Good Relationship Soured...no honest communication, or integrity here!

I started out being very impressed and intrigued by this company's crowd-funding investment model, where you can invest smaller amounts into house-flips or multi-let redevelopments. I had met the co-founder's wife and, intrigued, followed the company on Linked-In for a long time before actually investing in a multi-let development in late 2022. The project was expected to have approximately a 6 month turnaround time, which was actually shorter than I hoped but promised a good rate of return. To begin with email communications were regular, monthly, updates on the progress of the project and the expected payouts. The project timeline was extended for various reasons that were adequately communicated, which was acceptable, and would mean a higher return anyway. The monthly emails were then converted to an online portal system that investors could access any time. The actual project updates were initially still monthly or thereabouts.

When there was another glitch in the project planning, I was phoned by the co-owner to discuss whether I wanted to extend the investment time or pull my money out with a forfeit of some of the the interest. Still acceptable communication...and I opted to continue investments. But somehow, through 2023, the communications became less and less frequent, emails went without responses for weeks or months, and I started to worry.

By early 2024, when several follow up emails had gone unanswered for months, I eventually got a response in January, requesting that I be patient for a full update at the end of the month. The end of January came and went and I still got no responses. I couldn't reach the founder via telephone, email, whatsapp, or their website. I noted that all the company's social media posts had ceased around 6 months prior, on once very active pages. I then panicked as there was actually no proof that the business hadn't folded and the owner emigrated with everyone's money. I started trying to contact anyone I could find with any affiliation to the company. I eventually got hold of a project manager, who had no idea about the investments side but assured me the company was still running at least.

Eventually, in April, I received a mail from the co-founder, explaining the issues with the project and the financial difficulties surrounding it. The proposed offer was then a reduced rate of return, and repayments over a 1 year period, starting on 1 May. Despite the disappointment at being patient for more than 2 and a half years (after expecting it to be 6 months), I just want this behind me, so I agreed to the revised payment terms.

HOWEVER, 1 May came and went with no payment, and now I cannot get any response out of them again.

I honestly have no idea whether there is a **** going on or there are just insurmountable financial issues affecting investments...because there is NO Communication! What was once a really good business relationship, has just deteriorated due to not meeting financial commitments (frustrating and disappointing), but mostly not communicating anymore, especially when things are clearly wrong (this is most infuriating and has depleted all trust).

I would not recommend investing here, and if you already have, take whatever opportunity you can to get your money back!