*****ulent company - *****s money and dissapears

Ntshebe Construction, owned by Joseph gave me a quote for R50000, for the borehole drilling and the complete tank and home set-up, which includes the borehole filter (1.1kw), the 3 stage water filter (Big Blue), the UV light for the tank, the tank base (to be constructed) and also committed to fixing the damages caused by the Borehole Drilling truck. The 100m borehole was drilled last week Friday, 3 January 2025. An additional amount R16000 was requested due to not finding rock, so PVC piping was installed by the drilling company, R150 per metre = R15000 + R1000, for transport. The yard was left in a mess and Joseph advised that they will be back on Saturday to start the next steps of constructing the tank base, fixing the damages and connecting the pipes, etc

That was the last I saw of Joseph. Here's a the whatsapp chat on Monday after he avoided my calls and only called because he wanted more money:

Monday: 20:21 Attached is the payments made to you. Usually a 50% deposit is requested and the balance paid after you complete the job. This is how it works in every business transaction, to ensure both parties deliver on the contract. However, you requested a R20000 immediate payment to pay for the drilling, although I already paid another R20000 an hour before that into your bank account. I also paid you R2000, the previous day so that's the R42000 in payments, which makes this 84% paid, with only the drilling done. You then ignored my calls from Saturday and supposed to get back to me yesterday. But nothing happened. Called you again today and you needed more money. However, since Friday, you dissapeared and didn't even have the decency to come and clean up the mess that was made after the drilling. Today we spoke and you indicated that a further R3000 is needed for the base. I agreed as I want a bigger base portion to be built, so that's fine. You will get the full amount of money after you complete the job. This is a business transaction, there are no friends here so trust is not how we get the job done, and thus far you have not delivered on anything more than get a contractor to drill the borehole and add PVC piping to keep it from closing. It's up to you how you go forward as I will only pay the balance of the money when the job is done, as it is expected in every business transaction.

Tuesday: 10:37, after he declined my calls and ignored my message to check if he was coming to complete the job:

You are forcing me to add some of the info shared here on FB, as your non response to reasonable expectations is very concerning.

Thus far your company has made at least R50 pm with the piping, as everybody else charges R100 pm, you charged me R150, so that equates to R5000. You also made at least R10***0 profit from the drilling so please complete the the contracted work. I have about 6 quotes here that shows normal pricing of the work to be done and the work done...

Joseph responded yesterday at 13:36: We need half of the amount

My response at 13:49: For what, you haven't done anything as yet, apart for the drilling of which the contractor was paid? You came to me as an established business so don't tarnish this business by being unprofessional and chase money, becos reputation is something you cannot recover...Complete the job and deliver on your contractual invoice and you will get paid, not like this...holding out for money as it seems like you cannot afford to buy the items to complete the job and pay your people.

Joseph's message at 14:53: So you forcing me to work for nothing

My response at 15:05 This is a business transaction...not too sure about working for nothing as you have been paid and will get paid on completion of the work you contracted to

Followed up again at 16:50: What's the plan?

Joseph's response at 16:53 I will call when I get home right now I don’t have any idea

My response at 17:03 No need to call...just get the work started in the morning. This has been delayed for no reason and I need this finished ASAP. You will get paid when it's done. So make sure you and your guys start work tomorrow at 8:00 so we don't continue with this senseless conversation. If this does not happen then I will publish this on HelloPeter as I have tolerated this for far too long.

I sent this message to Joseph at 9:15 today as he has ignored my calls, again and has not shown up:

Still not here...will be publishing all conversations on HelloPeter to add to the 2 complaints already there for your business

Furthermore, his Facebook page has dissapeared from this morning...*****sters swindling hard working people's money