Warning! Do not use Francois du Plessis Kitchen & BIC

During 2022 we were shopping to upgrade our kitchen and were contacted by Francois du Plessis of Francois du Plessis kitchen and BIC who came to our house to provide a quote after submitting a request online via bark.com. Francois came to our house in late November 2022 to take measurements and find out our requirements. Francois had some challenges drawing up the plans on his laptop and eventually we received drawings and a quote number 099. Over the next two months, Francois and his wife Vanessa sent photo’s of work they had done and were busy with, which convinced us they could do the job. They would also regularly follow up and would communicate deadlines to start the work, based on time frames from their suppliers. The quotation was for removal and replacement of the old kitchen cupboards and tiles, as well as removal and replacement of the windows in the kitchen, and totaled R67 000 with a deposit of R47000 required, and the balance of R20 000 to be paid on completion. Francois confirmed a 21 day lead time for the kitchen installation. On 31 January, we decided to proceed with the kitchen and paid the deposit of R47 000 into their FNB account as indicated on the quotation. On 1 February, Francois sent a WhatsApp to confirm the order and on February 6 we received a WhatsApp voice note update that the doors and panels will be ready on 22 February, and that he would start on Monday 20 February to strip the kitchen and install the new windows. They would then start installing the kitchen cupboards on Wednesday 22 February, and aim to complete the kitchen installation on the weekend of the 25th February, but should there be any complications by the latest, Tuesday 28th the installation should be complete. There was no further communication from Francois, we were expecting him to start on the 20th February, and on the 27th February I requested an update, as I was concerned about our kitchen installation and cupboards installation. Francois called me and explained that he was finishing up another job and would start on the 1st March, He stated that he was still having challenges with his phone, and I responded that as a business, he should make sure he is able to communicate with his customers, especially when there are changes to arrangements. Francois did not arrive to start the work as he had arranged, and I followed up again on the 6th March On the 7th March Francois indicated that there were delays and that he would start on the 8th of March. Francois did not arrive on Wednesday 8th March and by 8pm that evening, I had not heard from him. I then sent a WhatsApp message cancelling the sale for the kitchen installation and requested that the deposit be refunded by the latest Friday 10 March 2023 at 3pm to Vanessa and Francois. I tried calling Francois, but the calls went unanswered, and there was no response to my WhatsApp messages from Francois or Vanessa. I am concerned that we have been defrauded and that Francois and Vanessa knowingly took the deposit payment from us with no intention of installing the new kitchen and cupboards as they had quoted. They are also not responding to my cancellation and refund request. I want them to refund the deposit, as they have not installed the kitchen and are not responding to our communications.