NIGHTMARE CONTRACTOR, JACQUE VAN NIEKERK !!

Jacque van Niekerk is the owner operator, with his 'partner' / son-in-law Rudi Pretorius. We appointed Jacque to do a renovation at our home - fairly simple, we thought: bedroom, bathroom en-suite and guest loo revamp (minimal building, mostly finishing like tiling etc), and enclose our outdoor patio to create a sunroom. He quoted me via WhatsApp (first warning bell should have rung), and insisted on a R50k deposit to commence work. He was a 'friend of a friend' so we went ahead. Long story short, R250k later, too many broken promises, lies and manipulations - he deserted us and left us to finish the job ourselves! Some pertinent points: 1. He could never issue us with an invoice for any amounts paid (always 'tomorrow', which never came); 2. He was unable to furnish us with a scope of work/ bill of accounts (apparently not something he understood), nor a project plan! 3. He was unable to provide recons or a bill of accounts at any point - I did receive a handwritten note on a s**** of paper of things he had procured against our R50k deposit, but it was all made up BS as we later discovered he hadn't procured any goods indicated against the value and had instead pocketed the money! 4. Relevant to above, we adjusted our terms of engagement and agreed that we would pay suppliers directly, and pay him a fee for his 'supervision'. For this he received R1500 per day and would arrive at 9, smoke 5 cigarettes, joke around with his guys, make promises he never delivered on, and leave at 11! 5. After above, he would make purchases using cash supp****, on the agreement that he would provide slips for goods purchased - and never did (another 'tomorrow' scenario). 6. He verbally abused me several times, yelling at me and telling me to F-off when I asked too many intrusive questions... (he would sheepishly arrive the next morning, but never apologise). Reading above, I am ashamed and embarrassed - how could we not see what an immoral scheister we were dealing with? My only excuse was that I was beholden to the friend who referred him, hoping against hope that it would all get better and holding out to just 'get the job done'. Woe is me! PLEASE people, beware! This man is still out there, doing this to other unsuspecting people (lest I say, 'fools' like us). We have subsequently been told that we are not the first clients he has done this to, and so we know that we will not be the last. STAY AWAY.