A Kaputa based businessman who claims that Toyota Zambia swindled him has now written to the President of the Toyota Motor Corporation seeking a new car and compensation.
Dr Andrew Tafuna, a farmer explained in documents obtained in Lusaka that he bought a Toyota Hilux Double Cab from Toyota Zambia in April 2010 at a cost of 200 Million Kwacha (old Kwacha).
He explained that on his way back to Kaputa, the vehicle started developing clutch problems and had difficulties reaching Luapula Province.
“I contacted Toyota Lusaka and they promptly sent their men to tow the vehicle back to Lusaka and I and my two daughters followed them back to the capital,” Dr. Tafuna said.
He says on their way back to Lusaka, they were involved in a road traffic accidents resulting in the vehicle having some heavy dents.
Dr. Tafuna has demanded that he be given a brand Hilux Double Cab and compensation for the loss he has suffered from not having the use of his vehicle since 2010.
From the email responses obtained, Toyota maintains that the specific range of Hilux Double Cab that Dr. Tafuna wanted has run out of stock and can only offer him a Toyota Delux 4×4 but that he will need to top up close to US$ 10,000.
“I bought a brand new vehicle from their showroom, it developed faults and I reported. As we were bringing the vehicle to Lusaka, we get involved in an accident and my daughters suffer shock and trauma, I seek for a replacement and compensation and they are now asking me to pay another US$10,000. This is a scandal and Toyota Zambia wants to swindle me of my money,” Dr. Tafuna said.
The aggrieved farmer has now written to the President Of Toyota Motor Corporation seeking redress after concluding that the Lusaka office does not want to resolve the matter amicably.
In his letter to the President and representative Director of Toyota Motor Corporation dated 24th December 2012, Dr Tafuna explains that he bought a Toyota Hilux Double Cab from Toyota Zambia in 2010 and that the very first day he got it, problems on his vehicle started.
Dr Tafuna says all he wants now is a new vehicle and compensation from Toyota Zambia for loss of business as well as to cover all the costs that he has incurred while waiting for the vehicle to be repaired.
Toyota Zambia are full of rubbish, one thing they need to know is that they have competitors and are only tarnishing their image. Order a car from Toyota Zambia and it take 2 months to be delivered if you are lucky with a wrong colour code. Action Auto will deliver theirs in 3 weeks, CFAO and Southern Cross at least a month. Who the hell do they think they are? Give the man a new vehicle or refund him his cash so that he can purchase an Isuzu or Sportero. Even Mahindra can do better!!!
When did this happen to you bwana? Maboza!
Dr,
You must sue Toyota Zambia using some of the best Lawyers in the country so that the Court can direct Toyota Zambia to give you back your money and costs and then you can buy a SECOND HAND vehicle from the internet.The internet vehicle works better than the new ones.
Dollar
Great move by the farmer. He should ask for US$20,000 in addition to a new car. If the want to give him the luxury 4×4 then THEY should top it up with US10,000.
You better sue for the “shock and truama” as well. That’s how our friends in the West get rich!!
True, and thats why their insurance premiums are so high such that we cannot even afford to drive some of these 4x4s you guys drive in Zambia. Do not ever wish to go the Western way of insurance claims, and counter claims. Its not a good model, Insurance in Zambia is affordable. Leave it as it is.
About time! This is what being a customer must be all about. If you are not served well, kick a$$…
Toyota have had a lot of cars recalled for various problems over these past few years. Because of these recalls, they were fined huge amounts of money, if I’m not mistaken. The fact that they can’t compensate Dr. Tafuna with a brand new car is absurd! That clutch defect could have claimed his and his daughters’ lives. If it were anywhere else, there would have been a hefty settlement, but because we have to deal with the buffoons at Toyota Zambia, this complaint might not see the light of day. I hope LT can update us if his appeal to the Prez of Toyota goes through.
May be its better to buy from Toyota South africa. They are more effIcient and reliable.
The models sold in Zambia are usually supplied out of RSA.
These baffons dont know any customer service, i mean if they dont have the type of model tha the good doc is demanding, they better give him the the more expensive delux 4×4, its better they make a loss of $10,000.00 than bad publicity
The good thing is that this has happened to a person who knows what he is doing, and will follow this matter to its real conclusion.
I hope that Toyota in Japan will be sensible enough to meet the demands by a man whose money they have already received and invested for profits. Failing this, the matter must be escalated further so that Toyota can be cited for an international business scandal in the developing world.
However, given Toyota’s business stature, they should sort this out. I only hope they do not delay any longer.
AUTO WORLD IS ALSO SELLING FAKE PRODUCTS. I BOUGHT A GENERATOR WHICH DEVELOPED PROBLEMS THE VERY DAY I BOUGHT IT. TOOK IT BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I TOOK IT BACK THE SECOND TIME, THEY CLAIMED IT WAS OK BUT WHEN I REACHED HOME THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. FINALLY I HAVE JUST PACKED IT BECAUSE I CAN’T CONTINUE LOSING MY MONEY THROUGH TRANSPORT.
So you spent millions on something that failed to perform the work it was intended for and you just pack it in storage. C’mon now what is wrong with you? Are you hoping it will work next time?
When you buy something, the law gives you certain rights if something goes wrong. You may also have extra rights depending on where you buy the item and how you pay for it. Find out what your rights are if things go wrong and what you might need to do next to sort the problem out.
I feel your misery man. Its the one thing we lack: QUALITY. Something should do what it says it should exactly do on the advert, the tin, or the manual. I see a lot of people rush to China and Asia to buy products such as gensets and the cry. Zambia is a country that cannot guarantee you quality, and that any vendor knows this hence they continue abusing people. The west is different, and that for me, is why i would rather pay double the price just for quality. Sad though; you mean you cannot take it back to them?
ST MARKS, take your particular case to the Consumer Protection Commision, they are found at the Lusaka main Post Office building am sure they will help you out.Take with you receipts for the generator,any letters of complaint to the supplier and any other documents to do with that purchase.
This’ an absolute no brainer, c’mon Toyota! Anyone, even those of us not well-versed with customer and public relations can figure out that the man should have been given a replacement car after the accident. Was he driving either the car in question, or the towing vehicle on the way back? Or was it in the care of Toyota employees at the time of transportation? I says sue the buggers!
The business man’s daughter thought she driving automatic and was in gear one from Lusaka to Kaputa, hence the problems
kikikikiki
Ba Comboni Dweller! Your proposition is twisted logic. The Villager is more brainy than you.
A brand new Toyota Hilux cannot survive in Kaputa. His car was witched, the problem has nothing to do with Toyota Zambia.
Companies in Zambia want to take people\citizens for granted. Dr Atuna is entiled to alot of things here;
1. He needs to have his ute replaced ASAP.
2. He also needs compensation for lose of business.
3. Compensation to cover the costs incurred during the accidents ie trauma\counseling etc.
Toyota is a global organization and as such, I don’t think they can fail to handle this case, the only bottle next that I seem to see is with Toyota Zambia, am sorry to say, this is pathetic for them to treat clients like that. If the Doctor is able to spend a little more, there are very competent lawyers in Zambia that can assist this poor man.
Komboni Dweller
You are an a$$hole!!
Had a problem with a Japanese vehicle that was still under warranty and was given the run around by the authorised dealer in Zambia. I had to take the matter to court after, which the dealer then offered to settle out of court. Dr. Tafuna can also lodge a complaint with the Zambia Consumer Protection Commission at the Lusaka main post office building.
Anyone with Zambia Consumer Protection Commission numbers for Zambia Consumer Protection Commission ,Anti corruption commission we need contacts
I thought you are not supposed to push a brand new vehicle before 1,000 km’s? The doc must have been speeding, trying to test out the new ride. Lusaka to Kaputa is already 1,250 kms. Problems.
Then how are you suppoz to reach 1000 km’s? by towing it?
Iyai, drive it gently within short distances. That’s why these cars come on vehicle carriers. He was not properly advised. Or he didn’t disclose how far Kaputa is.
That Toyota Hilux is not assembled here in Japan ! It comes from south African assembling plants… No need to write a letter to Toyata motor coorporation in Nagoya Aichi ! Those people overthere should solve this smal issue. As you might know, Toyota has many branches all over the world.
The Doc has received NO or uncooperative attitude from the Africans at Toyota Zambia, hence try and deal with the owners.
The problems at Toyota is that they have a white ill-educated (doesn’t have a grade 12 certificate) national sales manager – Neil David Stewart – who hardly understands the principles of sales & marketing. Its surprising how he has managed to elude the immigration authorities for well over 8 years as he does not meet the minimum qualification to enable him to obtain a managerial work permit Can the immigration authorities do thing please about this individual who is trying to mistreat the Dr.
Only in Zambia tolerate these crooks get away with this rubbish…a farmer buys a brand new car and the dealer who happens to be Toyota is dragging their feet!! hehehe the selfsame Toyota that is GRZ’s number one dealer. Where are the Consumer Rights organisations and the Farmers union to help this hard-working farmer? In the England Toyota would have airlifted this farmer a brand new car fresh from the production line the minute he complained to the local press in his area within 48 hrs and thrown in a full tank with a lifetime warranty!!
Very disgusted Blogger!!
Only in Zambia do we tolerate these crooks to get away with this rubbish….
Guess no insurance huh….
Anywhere else lawyers would be falling all over themselves to help this farmer; one letter is all it takes…
You have a hard-working farmer treating himself to a brand-new vehicle and is supporting local employment at Toyota Dealership in Lusaka and you are treating him like sh*t!! At a time when most Zambians are buying cheap polluting “second rate” second-hand cars from Japan and UK.
Andrew Tafuna you have a winnable case here; too much docility in Zambia stand up for this man or else it will be YOU next time!!
Take them to court of law. Where are the Consumer Protection fimo fimo….this is a good case for them to act upon.
Peace and Prosperity to mother Zambia.
Cheap is expensive bwana. don’t buy toyota. It’s useless
Tafuna is not a lawyer, please be advised to get counsel from a learned person. If he had Malaria he would have rushed to see a doctor. Like most Zambians we ignore our professionals and end not getting what is owed to us.
You will not need to go to court, good counsel will serve you time and money.
A lesson for all!
Toyota Zambia have a website – toyotazambia.com ….if you want to show your disgust for their appalling treatment of this customer please feel free to forward your displeasure to them. Funny how their website shows about 7 models Hilux Double Cab yet they said the are out of stock.
If there is one thing that gets under my skin it is poor customer service.
toyotazambia.com/index.php/contact
Shame on Toyota Zambia. They were quick to take the money bur resolving the problem has stalled. The Dr has done the most sensible thing here going to the top. Glad the issue has been highlighted in the press. Shame on you ZED Toyota!!!!!!!!!
I very well remember in late 2010 Toyota had a recall of vehicles made between 2008 and 2010 for same clutch problem and accelerator problem, in the USA and Japan a lot of people complained of Toyota, so i think this DR bought a brand which was recalled and he didn’t know about it, but again Toyota would have acted in good faith and advice the man about the problem Toyota was having at that time. Please Toyota compensate the man he worked for it.
Most of these Zambian dealers are franchise dealers and trying to save their own bottom-line yet forgetting that they are tarnishing the brand.
I think this Toyota Hilux belongs to a butch of Toyota cars which have been recalled from around the world in the past three years due to clutch problems. He should sue them !
For first time a Luapulan get swindled or did he buy car without insurance & guarantee?
A Toyota for $50,000?? Why not buy 5 Japanese vehicles.
They are compensating people all over the world for clutch problems.Sue then.
Toyota Zambia sometimes takes its customers for granted. It is from experience when you take the vehicle for routine service, sometimes I wonder if really they replace the old service parts because the performance of the the vehicle becomes worse than it was before. May be the company does not employ qualified staff to do good work. Another possibility is that new service parts could be released, but the one fitting could use some simple arithmetic to swindle both the company and the customer! Too bad. Please Toyota Zambia change for the better before customers ditch you.
Nobody is swindled here, there is just a delay in toyota zambia reporting to Head office for compansation modalities and poor customer care but soon,especially now that the box is open the Dr will be assisted.
Has Mushota been rebased too?
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Please farmer frm Kaputa 2010 quite long time ago, the first day u bot that vehicle it gave u problems one of them an accident on the way to Toyota Zambia Lusaka. Y wasting time like writing to the Toyota President, the best u can do engage a lawyer man if u want wat u lost.
Please!please!please! haa,haa.Mr President of toyota company,the thing are strat 4wd you must compasate my in law within 48hrs. If you are a real toyota watever,Y my father in law suffer while u av already collected the money from him?chi beleshi sana ba shetani,iyi yena ni nankwe na kwe.Mr presindent,its over 2u.
Please email me the Toyota President email address! I am having problems with Toyota Zambia, they have had my vehicle for repairs for 6 months and its lost me a hell of good business. My vehicle was in their possession from August 2012 to 31st January 2013. They did more damage than fixing! Lat week it went back in with some noise in the engine. Toyota don’t seem to be interested in compensating me for the loss of business for the 6 months they had my vehicle. I am in transport business and this has been the most stressful time with Toyota. I have a fleet of toyota vehicles, i love the brand but unfortunately it have no personnel to match it!
I will appreciate that email address. thank you
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