… forced to issue refunds
Walvis Bay-based driving school Embwida Heavy Duty Driving Academy has failed to provide driving lessons to 57 learner drivers since 2019 and is now forced to issue refunds.
The clients paid for lessons in the various driving codes, while some paid deposits to reserve lessons at specific times.
The school, established in 2019, was founded by Andreas Nghiyavala.
Speaking to The Namibian on Monday, Fillipus Norbert said he paid N$4 000 in July last year for code C driving lessons.
When inquiring about his first class, he was told there was no truck available and asked to wait while the school resolved the matter.
“Since then, the owner has been giving excuses.”
Norbert said he feels like he is being scammed, but is unable to open a police case in the north, as Nghiyavala is based at Walvis Bay.
“I just want my money, that’s all.”
Proof of the payment made by Norbert on 29 July 2023 to the school account was seen by The Namibian.
In the last communication from Nghiyavala to Norbert on Sunday, Nghiyavala said he is waiting for the bank in order to buy a new truck.
“Currently, I have no money at all, that is why the driving lessons are at a standstill. I cannot afford to buy petrol. From 25 June, if the bank did not give me anything, I will sell my truck. Please just give me time until the end of this month.”
NGHIYAVALA RESPONDS
Nghiyavala told The Namibian clients dating back to 2019 need to be refunded.
“I will start refunding people from June month end. It is not only him, there are a lot of people,” Nghiyavala said.
He further said the school has two code CE trucks and one code C1 truck, while it was renting code CE trucks.
“The owner came to fetch it, which is why a need arose. One of the trucks broke down last year August, resulting in operations coming to a standstill. The one we currently have, I have rented out to be used to transport containers so I use the money it is generating to make refunds to these people.”
Nghiyavala said by December the school will have a new truck.
He added that people in different licence categories paid for different promotions.
“The one that Norbet paid for is to train him for 30 days and give him a free Natis test until he gets his licence.”
NO SCAMS
Nghiyavala denied that he was scamming people.
“Trucks were there until we faced these challenges.”
He also accused some customers of not showing up for driving lessons.
“Many have not shown up ever, since they made their bookings and payments. Some only made deposits and when I asked people to send their names for refunds, even those who did not show up back then wanted to be prioritised while they wasted our time.”
REFUND PLAN
He said he will be making full refunds for a small number of people and refunding others in monthly instalments, while those who already attended driving lessons for 30 days will not be refunded.
“Even if you have paid N$10 000 and you only practised for a week and the following one you received your licence, you will not get a refund,” he said.
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