Scammed by fellow cyclist... not bike related though

[Jbr]

Hi everyone, kind of a long story, but a couple of years ago a friend recommended me someone cheap to help me go solar, the guy came and installed, we started with one battery and inverter, then we added panels, then another battery... then long story short, that battery didn't work well with the first one, the guy came back, said he was going to replace it through warranty and we never saw him again. So we kind of got scammed for 26k (the value of the 2nd battery), but in the end we ended up with just the one but we wanted two so we had to get two new ones.

As I didn't want to get scammed AGAIN, I asked a guy I know from cycling, that I have many contacts in common on social media and in real life for a quote on replacement batteries and a solar geyser as our current one is very old and I wanted to replace it before it floods my garage.

He came, looked at everything, sent me a quote a couple days later and a few days later he came to install the batteries. When he was done he said he was on his way to pickup the geyser/heatpump (R32k worth of equipment). He didn't come back that day, nor the next few days. Then over the next couple of months, everytime I asked when he was coming back he would take days to answer, and was saying definitely next week, and then there was always a story, so the one time the guys are taking longer to put the system together (geyser and heatpump ??? why would anyone have to put anything together pre delivery ??), then he had it, then it would be delivered straight from the supplier... It was being clear I was being taken for a ride.

I did some research on the internet and found a couple of other reviews saying they were scammed....(and threatened because his wife is a lawyer).

This convinced me even more that he wasn't just being held up but he was really lying. I immeditately opened a fraud claim with FNB. And told him. He immidiately threatened me of coming after me if it affected his business (not sure what his business is ?). Suddenly he was very responsive !

In the end today FNB said the funds have been utilised so there's nothing they can do (no refund), and that I must pursue it criminaly (we opened a case to back the bank claim, but got no news since).

I'm now asking the hub if anyone has ever dealt with this kind of stories and found a positive outcome, and if yes how ?

At the moment I'm not so keen on shaming him publicly (at least not disclosing his name here or on my social media pages) as I don't want to risk losing more if he decided to go after me for diffamation or watever reason, I did post reviews on his company's pages, where there are other reviews, but this won't bring my money back. Hopefully it just keeps others from falling in the trap.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

As long as you stick to the truth that is not defamation

[DJuice]

@Jbrwas in a similar position a few years back, my wife actually. 

We proceeded to report the case with SAPS, starting looking on the internet and found people in the same position as us.

We all made cases with SAPS, we had a very good detective, willing to drive the process and combine the cases, in excess of 40.

Took 7 days leave and track the individual, gave the details to SAPS and he was arrested and the rest is history. 

Will I do it again, Yes, but be careful, it consumed our lives for 9 months.

[Mook]

I had a run-in with a dude that uses Facebook as his primary platform to advertise his services. I approached him to quote me on a repair/adjustment job. In 2024 he advertises free quotes on Facebook. I request a detailed written quote and only got a telephonic quote. Declined the quote and then was told to R2,8k in order to get my property back.

Smelling a rat I paid the money to get back my vehicle. The day after I paid the 2.8 for a "quote", he updates his Facebook post to remove the "free quote" offer from his Ad. And so started the hunt to get my written quote with lots of excuses. Five months later and no quote or VAT invoice yet. The problem is that he cannot put a telephonic quote of R15k on paper, since the actual repairs cost me only R4,2k at another workshop. He was clearly trying to make a quick "bonus" from an unsuspecting customer.

Like @Jbr I tried the bank route 2 days after paying him, but they would not have any of my story - private matter for a civil claim they argued. Now, this is small money and technically a small claims court issue.

This is were Hello Peter came in. I wrote them a less favorable review, and within 24 hours the threats with legal action started should I fail to remove the review. This guy approached Hello Peter with a claim that I falsely accuses him and that I am hurting his business. Hello Peter did a due diligence check of my facts and claims, after which they concluded that the review has merit and will remain on their site.

As @Prince Albert Cycles mentioned, the truth will always trump BS.

[Jbr]

Thanks for the advice, I've contacted the two other people who posted reviews on him today, I have one police case number and I'm hoping the other person will also give me one.

Will go to saps tomorrow with the new elements as well as the most recent threats he sent me, that are more clear and physical this time, will apply for a restraining order for my family, even though I think he's all bark, I must make sure my family is safe.

I'll probably post on social media end of this week to see if I can gather more case numbers from the local facebook groups as well as making sure everyone that we know in common knows this guy is a thief and thug and never loses 1 rand to this guy.