Gert Olivier is not to be confused with Gerhard Lottering any longer, Olivier told the Record on Monday 24 March. Amid the many complaints the Record had received since the first article about a dodgy repairman, Local repairman cons residents (21 February edition), Olivier complained that confusion about their identities was costing him business.
The allegations against the ‘repairman’, who advertised his services as “air conditioning, refrigeration and appliance repairs”, included that refrigerators and gate motors remained faulty after he supposedly had fixed them, and that refunds never reached unhappy clients. Through the many complaints, the Record finally can pinpoint the individual (who still could not be reached for comment) as Gerhard Lottering, as opposed to “Gert” or “Gerhard” as he was known to his unfortunate clients.
Although Olivier, a Mindalore resident, cannot report specific instances in which clients have accused him directly of being a con man, he is convinced that in general the community believes him either to be the con repairman or be associated with him.
“In my books, being dishonest to your clients about your capabilities and their money does not fly,” he told the Record during an interview.
Olivier has been in the repairs business for the past eight years and cannot report many unhappy clients. It is Olivier’s view that only a percentage of those who work in these informal industries actually carry knowledge of their work, be it electric work, repair work or horticulture.
Olivier offered tips to residents by which to distinguish lackadaisical ‘handymen’ from appropriate, reliable service providers. Pick up the next print edition of the Record to find out how.
