Owner told cars too expensive for special deal
A motorist with two million-rand cars was so irked when he found they were too expensive to qualify for a R505 bonsella that he submitted a formal complaint.
Now, notes TimesLIVE, insurer iWYZE has been ordered to change its advertising to make clear that only cars worth less than R1.2m are eligible for an offer that states: ‘If we can't save you money, we'll give you R505.’
Ralph Rossouw told the advertising watchdog the TV commercial was misleading because when he tried to take up the offer, he was told his vehicles were too expensive for the Old Mutual brand to cover.
Rossouw owns a R1.4m Mercedes-Benz S-class and a R1.3m Porsche Cayenne, and contacted iWYZE to ask if it could beat the premiums he was paying on them.
If it was unable to do so, he wanted to claim his R505, which would have risen to R1 750 if he had been claim-free for three years.
In its ruling, the Advertising Regulatory Board said: ‘He was informed that (iWYZE) was unable to fulfil any of the promised claims... because his vehicles were too expensive.’
The insurer told the regulator that ‘as per the product and underwriting criteria’, the value of Rossouw's vehicles was too high.
The watchdog said it accepted that insurers were entitled to impose terms and conditions, but the ad Rossouw saw did not indicate any limit on the maximum sum insured.
The board told the company to withdraw or amend its advert with immediate effect.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
