Shalene Schreuder Attorneys
1|7 reviews
CK
Carisa K
1 reviews | Active since Member
01 Apr 2025, 06:51
Shalene Schreuder Attorneys
<div>I have experienced extremely unprofessional and inconsiderate behavior from this law firm. I signed a lease agreement and paid the full deposit and rent upfront for a property under their management, only for them to inform me, on the evening of Thursday, that my application was no longer approved—just one day before I was due to move in. This left me with only two days to find alternative accommodation for myself and my minor children, a highly stressful situation that was entirely avoidable. Further compounding the issue, my full payment was not refunded to me in a timely manner. Despite my urgent need for the funds to secure new accommodation, I was still waiting for a refund on Monday morning the last of the month, with no communication from their offices. Why was my money not refunded on Thursday, after they had informed me that the lease was no longer valid? Why accept payment in the first place if they had no intention of honoring the lease agreement? Their staff has been unhelpful, and to date, the attorney involved has made no effort to address this situation, despite my repeated calls and emails. After a considerable delay, I was only refunded half of my money, which has left me in an even more difficult position. I explained to their office that the full refund was necessary to secure new accommodation, but this has clearly not been a priority for this firm.I am deeply disappointed by the lack of care shown towards my situation, especially when it concerns the well-being of my children and my ability to provide stable housing. I would not recommend doing business with this firm under any circumstances, as it is clear that they do not regard the importance of a roof over their clients' heads. It is Tuesday morning the beginning of a new month, I have had to had to hand over keys to the previous property and still no full refund or contact from this firm or communication, I strongly do not recommend doing business with this firm</div>
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Replies (116)Shalene Schreuder Attorneys's replyOfficial
15 Apr 2025, 12:03Dear Carisa K,
We thank you for your review of our firm and are sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced. I was asked to investigate your complaint. My findings are as follows:
1. You recently applied to rent a property that is managed by our firm.
2. After submission of your rental application, and while your application was still being reviewed, you elected to pay the full deposit for the property into our bank account. At that stage, we had not finalised our review of your application and had not provided you with confirmation on whether your application was successful or not. We furthermore did not request that you pay the deposit at that stage, as your application was still pending financial review and reference checks.
3. Following our review of your rental application, you were not approved and our office proceeded to inform you that your application was unsuccessful on Thursday 27/3/2025.
4. Our office issued a refund of 50% on the following day, being Friday 28/3/2025, as due to the religious holidays some of our staff was on leave and only 50% of the amount could be processed.
5. Monday 31/3/2025 was Eid and the staff responsible for payments were on leave.
6. The balance of your deposit, i.e., the remaining 50% was refunded to your on Tuesday 1/4/2025.
7. It is a well-known fact that payments between banks may take between 24 and 36 hours to reflect in the recipient's bank account. A mere day had passed since the second payment to you and your complaint on Hellopeter.com. We ask that you please exercise patience in future.
I trust this explanation suffices. You are most welcome to contact me, Christelle, at litigation@ssatt.co.za should you have any further queries related hereto. Wishing you the best going forward.
Regards,
Christelle
SHALENE SCHREUDER ATTORNEYS
We thank you for your review of our firm and are sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced. I was asked to investigate your complaint. My findings are as follows:
1. You recently applied to rent a property that is managed by our firm.
2. After submission of your rental application, and while your application was still being reviewed, you elected to pay the full deposit for the property into our bank account. At that stage, we had not finalised our review of your application and had not provided you with confirmation on whether your application was successful or not. We furthermore did not request that you pay the deposit at that stage, as your application was still pending financial review and reference checks.
3. Following our review of your rental application, you were not approved and our office proceeded to inform you that your application was unsuccessful on Thursday 27/3/2025.
4. Our office issued a refund of 50% on the following day, being Friday 28/3/2025, as due to the religious holidays some of our staff was on leave and only 50% of the amount could be processed.
5. Monday 31/3/2025 was Eid and the staff responsible for payments were on leave.
6. The balance of your deposit, i.e., the remaining 50% was refunded to your on Tuesday 1/4/2025.
7. It is a well-known fact that payments between banks may take between 24 and 36 hours to reflect in the recipient's bank account. A mere day had passed since the second payment to you and your complaint on Hellopeter.com. We ask that you please exercise patience in future.
I trust this explanation suffices. You are most welcome to contact me, Christelle, at litigation@ssatt.co.za should you have any further queries related hereto. Wishing you the best going forward.
Regards,
Christelle
SHALENE SCHREUDER ATTORNEYS
Best regards,
Shalene Schreuder Attorneys's reply15 Apr 2025, 12:03
Official
Dear Carisa K,
We thank you for your review of our firm and are sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced. I was asked to investigate your complaint. My findings are as follows:
1. You recently applied to rent a property that is managed by our firm.
2. After submission of your rental application, and while your application was still being reviewed, you elected to pay the full deposit for the property into our bank account. At that stage, we had not finalised our review of your application and had not provided you with confirmation on whether your application was successful or not. We furthermore did not request that you pay the deposit at that stage, as your application was still pending financial review and reference checks.
3. Following our review of your rental application, you were not approved and our office proceeded to inform you that your application was unsuccessful on Thursday 27/3/2025.
4. Our office issued a refund of 50% on the following day, being Friday 28/3/2025, as due to the religious holidays some of our staff was on leave and only 50% of the amount could be processed.
5. Monday 31/3/2025 was Eid and the staff responsible for payments were on leave.
6. The balance of your deposit, i.e., the remaining 50% was refunded to your on Tuesday 1/4/2025.
7. It is a well-known fact that payments between banks may take between 24 and 36 hours to reflect in the recipient's bank account. A mere day had passed since the second payment to you and your complaint on Hellopeter.com. We ask that you please exercise patience in future.
I trust this explanation suffices. You are most welcome to contact me, Christelle, at litigation@ssatt.co.za should you have any further queries related hereto. Wishing you the best going forward.
Regards,
Christelle
SHALENE SCHREUDER ATTORNEYS
We thank you for your review of our firm and are sorry to hear of the difficulties you have experienced. I was asked to investigate your complaint. My findings are as follows:
1. You recently applied to rent a property that is managed by our firm.
2. After submission of your rental application, and while your application was still being reviewed, you elected to pay the full deposit for the property into our bank account. At that stage, we had not finalised our review of your application and had not provided you with confirmation on whether your application was successful or not. We furthermore did not request that you pay the deposit at that stage, as your application was still pending financial review and reference checks.
3. Following our review of your rental application, you were not approved and our office proceeded to inform you that your application was unsuccessful on Thursday 27/3/2025.
4. Our office issued a refund of 50% on the following day, being Friday 28/3/2025, as due to the religious holidays some of our staff was on leave and only 50% of the amount could be processed.
5. Monday 31/3/2025 was Eid and the staff responsible for payments were on leave.
6. The balance of your deposit, i.e., the remaining 50% was refunded to your on Tuesday 1/4/2025.
7. It is a well-known fact that payments between banks may take between 24 and 36 hours to reflect in the recipient's bank account. A mere day had passed since the second payment to you and your complaint on Hellopeter.com. We ask that you please exercise patience in future.
I trust this explanation suffices. You are most welcome to contact me, Christelle, at litigation@ssatt.co.za should you have any further queries related hereto. Wishing you the best going forward.
Regards,
Christelle
SHALENE SCHREUDER ATTORNEYS
Best regards,
CK
Carisa K's updateReviewer Update
15 Apr 2025, 13:40Dear Christelle,
Firstly, I must state that your findings and investigations appear to be incorrect. On 14 March 2025 at 14:11, your appointed agent informed me that my application had been approved. Subsequently, on Sunday, 16 March 2025, the same agent presented me with a lease agreement, which included all of my personal details and was typed and prepared by your offices. I signed this agreement with the understanding—based on clear communication from your agent—that my application had been approved and that the lease process was proceeding accordingly. In line with standard procedure, I paid the full deposit into the banking details provided by your agent after signing the agreement. I was then asked to sign a mandate to invest the deposit, which further confirmed to me that the lease had been finalized. If my application was still under review, it is completely inappropriate and misleading to have requested signed legal documents and financial commitments from me at that stage. Your agent also informed me that in order to receive the keys to the property on Friday, 28 March 2025, I would need to pay the first month’s rent, which I did promptly. However, on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, I was suddenly informed that the application was still under review and that a final decision would only be made the following morning. No feedback was provided on Friday morning. Instead, I was only contacted at 17:00 and told that a decision would now be made on Monday, 31 March 2025. Once again, there was no response on the Monday. I had to follow up myself to request a refund of the amounts paid. At that point, I was told that no payment had been made, and your office could not provide any proof of payment or a timeline for when the refund would be processed. It was only after I advised that I would be lodging a formal complaint with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) by 15:00 that day if my funds were not returned, that 50% of the refund was suddenly processed at 14:55. This raises concerns. The staff responsible were on leave—yet a payment was suddenly made,and without any explanation as to why only half the refund was processed.
Requesting that I "exercise patience" after I comp**** fully with every step of your leasing process—while I am trying to secure stable housing for my children—is both unreasonable and insensitive. The unprofessional and inconsistent conduct demonstrated by your office caused significant stress, financial strain, and emotional distress.
Firstly, I must state that your findings and investigations appear to be incorrect. On 14 March 2025 at 14:11, your appointed agent informed me that my application had been approved. Subsequently, on Sunday, 16 March 2025, the same agent presented me with a lease agreement, which included all of my personal details and was typed and prepared by your offices. I signed this agreement with the understanding—based on clear communication from your agent—that my application had been approved and that the lease process was proceeding accordingly. In line with standard procedure, I paid the full deposit into the banking details provided by your agent after signing the agreement. I was then asked to sign a mandate to invest the deposit, which further confirmed to me that the lease had been finalized. If my application was still under review, it is completely inappropriate and misleading to have requested signed legal documents and financial commitments from me at that stage. Your agent also informed me that in order to receive the keys to the property on Friday, 28 March 2025, I would need to pay the first month’s rent, which I did promptly. However, on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, I was suddenly informed that the application was still under review and that a final decision would only be made the following morning. No feedback was provided on Friday morning. Instead, I was only contacted at 17:00 and told that a decision would now be made on Monday, 31 March 2025. Once again, there was no response on the Monday. I had to follow up myself to request a refund of the amounts paid. At that point, I was told that no payment had been made, and your office could not provide any proof of payment or a timeline for when the refund would be processed. It was only after I advised that I would be lodging a formal complaint with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) by 15:00 that day if my funds were not returned, that 50% of the refund was suddenly processed at 14:55. This raises concerns. The staff responsible were on leave—yet a payment was suddenly made,and without any explanation as to why only half the refund was processed.
Requesting that I "exercise patience" after I comp**** fully with every step of your leasing process—while I am trying to secure stable housing for my children—is both unreasonable and insensitive. The unprofessional and inconsistent conduct demonstrated by your office caused significant stress, financial strain, and emotional distress.
CK
Carisa K's update15 Apr 2025, 13:40
Reviewer Update
Dear Christelle,
Firstly, I must state that your findings and investigations appear to be incorrect. On 14 March 2025 at 14:11, your appointed agent informed me that my application had been approved. Subsequently, on Sunday, 16 March 2025, the same agent presented me with a lease agreement, which included all of my personal details and was typed and prepared by your offices. I signed this agreement with the understanding—based on clear communication from your agent—that my application had been approved and that the lease process was proceeding accordingly. In line with standard procedure, I paid the full deposit into the banking details provided by your agent after signing the agreement. I was then asked to sign a mandate to invest the deposit, which further confirmed to me that the lease had been finalized. If my application was still under review, it is completely inappropriate and misleading to have requested signed legal documents and financial commitments from me at that stage. Your agent also informed me that in order to receive the keys to the property on Friday, 28 March 2025, I would need to pay the first month’s rent, which I did promptly. However, on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, I was suddenly informed that the application was still under review and that a final decision would only be made the following morning. No feedback was provided on Friday morning. Instead, I was only contacted at 17:00 and told that a decision would now be made on Monday, 31 March 2025. Once again, there was no response on the Monday. I had to follow up myself to request a refund of the amounts paid. At that point, I was told that no payment had been made, and your office could not provide any proof of payment or a timeline for when the refund would be processed. It was only after I advised that I would be lodging a formal complaint with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) by 15:00 that day if my funds were not returned, that 50% of the refund was suddenly processed at 14:55. This raises concerns. The staff responsible were on leave—yet a payment was suddenly made,and without any explanation as to why only half the refund was processed.
Requesting that I "exercise patience" after I comp**** fully with every step of your leasing process—while I am trying to secure stable housing for my children—is both unreasonable and insensitive. The unprofessional and inconsistent conduct demonstrated by your office caused significant stress, financial strain, and emotional distress.
Firstly, I must state that your findings and investigations appear to be incorrect. On 14 March 2025 at 14:11, your appointed agent informed me that my application had been approved. Subsequently, on Sunday, 16 March 2025, the same agent presented me with a lease agreement, which included all of my personal details and was typed and prepared by your offices. I signed this agreement with the understanding—based on clear communication from your agent—that my application had been approved and that the lease process was proceeding accordingly. In line with standard procedure, I paid the full deposit into the banking details provided by your agent after signing the agreement. I was then asked to sign a mandate to invest the deposit, which further confirmed to me that the lease had been finalized. If my application was still under review, it is completely inappropriate and misleading to have requested signed legal documents and financial commitments from me at that stage. Your agent also informed me that in order to receive the keys to the property on Friday, 28 March 2025, I would need to pay the first month’s rent, which I did promptly. However, on the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, I was suddenly informed that the application was still under review and that a final decision would only be made the following morning. No feedback was provided on Friday morning. Instead, I was only contacted at 17:00 and told that a decision would now be made on Monday, 31 March 2025. Once again, there was no response on the Monday. I had to follow up myself to request a refund of the amounts paid. At that point, I was told that no payment had been made, and your office could not provide any proof of payment or a timeline for when the refund would be processed. It was only after I advised that I would be lodging a formal complaint with the Legal Practice Council (LPC) by 15:00 that day if my funds were not returned, that 50% of the refund was suddenly processed at 14:55. This raises concerns. The staff responsible were on leave—yet a payment was suddenly made,and without any explanation as to why only half the refund was processed.
Requesting that I "exercise patience" after I comp**** fully with every step of your leasing process—while I am trying to secure stable housing for my children—is both unreasonable and insensitive. The unprofessional and inconsistent conduct demonstrated by your office caused significant stress, financial strain, and emotional distress.