Borehole installation - Terrible, ****s, *********.

Waterwell Drilling Solutions is, according to their website (https://waterwelldrilling.co.za), one of South Africa’s leading borehole drilling company with an excellent reputation for offering reliable and trouble-free water supplies. This was, however, not my experience. Firstly, the company does not do any work themselves, everything is outsourced. Drilling was done by Richmond Drilling. The drilling was plagued with gross negligence, equipment that looks like it will fall apart, and easily avoidable damaged caused to property. Do not be swayed by a quote beating competitors, you can expect to pay a lot more, and budget for repairs to property. The lead contact, Sam ***), is a **** and ********* around every corner and an expert who plays and leverages the emotions of a consumer. The drilling and pump installation was scheduled for the same day. I enquired prior to the installation how long the entire process will take, i.e., drilling and pump installation. Sam stated 2 hours. This seemed unrealistic, so I provisioned 5 hours. I was forced to make payment in full, i.e., drilling + pump supply and installation, before drilling commenced. This was on 1 November 2024. I made payment. The drilling machine could not reach the point of drilling, as identified by a 3rd party Hy****ogist, even though Sam said they would be able to. The drillers very conveniently identified a spot on the driveway to drill. I stated from the onset that the site will then have to be cleaned up after drilling seeing as the driveway needs to be used by my wife later on the same day. This was not done, leaving me to deal with the excavated soil. After drilling, I was told to have pvc casing also installed in the hole. This was not on the initial quote, costing me an additional R8400 at R140 per meter for 10x 6m lengths. With the installation, no additional consumables were used, only a few holes drilled here and there. These casings currently retail for R180 excl. VAT for a 6m length, or R1800 in total for 10x 6m lengths. I wish I could upload photos of how the subcontractor connected his tools to the plug point…raw wiring, i.e., exposed live and neutral wires, inserted in the plug point with no plug and no protective equipment. After the PVC casing was lowered, the subcontractor disappeared, stating that the next team will do the cleanup. I contacted Sam on many occasions, with him only stating the pump installation team is coming. The day passed and no one arrived. Sam then arranged with me for the pump installation the following day, again, no one arrived. After this I requested a refund of the pump supply and installation seeing as this was not supp**** or installed, and there was a complete breakdown in trust, not to mention the gross negligence of the driller and the damage caused to the property. Sam convinced me to give them one more chance to complete the job, I agreed, and it was scheduled for the following Friday, 8 November 2024. I made it very clear that this was their last chance otherwise I will seek alternatives for the supply and installation of the pump, and that a refund will be due if they fail to show up. Sam agreed. No one showed up on the Friday. Sam stated the installer was delayed due to an problem with the pump. The installer called me later on the Friday informing me that he was at the pump shop the entire day but cannot get the goods as Sam has not paid the shop for the equipment. On Monday 11 November 2024 I sent Waterwell Drilling Solutions a letter of demand addressed to the details provided on the invoices, i.e., 266 DE Boulevard, Silverton, Pretoria. No refund was made, even though promises were made. Subsequently, a summons was obtained. The sheriff of the court could not deliver the summons (non-service of summons) as, according to the trustee (Ms Maria Maphosa) of the property, i.e., a block of flats, Sam and Waterwell Drilling Solutions is unknown at the given address. I have on numerous occasions requested Sam to send me the legal address and name of the company. He refuses to do so, only making more promises that payment will come, and why can I not just wait. It is now five months later and not a cent has been refunded. I am now seeking alternative measures to obtain the necessary information to get Sam and Waterwell Drilling Solutions in court so that justice can service its course. Waterwell Drilling Solutions is also not registered with the Borehole Water Association of South Africa. I word of advice, do not use Waterwell Drilling Solutions.