Decline to refund

Hello everyone,

I had the worst experience with a company by the name of Storage Genie. On the 19/07/2017, I made an EFT payment for an amount of R1800 (R850 deposit, R850 rental for August & R150 admin fees). Few days later, A friend offered me to use its garage instead of paying storage. I went back to Storage Genie Cresta branch and explain. I was told to contact the head office and get a refund. I then phoned the head office and spoke to a lady by the name of Siemone Smit who gave me her email address. On the 26/07/2017, an email was sent to her with my banking details for the refund. On the 01/08/2017, I called the head office as I had not received any feedback. On the same day, Siemone forwarded my email to her colleague, Marlize Hattingh to attend to the refund. On the 10/08/2017, I sent another email to remind them that I am still waiting for my refund. Because I was not getting any response to my emails, I managed to locate the details of the owner of Storage Genie, Mr Dylan Wolpe and an email was sent to him on the 21/08/2017 to complain about the poor service I have received. On the same day, Mr. Wolpe responded that he will investigate and come back to me. On the 22/08/2017, Marlize finally sent an email to management and copied me requesting them to look into the refund. That has been one month after I had asked for refund. On the 04/09/2017, I sent another email to Marlize and Mr. Wolpe as I had not heard from anyone at Storage Genie. On the 08/09/2017, I sent another email but this time to Mr Wolpe complaining of the poor service. On the 10/08/2017, I received a response from Mr Wolpe stating that no money would be refunded to me because by paying the space, I booked it and they could not rent it out to someone else. Firstly, someone could have told my that when I call them few days after the payment was done on the 19/07/2017. Someone could have told me that when I email them the proof of payment and my banking details on the 26/07/2017. Secondly, it took them almost two months to tell me I will not get a refund. Thirdly, I could have understood if Storage Genie had kept the admin fee but what they did, is simply theft. I have already told 5 friends who were looking to rent a space at Storage Genie to go elsewhere and to look for company who has principles, ethics and are professionals. Storage Genie are ****** and dishonest people. A honest company who cares about its customers would have met me halfway.