Dream turns into nightmare
It was then that Margaret found out he had not only conned them out of a large sum of money, but many others too.
JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – What should have been a dream kitchen for Margaret Janeke and her family in their new home in Aspen Lakes, has turned into a complete nightmare!
“The contractor who is building our home recommended an independent built-in cupboard (BIC) contractor last year, Juan van Vuuren (JH Woodworks), who was working from a factory in Alrode.
“Now we realise that he used our materials to complete other work, where he was falling behind. He did fit the carcasses, but then came less frequently, and every time we asked why he wasn’t coming to finish the job, he made excuses. In all we handed over R230 000 to him. One may ask why we were so stupid to do this, but each time he’d asked for more money to purchase material and handles for the cupboards, he had receipts to back his purchases up. Now we realise he must have printed the receipts himself.
“The more we tried to contact him, the more he avoided us. We then learnt he’d left the premises in Alrode and disappeared altogether!” said a frustrated Margaret.
It was then that Margaret found out he’d not only conned them out of a large sum of money, but many others too.
“We heard he’d done the same to other home builders in Aspen and never finished their cupboards either. He’d actually been banned from Aspen altogether, because of shoddy workmanship and not finishing jobs.
“We now sit with built-in cupboards throughout our nearly finished home, with no doors and a non-existent kitchen, with just a few cupboard carcasses, which aren’t fitted properly either. What should have been our dream kitchen is now an absolute nightmare,” said Margaret.
“We realise there is nothing we can do and have contacted The Cupboard People to come and rectify the mess that’s been left, and to finish off all the BIC’s throughout the house, and complete the kitchen, more or less from scratch.
“We hope this will serve as a warning to other innocent customers who were thinking of using this conman. It’s too late for us and many others, but could maybe help other people,” concluded Margaret.
If you have been conned by Juan van Vuuren, please contact Margaret 082 923 8407. “Carte Blanche is interested in doing a story to warn future investors and it will be helpful.”
