Crescent logistics: Refund

I got a contract to do some work at the mine to transport coal. That needed a 34-ton tipper truck which I didn't have. I went online to search for the company that is hiring out that type of truck. I found Crescent logistics company. I sent a request for quote through their online communication. A man by the name Kelvin responded. We started communicating via emails and telephone. He asked me to send an email, which I did on the 14 August 2018 formally requesting for a quote. He gave me a quote for R85 000 excluding vat. The price was too high, I asked if it can go down a little, he dropped it R90 000 including vat.

On the 15 August, he sent an email asking if I’m taking the truck at that price, I said yes but I don't have money, I asked if we could sign up a contract that I will pay later. He refused by saying the company policy doesn't allow that. He then said he took the matter to the board, they asked for 50% deposit which is R45 000 upfront before the release of the truck. I thought about it and I arranged a meeting with him. We met at their office on the 27 August and I told him that I will go to the bank to make a loan to get one truck. He sent me a contract to sign on the 28 August, I signed and I sent it back with a proof payment. I paid R20 000 on the very same day, I paid R25 000 on the 29 August to make the required R45 000.

After the second payment on the 29th August, I requested for the truck and truck documents, he emailed the documents and promised release the truck on the 30 August. I called on 30th needed the truck, he said he’s processing the request and he will come back to me. Time went by, nothing from him. I called, he didn’t answer nor responding to my sms’s. I started to panic. I sent emails and there was no response. He came back to me late afternoon to say he was in a meeting with his boss and the boss saw my emails and wanted to find out what was going on, he told him. His boss by the name Nyasha Matondo called me explained the cause of delay for the truck release. There were internal issues that they needed to discuss with their sales manager Kelvin, the one was dealing with me. Issue was that, Kelvin asked me to pay 50% and Nyasha the boss wanted 100% payment.

After waiting in vain I went to their office on Friday the 31st August, I met Nyasha Matondo and the CEO, we discussed and reached an agreement that Kelvin will deliver the truck by Monday the 3 September. I needed assurance from Kelvin, I asked him to make sure everything that is needed to be done in that truck is done by Saturday, seemingly there was something needed to be installed. He agreed, came Saturday, truck was not ready, Kelvin came to see me on that Saturday evening to tell explain why was the truck not ready to work on Monday. I requested for my money back. He went to back to the office to meet his boss to discuss my refund. On the 3rd September I sent emails requesting for the refund no one responded until the 4th.

After a long wait Mr Nyasha Matondo set me in a teleconference to discuss way-forward and they promised to release the truck. Truck was released in the 4 August without the documents, I sent an email to Nyasha and copied Kelvin requesting truck and drivers’ documents, I never received them. Truck was supposed to go for induction in the morning of the 5th, It never went because it didn’t have a trailer. It took almost the whole day to get a trailer on the 5th September.

On the 6th September 2018 truck had to start working but the documents were still not issues. In order to get the truck to work we need valid documents to submitted. Truck did one load on the 6th. I couldn’t do more because documents were not there. On Saturday the 7th Nyasha recalled the truck. I met the following Monday (9 September) and I asked for the refund. I tried so much to get them do the right thing but they failed. Nyasha said it will take 7 days for my money to be refunded. He asked me to write an email requesting the refund, I wrote the email on the 14 September. I never got any response, I called Nyasha to find out if he did receive the email, he confirmed the receipt. I then asked him to respond by also sending an email, which he did not. I waited for 7 days and no money was deposited back into my account. I called Nyasha to find out, he referred me to his PA. He instructed his PA to respond to my email about the refund.

After waiting for 7 days, Nyasha send an sms to say money will be refunded in 21 days, while I was waiting, they sent an email saying the refund will be after 25 days. He moved from 7 days to 21 days and from 21 days to 25 days. 25 days was due on the 19 October. Nyasha asked me to wait again for the 23rd September which I did, still there was no money. I sent emails, nhe didn't respond. I sent sms’s to his phone and he (Nyasha) ultimately responded, he said they are waiting for their creditors to make payments in order to pay me back. We argued about that because there was no guarantee of my refund and he won’t show me the company creditors statement. Until to date I haven’t got my money back, it’s one story after the other. He makes promises and never fulfill those promises.

Thursday the 25 October, I went to their office to get my money as he was no longer responding to my emails and my sms. I didn’t get the money and he transferred only R5000 to my account saying is from his personal account. The outstanding balance is now R40 000. He didn’t tell me when I will get the outstanding balance. He is now blocked my number from his phone. Doesn't answer my calls if i called on landline.

I lost the contract I had to do the work at the mine due to truck release delays. I borrowed money from the bank to pay for the truck deposit and I’m now paying the bank monthly instalments with interest for the money that is kept by crescent logistics company.

Will you kindly help get my money back. I need to pay back the bank loan.

Yours sincerely

Lumka Cishe ********** 340