Unhappy regarding service rendered by Legalwise Pietermaritzburg branch

I booked a holiday tour with a man namely Joe Govender in December 2019 from Phoenix. I was told by him that the amount of R14 000 must be paid by the 24.12.2019 to secure our seats and also he needed to book accommodation and meals with the lodge where our tour was subject to stay. My family then deposited R14 000.00 into his account by the 24.12.2020. Whilst the otheer the other people attending the tour were allowed to pay in installments until we proceeded on tour which was going to be on the 30.40.2020 to 03.05.2020. From January to March we were constantly checking with Mr Govender what was happening with the tour becuase our country went into lockdown for the Covid 19 pandemic. He constantly stared everything was fine. My family decided at the lockdown period that we will not attend the tour at all due to the severity of covid and I have an asthemitc child and our 74 year old mum lives with us. Finally when Kruger National closed we contacted Mr Govender and satiated we wanted our refund as we will not be going. Plus we stressed due to covid we were all experiencing financial constrains. We further stated that should the tours resumes later on in the years to come we will consider embarking on his tours but for now because of the pandemic and financial constraints we are canceling. At this point he asked us to provide him with banking details in order for him to deposit our money. He further asked us to allow him to deposit the money in one account as it will be easier for him. Which we also onliged. Unfortunately Mr Govender reneged on all agreements made. He constantly gave us the run around and never did what he kept telling us as he continued extending the date and never deposited the money. We became worried and started doing our own investigations only to find that the other 80% of the tour did not pay him and he did not even book the accommodation with the lodge at all and so what he had done with our money I don't know. When we called him he constantly ignored our calls and when he told us he will definatly out our money in by the end of May. Still nothing happened at month end I notified Me Govender that on then 4th June I am handing the matter over to leagl for action as he did not adhere to his agreement whereby he still asked for a week more to deposit the money . I contacted Legalwise to hand the matter over as he was not adhering to his word at all. I told them that he had asked for a week more but I needed to lay my complaint in case he does not adhere to the agreement. I was given a reference nos and appointed legal counsel. I was told that my counsel will contact me in 48 hours which did not happen. I contacted her to tell her to fill her in and she suggested we wait for him until to see if he adheres to the agreementt. On the 8.4.2020 Mr Govender only deposited R2000. 00 rand which was one person's money. I immediately contacted my counsel which was very dissapointing as I was told that they had to send him a letter to his address which they did not have and wait 14 days for him to respond afterwhich I would have to go to small claims court with no legal representative and get a judgement then bring it back to the company for them to act. And I won't be appoitned an attorney due to my claim only being R12 000.00 rand and I will have to do all the running around. I then had to suggest to them that they contact Mr Govender and request he pay and then only they liased with him and he told them he didn't have the money which they seemed to accept and all they kept saying is that they had to issue a letter and wait. I even explained my situation to the senior legal counsel becuase my counsel was absent for three days without notifying me. They never called me with feedback unless I called first and they had to come back to me. They asked me to work out a payment plan with him which I refused because of his dishonesty and my huge financial dilemma. I am a widow with two children and am looking after my 74 year old mum who is financially dependant on me. I even explained my personal financial matter to the Senior counsel which made no difference. When Senior counsel spoke to Mr Govender he agreed to pay by the 12th June 2020. No follow up was done by them during the day to make sure he was adhering to what he agreed upon. And I had to call them on Friday afternoon to tell them he didn't adhere to the agreement and the counsel said they will call him which didn't happen. On Monday morning at 8am my counsel calls me as she was back at work now telling me that she tried to contact the gentleman's assistant and she is not answering. I then asked her if her senior counsel had briefed her because there were things out in place while she was away she said everthing was on file so no need for briefing and she started the whole story about the 14 day letter. I then asked her if no one was going to deal with the fact that Mr Govender did not adhere to agreement he made with the attorney. Then I called the senior counsel to express my dissatisfaction with the matter who then said she will call Mr Govender and ask him what happened. Then she will fall me back. This call was made at 8.30 am. At 2.00 pm I had to call the senor counsel back as no one got back to me only to be told that she hadn't even called yet as she was busy she was going to call him and revert back. At 2.40pm she called back to say that now Mr Govender is stating that he will only have money by end June 2020 and he then gave her his address and the call was ended. Now she suggested that she send the letter and I have to wait further for his response and maybe I must go to small claims court. So from where I am sitting my case only got attention when I called legalwise to enquire and the it seems like whatever Mr Govender said was accepted to the degree that he didn't feel he was pressured to pay and so he continued with his behavior of doing what he had done with me. Why did I have legal counsel if Firstly I am doing all the work and if I was getting the same outcome as I was getting when I was dealing with the mater myself. Legalwise motto is that we hand our matter over to them and we have legal piece of mind they envisage to resolve my matter which didn't happen. All I feel right now is that I am the victim and Mr Govender after comiting an act that tantamunts to ***** is just left to his own devices. Why must I go get judgements ect when I have been paying legaliswse to assist me when I have legal dilemmas. I would really like this whole latter looked at with the respect and integrity it needs to and I have been waiting for my money for months now. The question needs to be asked what did he do with our money and if there is misappropriation of funds being done what can he done to this individual. Must I just be another victim to someone misusing my money and he is still given time and respect he does not deserve while my family and I suffer at present. I don't even have money right now to buy food and I have expressed this to my counsel who seems to be alllwoing this man more time time which I. Don't have. My I'd Nos is *** to check this case with the Pietermaritzburg Branch. Your assistance will be highly appreciated. I am respectfully begging for your urgent assistance to rectify this matter. Thank you Mrs Naidoo