DISAPPEARED WITH OUR MONEY

STOLE OUR MONEY. Do NOT do business with Wattie Pergolas & Awnings. This has been the single worst contractor experience I have ever had, and I am posting this so no one else goes through what we did. We paid R37,516.50 in July 2025 for a pergola installation. Months later, the structure is still incomplete, unsafe, and essentially worthless. Only a few aluminium items (worth around R4,000) were delivered, and the installers who arrived were on site for about three hours with the wrong materials. Part of the structure was even mounted onto our home’s gutter — a completely unsafe and unacceptable practice. What followed was week after week of broken promises, excuses, and cancelled installation dates. Communication constantly stopped unless we chased. After repeated failures, the owner agreed to refund us. He then proposed his own 3-part repayment plan…and still did not pay a cent. He has ignored the formal Letter of Demand we issued, along with the 7-day deadline we gave him. To this day, we have received no refund, no progress, and no accountability. We have documented everything — photos, messages, and written agreements — and will be proceeding with the Ombud, the NCC, and Small Claims Court. This business has shown a complete lack of professionalism, reliability, and honesty. I would strongly warn anyone: do not trust this company with your money or your home.