to take LEGAL OWNERSHIP of that vehicle, may authorize such removal of the vehicle. Should this not be the case, then obviously a crime has been committed. Please note that a member of the SAPS, Metro Police and or Emergency services, may NOT give such authorization as they are NOT in a legal position to enter into a Binding Contract between the Tow Operator and Owner of such vehicle.

 

The other concern I have, is when did he find out where his vehicle is, and what has transpired since then?

 

I trust this assists you to certain point as to your rights and the avenue of recourse that you have regarding this. You are more than welcome to contact me should there be any further queries and or questions.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Ettienne Pel

 

National Chairman UTASA               

C:    082 310 8727           ( 24 Hours )

F:    086 689 4840

 

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From: Alicia Perkins [mailto:alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com]
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 2:30 PM
To: ettienne@utasa.co.za
Subject: [Fwd: PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN]

 

 Alicia Perkins

Admin Manager

Stuttaford Van Lines - Pretoria

Tel : 27 12 800 1001

Fax : 27 12 800 1704

email : alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com
 

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-------- Original Message --------

Subject:

PRO-BEAT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VS MR G VAN MALSEN

Date:

Fri, 06 May 2011 14:26:47 +0200

From:

Alicia Perkins <alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com>

To:

ettiene@utasa.co.za


Good day,

I have been asked by Mr Van Malsen to act on his behalf.

Mr Van Malsen was involved in a motorcycle (Suzuki AX100 - Reg XGP580GP) accident on the night of 27 January 2011 (between 11pm & 12am) and was gravely injured - a car drove over him.  He was taken by ambulance to hospital where he remained for 4 weeks.

Pro Beat was at the scene and towed the bike away to their premises approx 3km's down the road.   Mr Van Malsen subsequently underwent surgery and had no recollection of the accident. Whilst in hospital he started making inquiries as to the whereabouts of his bike to no avail. After being released from hospital he went in search for his motorcycle - he went to all the police stations in the area - and eventually found it at the premises of Pro Beat on the 18th of April 2011 - this due to a friend that manages a garage where these tow trucks refueled - in other words by word of mouth !!!!  Up to this time they had made NO contact with Mr Van Malsen or his mother who resides at the address of registration.

Upon his arrival at Pro Beat he was given a handwritten note on an A4 paper with the breakdown of charges to the amount of R14865.60.  Mr Van Malsen then stated that he can only afford to pay R500.00 (See attached) towards the towing of the bike - which was rejected by Pro Beat (Mr Mark Beneke).

The situation is as follows :

1.   Pro Beat is refusing to release his bike until he pays them an amount of R4500.00 - verbally stated to him on 18.04.11 and never signed and agreed to.

2.   I have spoken to Mark & Gavin from Pro Beat with no joy.  I also asked for Michael from Pro Beat to phone me back but to no avail.

2.   Pro Beat has NOT supplied Mr Van Malsen with any account up to date - the attached "invoice" was sent to me on my insistence and has not been given to Mr Van Malsen.

3.  Mr Van Malsen has not signed anywhere for any disclosure of charges or permission for Pro Beat to tow & retain his bike - he was not given a tow slip - if this is the case they are now in jeopardy of being accused of theft.

4.   Pro Beat did not attempt to contact Mr Van Malsen in all the time that the bike was at their premises - should they not have sent the bike to the Police pound - if they could not get hold of him ?

5.   Mr Van Malsen is unemployed and needs the bike in order to do his handyman jobs that provides him with a meager income as it is.

6.   Mr Van Malsen would like his bike released to him immediately in order to effect repairs and start earning an income.


I have also spoken to Mr C Lombard at Consume-it and in his opinion this is obvious blatant extortion and illegal practice according to the Consumer Protection Act.

Please reply as soon as possible to this request.

Regards
--


Alicia Perkins

Admin Manager

Stuttaford Van Lines - Pretoria

Tel : 27 12 800 1001

Fax : 27 12 800 1704

email : alicia.perkins@stuttafordvanlines.com