The dreams of extending his parents’ home into a double storey were snapped away from Joy Matlanyane after a company he bought building material from allegedly went bankrupt and closed down without refunding him his R65,000 deposit.
Matlanyane, 31, from Marble Hall in Limpopo, had been planning on extending his parents’ five-bedroom house for years. In February2022, he jointly approached Double Storey Floor, a rib and block slab supplier in Polokwane with his father.
They were quoted R99,200 for the job and they immediately paid a R65,000 deposit for the material, which included ribs, block slabs, supporting poles and shutters.
The materials were to be delivered in the first week of March but this did not happen.
Matlanyane said he had to take out a home loan to fund the project and was happy when he found Double Storey Floor on the Internet, which gave him a good quote.
“Their quote included their labour and before we got the material their workers came to the house to take measurements. We agreed that the project would start in March after I had made the R65,000 deposit. I paid the money but these guys did not come back to start building. Each time I called their office I was told different stories until I demanded a refund,” said Matlanyane.
After weeks of no movement on the building project, Matlanyane eventually spoke with the owner, Phillip Badenhorst, who admitted to owing the family a refund.
“With this letter, I, P Badenhorst from DSF, acknowledge that the client has requested a refund. We agreed that they will give me time to get the money together. I will make payment on Monday 25 April 2022 (amount total R65,000),” read an acknowledgment of debt letter addressed to Matlanyane on April 19 2022.
However, Matlanyane never received the money as promised. On the other hand, he continued to pay R3,600 per month to service the loan he took out towards the building project .
According to the National Consumer Commission (NCC), consumers have a right to a refund from a service provider within reasonable time after paid-for goods or services have not been delivered.
Badenhorst said his shop had closed down in June last year and was in the process of retrieving some of his assets that were stolen by some customers he owed money to.
“The company was in financial distress since the beginning of 2022, worsened by the subsequent theft. The cash flow issues meant that we could not deliver on certain jobs and we started owing money to some customers, who then came and stole assets from the shop. We eventually had to close down the shop, and more than 10 employees were affected.
“All the customers were informed of the shop’s financial struggles and many wanted their refunds. I’m now working with a lawyer to do an audit of all the assets that were taken, retrieve some , sell them so that we can pay all the people we owe. I’d be lying if I tell you how many customers we owe money to,” Badenhorst told Sowetan Consumer on Saturday.
However, Matlanyane said he was not aware of the shop’s closure as he lives and works in Pretoria.
“I do not trust anything this man (Badenhorst) says because we have suffered a lot because of him and he lies a lot,” said Matlanyane.
The NCC can be contacted on 012 428 7000 or complaints@thencc.org.za
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