Car Buyers Beware - A WeBuyCars Story

[Tris]

Be alert when buying from WeBuyCars.

Misrepresented listing and not original engine – WeBuyCars refuses to make it right.

In mid-2022, I began searching for a Toyota Prado 120 with a 4.0L V6 engine. Considering reports of a head gasket issue in earlier versions of this engine, I wanted a 2007 or newer model. In June 2022, I found a 2009 Prado 120 listed with 196,000km at the Silver Lakes branch of WeBuyCars. The advertisement labelled it as “Category A”, highlighting its complete and up-to-date service history and emphasising that the vehicle was roadworthy. I was even able to secure financing for it through Wesbank.

However, during the purchasing process, it became apparent that WeBuyCars could not provide evidence of the complete service history, and the vehicle was also due for a service, contradicting the assurances in their listing. Despite these issues, we proceeded with the purchase due to the Prado’s low mileage.

Subsequently, I invested a significant amount in preventive maintenance and modifications to prepare the vehicle for planned overlanding trips to Lesotho in 2023 and Namibia in 2024.Unfortunately, in May 2023, it became evident that I would be unable to undertake these trips for a few years, so I explored the possibility of finding someone else who might be interested in purchasing my overland-ready rig.

It was during this process that I discovered that the engine in the Prado was not the original engine. When I raised this concern with Wesbank, they directed me to address it with WeBuyCars, so I contacted WeBuyCars on 9 June 2023 at 16:45 and was informed that the Silver Lakes branch would get in touch with me. Unfortunately, they did not. A few days later, I submitted the concern online, and WeBuyCars assigned me a concern number on 13 June, assuring me that a call centre agent would contact me within 24 hours. This did not occur. I then visited the Dome branch and spoke to a manager who escalated the matter to Customer Care.

Finally, on Monday 19 June, calls began to come through. Over the course of several days and emails, I shared what I had learned about the engine issue. This was that my 2009 Prado, which I had bought with what I thought was 196,000km on the engine, was actually equipped with a 2006 Toyota Fortuner engine. According to Toyota’s service records, this engine may have accumulated over 255,000km before being transplanted into my Prado sometime after 2019.

Individuals I spoke to in the vehicle industry suggested that I could demand to be placed back in the same position I had been in prior to purchasing the car from WeBuyCars. I thus communicated my expectation to WeBuyCars that they take back the vehicle, settle the matter with Wesbank, and provide compensation for some of the expenses I have incurred for work done to the car. I also provided supporting documents and evidence and awaited WeBuyCars’ response.

Eventually, on 10 July, the WeBuyCars agent I had been dealing with called me to convey that WeBuyCars was not willing to support my proposed resolution. I was told that the best WeBuyCars could do would be to consider buying back the car, but the agent did not propose a value and merely promised to send an official response rejecting my proposal in writing. I expressed my extreme dissatisfaction, insisting that management should contact me, but once again, I have not received any reply from WeBuyCars.

On 11 July 2023, I emailed WeBuyCars to follow up on the promised written response that they had not sent. I also proposed two alternative solutions to resolve the matter. Unfortunately, as it stands on 19 July 2023, they still have not responded. Meanwhile, I have discovered through their standard online system that their offer to purchase my vehicle would be R120,000. This is over R100,000 less than the price at which they sold the car to me a year ago.

WeBuyCars persists in ignoring the issue, even though they misrepresented the 2009 Prado I purchased from them in their listing, and the car was financed based on false information.

I advise anyone considering a purchase from WeBuyCars to exercise caution and thoroughly check everything. Their listings are not always accurate. If they claim to have a complete service history for a vehicle, insist that they provide you with evidence before you move forward with a purchase. Similarly, if they say that a vehicle’s services are up to date, request verifiable proof. Additionally, verify not only that the engine number matches the NATIS/license, but confirm with the manufacturer’s dealership channels that the listed engine is the original. Even if WeBuyCars asserts that a car is Category A and roadworthy, it appears that you will be left to deal with any issues on your own once you drive away.

Regrettably, Wesbank has also offered no support in my case.


Regards

Tristan Hall

[PJ SA]

Sorry to hear but not a surprise unfortunately.

The only place I'd deal with like WBCs is GetWorth, all the others seem to have issues and problems like this.

Good luck.

[Dirk]

Please edit your post and sign it with your full name.

[Reenen]

Ek het binne 2 dae 2 voertuie gekoop. Basies identies aan mekaar, behalwe 2 jaar uit mekaar en 100 000km uit mekaar. Beide lae km voertuie.
Was ietwat bekommerd dat hulle nie waarborg gee nie, want is groothandelaar of so iets.

Anyway, beide voertuie se engines het gegroet binne 10 000km. Beide engines was voorheen herstel / oorgedoen deur hoogs onprofessionele mense.

My raad: as n plek nie waarborg self gee, selfs nie eens een van hierdie gemors aftermarket betaal abs niks uit jobbies, loop weg van die baie sweet deals. Gaan na n regte 2dehandse agent soos Petri, of wheelspot, of selfs agente se 2dehandse kante.

[Spectaitor]

I'm sorry to hear of that, ombudsman should be able to help even with them being wholesale. It was a dishonest sale - simple.

WBC is a scam and should be avoided as such.

You have dealers buying cars from WBC for stock and the public is left with the crumbs. I've been told, by a dealer principal friend, that even the dealerships are getting caught by their scam and ending up with expensive lemons that they now have to provide guarantees and support for vs WBC using their wholesale rubbish excuse.

Just a quick browse through of a few vehicles will show anyone that what they say about a vehicle vs what they have are two very different things.

[Mr.G]

Is the engine number in your wesbank contract?Maybe a loophole if the original was used.

[Mal Hannes]

There is more and more stories like this.

I believe they did so well and were chasing numbers above anything else and are now a victim of their own success.

The buyers must buy cars and the lemons all end up by them. Obviously the more numbers you do the more mistakes will happen.

Their model of not taking responsibility is a problem and now sales people lying about service history etc is becoming dangerous.

There was many sucess stories over the years but it really feels like it has changed.

[Juddvdb]

My opinion is that this is FRAUD! That means a criminal case. Not an ombudsman case, not customer service case, a criminal case.

Have you checked if the engine number on the license and reg docs (both for the vehicle and with WBC are for the 'old' engine or the new fraud engine? Any mismatch and you could have an avenue where they sold you an unlicensed/unroadworthy vehicle and that might provide another way for you to take action.

[Die$eL]

This is ridiculous! They refuse to take any accountability.

Similar happened to a friend of mine.

He bought a Rav4 and later discovered it had an import engine in and the disc did not match the engine number.
WBC refused to do anything about it.

My uncle also bought a Colt bakkie from them. I viewed and collected it for him. Luckily I took pics. On delivery the radio was missing and they claimed there never was one. The pics I had showed different and they replaced it.

Another case I know of is where a guy bought a Audi A1. It broke down on the WBC driveway. Gearbox was faulty. They refused accountability. Poor guy spent tons on it before selling it back to them. At which point they pointed out it had been accident damaged (was not listed when he bought it from them 4 months earlier). Needless to say they bought it back at a very reduced price. I wonder if they declared the accident damage to the next person who bought it??

[Karol]

I don't see WBC being in business in the next 2 years.

There owners Transactional capital share price has been hit hard because of there taxi finance division bad performance.

with high interest rates and customer feedback like this, its only a matter of time.

[RussellF]

on change of ownership is roadworthy not a requirement ?

unless the roadworthy centre was in collusion with WBC there was a 2nd opportunity to verify engine/chassis matched the license papers; 1st opportunity being the buyer.

if this wasn't done I don't see a way to prove the engine wasn't swapped post purchase / registration of the vehicle.

as much as I sympathise with the OP I suggest he cut his losses, keep the vehicle and walk away.

[JanB]

Do I have it right that by some convoluted scheme they claim to be car auctioneers and not dealers and therefore the Consumer Protection Act does not apply to them?

[Andre Vorster]

Don't you just wish we had a Judicial system like the mericans where you could sue the cream out if them....

[jeeperscreepersXJ]

hang on, lets try be diplomatic about this.

I have bought many many many cars over the decades and to be honest I have never ever once checked the engine number physically. We all fill in our registration numbers every year from paper to paper and triple check those, we don't honestly dive into the engine bay and pull the engine out (and yes some engines are impossible to find a code on)

If one is really adamant and remembers these things then I guarantee you they just read the vehicle stamp plate which has the engine number, chassis number, colour, trim etc. But this plate isn't the actual parts of the vehicle, it's like a quick reference.

I've looked over a lot of WeBuyCars reports (DEKRA) and almost all of them say "engine / chassis number not possible to view without dismantling" which is logical because these numbers are designed to be incredibly hard to locate. A VIN number is easy as you can't really steal a chassis! that's on your window nowadays.

This particular vehicle was wanting to be returned a year later, now how does WeBuyCars know that this person didn't remove the engine? It is very unfortunate but in honesty we are all guilty of never checking engine numbers.. hopefully from this we as buyers will try be more vigilant (if possible)

On a side note, why would someone swop out a Prado engine for a Fortuner engine, why not just recondition the old engine instead of going to all the trouble modifying everything from gearbox to diff to clutch etc.

I do think it is a bit unfair to slate WeBuyCars as they themselves were likely not told of this modification and didn't pick it up.

[Ferty]

On a side note, why would someone swop out a Prado engine for a Fortuner engine, why not just recondition the old engine instead of going to all the trouble modifying everything from gearbox to diff to clutch etc.

Not to derail the thread, but the Prado 120 and Fortuner V6's shared the same engine.

[Snyks]

I honestly do not see how WBC are at fault here. If the previous owner changed engines and it had the correct engine number on the Reg doc, how do you expect them to own up to it? I assume you took the car for roadworthy?

[WillieJimny]

Have you approached the ombudsman yet?

[WillieJimny]

I honestly do not see how WBC are at fault here. If the previous owner changed engines and it had the correct engine number on the Reg doc, how do you expect them to own up to it? I assume you took the car for roadworthy?

People are often quick to point fingers at skelm dealer, but in many cases the customers are the actual crooks.

[Mal Hannes]

I honestly do not see how WBC are at fault here. If the previous owner changed engines and it had the correct engine number on the Reg doc, how do you expect them to own up to it? I assume you took the car for roadworthy?

The problem for me is advertised with full service History. If someone puts that on paper I do not need to check it now when this was requested it could not be brought to light.

From the first post see this quote: "The advertisement labelled it as “Category A”, highlighting its complete and up-to-date service history and emphasising that the vehicle was roadworthy. I was even able to secure financing for it through Wesbank.

However, during the purchasing process, it became apparent that WeBuyCars could not provide evidence of the complete service history, and the vehicle was also due for a service, contradicting the assurances in their listing. Despite these issues, we proceeded with the purchase due to the Prado’s low mileage."

[Fluffy]

It's like the story of the Liquor salesman who is expected to buy rounds of drinks on his travels and join in the merriment - but then has an angry customer when he arrives at their pub tipsy.

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People dump their problematic scrap on places like WBC and accept a low price.

Next month they go to WBC, buy a car cheaper than market value, then throw their toys out the cot when it has problems.