Vehicle Tracking

[Hloni]

Hi guys,

I am just about to go get a delivery of a waterpumper (yes, I know, I have gone a bit soft these days) which has abs, airbags, powerstreeting, yadayadayada, and was thinking of slamming in a tracking device.

What are your guys PERSONAL experiences with various companies we have in ZA? Oh...as I live down KZN, would you fellas (and fellaresses) suggest I get the tracking device installed while I am up here in Pta, or can I trust the guys in KZN not to tell their hommies as to where they slammed the tracker?

Your thoughts and PERSONAL experience will be highly appreciated.

I do not need a tracker for insurance purposes, just a peace of mind.

[Pine]

Go to http://www.hellopeter.com and to a search on all the relevant companies that offer vehicle tracking products - customer feedback is very important to determine the quality of the service you get. I did a quick search on the major companies - Netstar, Ctrack, Tracker and unfortunately they all got very poor feedback. Unfortunately the smaller companies do not have the coverage of the bigger companies but personal experience have taught me that the vehicle tracking industry is the biggest hoax in South Africa...

[sarel.wagner]

This was what I have done, cybersleuthsupreme from Netstar, Online tracking and logbook Tracking by yourself......

trackingreport.jpg

Rgrds

[Pine]

This was what I have done, cybersleuthsupreme from Netstar, Online tracking and logbook Tracking by yourself......

trackingreport.jpg

Rgrds

As always, two sides to a story. Perhaps, you are one of the lucky few, Sarel?

from Hellopeter:

I have 9 vehicles fitted with Cybersleuth Supreme. For more than a month I have being trying to get resolution on two matters:
1. One vehicle does not show up on the tracking system on-line despite having two new devices fitted.
2. The reports on-line have errors and no-one is coming back to me to resolve it.
I dealt with Customer Service officers during November, contacted their Supervisor - Nadia Solomon and left several messages for her which are not returned and a message left for her Manager - Patrick is also unanswered. A letter to the MD yesterday has also not raised any response.
I wish I could change my systems but until I have the SARS Logbook reports for this year how can I?
I had numerous problems with the units since installation took place in November 2009.
One word of advice do NOT install a Netstar.

Urgently need to put a Netstar system into my New Car, I am a current client and have a Cybersleuth Supreme. I have phoned the call centre 7 or 8 times and of those got through once and the rest of the calls I abandoned, because of the waiting time.

I am still waiting for someone to get back to me..... Can't believe how bad the service is and how they are not interested in converting qualified leads into sure sales.

Simon

My Altech Netstars cybersleuth supreme logbook does not seem to record all trips made. On discovering this, I called their customer service +-1432011 and spoke to Thandi, she took my registration no and promise to call me back. A couple of days later I called again and spoke to Lydia, she promised to follow up and call me back. Today I called again and asked to speak to the supervisor, after holding on for approx. 10 minutes Thandi took my telephone number and said that the supervisor would call me back as soon as she got off the phone. This was before lunch today - Guess What - NO CALL.
How does a person get help with a service that they are paying for, if the customer service department is this pathetic.

I recommended Altech Netstar to a friend as I have 2 vehicles with Cybersleuth and working well.
The unit was fitted on 13th October by Levitts Radio (branch not known) to ZSX 719GP.
My friend has phoned Altech Netstar and the installers many times and no one wants to sort out the problem and the Customer is sitting in the middle.
When checking the history of complaints (about 7 pages), by majority all complaints.
Is there a message here? Is this a regular thing which Customers have to go through?
I am very embarrassed regarding my recommendation where Altech Netstar has failed.
Regretably my recommendation was wrong and have suggested that Netstar remove the installation as soon as possible.
To management and staff of Altech Netstar you have failed to increase your Customer base.
Regretably I will not recommend Altech Netstar to any friends or potential clients as their performance has been a total embarrassement for myself

10 JUNE 2011 MY CYBER SLEUTH DEVICE STOP WORKING OR UPDATING INFORMATION, 13 JUNE 2011 I CALLED ALTECH AND ADVISED THAT THE SYSTEM NEED TO BE CHECKED. I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO GEZINA MOTOR RADIO AND TOLD THAT A NEW SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED.

STILL ON THE 13 JUNE 2011 THE SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING AFTER BEING REPLACED, REFERENCE: 5238102 ADVICE THAT MTN SIGNALL WAS THE PROBLEM AND I SHOULD WAIT TILL END OF BUSINESSDAY.

14 JUNE 2011 STILL SYSTEM NOT WORKING, REFERENCE: 2138701 EXPLAINS THAT THE SYSTEM IS DORMANTNOT WORKING, TRIED TO CALL THE FITTERS TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM FROM THEIR SIDE. ADVISED THAT I SHOULD GO BACK TO FITTING CENTER, DID THAT AND TOLD THAT SIGNAL WILL BE SENT AGAIN. THE SYSTEM STILL NOT WORKING AND THE FITTING CENTER SAID THERE'S NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO AND EITHER IS ALTECH.

I WONDER IF A NOT WORKING SYSTEM HAS NOT BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. NEVER EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.

IT IS VERY DISTURBING THAT EITHER ALTECH NOR FITTING CENTER SEEM TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THE BLAME IS PUT SQUARELY ON MTN, HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT EXPLANATION.

PLEASE FIX THE ACTIVATION OF THE INSTALLED SYSTEM ON MY VEHICLE, I AM PAYING MY PREMIUMS FOR *** SAKE.

[Hloni]

Heavy publicity for netstar. Do they visit hellopeter l wonder

[Stütz]

I am in the trucking industry and we currently have 9 various Tracker units fitted. I have tried other companies too but the Tracker units have been the best by far.

There are a few different types of units, but the type you would want does not require their specialised software to do any tracking, you would just use a web-based site. This allows you to check exact position of the vehicle as well as various reports including battery trend, detailed trips logs, execption status, tax trip logs etc, etc. The logs allow you to do a full check-back on all postions and speeds including violations over an extended period of time.

There are also different views such as control centre as well as aerial map views including google earth views in certain areas. (example below)

They will come out to you to install or you can go to them if you prefer. I have had installations done in Cape Town and in Durban.

If you are interested, PM me and I will put you in touch with the rep that helped me or else you can just call them direct. Hope this is useful to you.

[Hloni]

What is the experience with c-trax and matrixs? lf l read closely, netstar has issues, while tracker has been a good experience, right.

[Hloni]

So l rang my insurance company and they tell me l'd save R12.50 on my monthly premium if l were to fit a tracking device on my vehicle! My new waterpumper is a French make.

Why then would l install a tracker, spend R300/m only to save R12.50?

[Stütz]

Change insurance company

[jmvv]

Why do you fit a tracking system?

Unless you are a transport manger that has to monitor a fleet of vehicles, not because you want to or need to, but beacuse your insurance company blackmails you into it.

Tracking systems does not prevent the theft. It just limits the loss to the insurance company and you have to pay the additional monthly premium.

If you see the damage that car thieves do in their search for the tracking system after they take the vehicle, it will take your breath away.

I have seen Mercs with the dashboard ripped out, the headliner cut, the door panels torn off and the seats cut. All in an attempt to find the tracking device.

Further, my advise would be to stay away from any device that uses an external battery (motorcycle type battery). Your tracking company will not inform you after two years to bring the car in to have the battery changed and when that packs up, it discharges the car's battery. Leaving you stranded and having to get roadside assitance to come and start your car.

Also, let the tracking company confirm in writing, that it gives national coverage. I was shocked to learn that Netstar's Sleuth only gives coverage in the main centres.

When trying to test this unit as was fitted to a vehicle of mine at the time, I was told by the Netstar control room that they could only pick up the unit in Gauteng or when I got close to Pietermaritzburg. (I was driving down th Natal at the time) The whole distance of the N3 between Heidelburg and Pietermaritburg was blind to them.

I tossed the unit as soon as possible afterwards and replaced it with a C Track unit. At least they can see my vehicle even in the Kruger Park and the unit uses a capacitor for backup power and not a battery.

[Stütz]

If you see the damage that car thieves do in their search for the tracking system after they take the vehicle, it will take your breath away.

I have seen Mercs with the dashboard ripped out, the headliner cut, the door panels torn off and the seats cut. All in an attempt to find the tracking device.

This is true however these days they automatically assume there is a tracking device in the car and shred the dash anyway.

Further, my advise would be to stay away from any device that uses an external battery (motorcycle type battery). Your tracking company will not inform you after two years to bring the car in to have the battery changed and when that packs up, it discharges the car's battery. Leaving you stranded and having to get roadside assitance to come and start your car.

True! I experienced that first-hand with Matrix. I eventually took the car back to them and told them to take the unit out.

[Pine]

personal experience have taught me that the vehicle tracking industry is the biggest hoax in South Africa...

[Stütz]

You know Pine, on personal vehicles I am inclined to agree with you. On fleet vehicles that is another story altogether. It is an integral part in running our business succesfully, client feedback and hi-jack recovery. It also aids in driver time-keeping for us.

As long as your car is insured, a tracking unit really isn't a must have although certain insurers will not insure your vehicle unless a tracking system is fitted. THis happened to me with my Hilux. Outsurance refused to insure me unless I have a tracking device fitted so I told them that as long as they pay for the fitment and deduct the monthly payments of the tracking from my insurance premium I have no problem with it. They accepted which I am sure is standard response if you ask. If you don't ask they probably won't tell you.

Be that as it may I have long since moved on from both Matrix and Outsurance. They were both useless in my opinion.