Having an Issue with My Fence Builder

Ljoomon on 25/02/2018 - 19:33
Last edited 27/02/2018 - 20:18 by 1 other user

Hi guys,

So long short story, I live with my parents and we have had this house for awhile now and live next door to Indigenous people. It has come to our conclusion that we need a new fence as our fence between our houses are falling apart and it's a hazard to children/cars

I wanted to seek advice as I have no where to go and my parents have limited english, we made an agreement with the neighbours where their house is Aboriginal Housing so the fence will be paid for however we paid a deposit of $300 for the fence in Mid November last year to the fencing company. He said "We'll try and get the fencing done after Christmas. We have the quote/receipt he also signed when we paid for the deposit in cash 18/11/2017.

Fast forward to 2018, I called him again in Jan before my parents went overseas and he says that "I'll come on Feb 1st to do the fencing." I've also asked my neighbours to talk to the Aboriginal Housing but I don't believe this is going anywhere. So, I waited for him and his fencing company to come but he hasn't came at all.

My parents are back from their trip and they are furious that he has taken our money and just ran off with it. It has been nearly 4 months now, we just want the fence fixed.

What can be done? I would like any suggestions or advice that could be done.

Thanks in advance :)
Emily

UPDATE: Called him on the 26th Feb, he called again to confirm he will come next week on the 8th of March. Contacted my neighbours and asked if Aboriginal Housing has approved of the fence and it was already approved, just waiting on the fencer.

• 

  kipps on 25/02/2018 - 19:35

  +2

  Complain to your office of fair trading. How did you pay the deposit? If credit card charge it back.

  • 

    joomon on 25/02/2018 - 20:13

    I will try and look for that that thank you. We paid via cash

    • 

      Eeples on 25/02/2018 - 22:28

      +1

      I hope you got a receipt.

      • 

        EightImmortals on 26/02/2018 - 07:08

        "We have the quote/receipt he also signed when we paid for the deposit in cash 18/11/2017."??

• 

  ronnknee on 25/02/2018 - 19:50

  +5

  Fast forward to 2019, I called him again in Jan

  I see that you're from the future. Any amazing bargains next week?

  • 

    pegaxs on 25/02/2018 - 19:55

    +1

    I was thinking… wtf? OP is pre-empting this guy taking a year to get back to them!

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  [Deactivated] on 25/02/2018 - 20:04

  +2

  Indigenous people

  Is that relevant

  • 

    joomon on 25/02/2018 - 20:15

    +3

    It is relevant because they are not paying for the fence that's why I have mentioned it. My neighbours and I have a good relationship so this does not bother them.

    • 

      altomic on 25/02/2018 - 20:39

      +11

      please, nobody take offence.

    • 

      Ughhh on 25/02/2018 - 20:44

      It's only slightly relevant if fencing company is not completing the job due to Aboriginal Housing refusing to pay the remainder of the cost. But from what you've written, it sounds like the fencing company is just ignoring you, thus mentioning race is irrelevant as this could've happened whether your neighbour was Indigenous or Asian or White etc.

      Since you paid the deposit, it looks like the contract is between you and fencing company. So you'll have to chase them up.

      • 

        singlemalt72 on 26/02/2018 - 07:59

        Possibly mentioning indigenous to explain why they are dealing with Aboriginal housing - sure mentioning the second makes the other point moot, but as explained, child of immigrants with limited English may account for not being 100% down on grammatical rules.

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  mskeggs on 25/02/2018 - 20:22

  +5

  If I was a really busy fence builder, I might prioritise other jobs where people are nagging me to complete them, over one where the customer was happy to wait two months originally (November till after Xmas) and called up once since. I'm not saying this is right, but from their point of view you don't seem to be in a hurry.

  I suggest you call and insist the work get done in the next week, and see what happens.

• 

  ms_caz on 26/02/2018 - 06:34

  +1

  If you happen to be in Sth East Melb there is such a strong demand for fencing contractors due to the new housing estates creeping across the paddocks that delays with fencing are a given. Furthermore there are organisations out there who are less than reputable. We had a company we had contracted who just completely disappeared (website gone, unable to make phone contact etc) leading to us having to start the whole process over again, only to have them pop up again a month or so later. Apparently they just stopped "being available " while they caught up with demand. Another company advertised under multiple different names but had the same contractors working for each brand, so it looked like there were lots of choices but the actual number of ppl on the ground was very few.

  In the end we did get our fences finalised but it did take months. Fortunately for us we had not paid in advance, but I'm led to believe that your experience is very common. I would continue to push them to find out exactly what is going on, and to get a completion date from them.

• 

  Hellfire on 26/02/2018 - 07:06

  +1

  It doesn't sound like you have approval from Aboriginal Housing for the fence to be replaced. You'll probably end up having to pay for the whole lot unless you can get that sorted out before the work is done. Don't reply on the tenant, you'll need to contact them directly. Luckily the fencer has been too busy to do the work..

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  Findo on 26/02/2018 - 10:37

  Why do aboriginals get their own housing commission that only looks after them? I’d try to move away from that property ASAP, these tenants might be good now but the next ones mightn’t be. The fence might just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

  • 

    Ryanek on 26/02/2018 - 12:03

    Because racists stereotyping exists. It is all very common that once an agent finds out applicants are Aboriginal their applications are denied. Aboriginal Housing is about providing a choice.