Gone with the wendy
|Published
‘POOR WORKMANSHIP’: Michelle Dorra of Bontas is upset at Adcoh Trading’s work on her Wendy house. PHOTO: JACK LESTRADE. ‘POOR WORKMANSHIP’: Michelle Dorra of Bontas is upset at Adcoh Trading’s work on her Wendy house. PHOTO: JACK LESTRADE.
A Bonteheuwel mother says the Wendy house she bought in November is more flimsy than a house of cards and ready to fall apart.
Michelle Dorra, 48, says she paid the owners of Adcoh Trading R8 500 in cash for the 3x6 metre Wendy house.
But when she complained about their shoddy work, the company’s owner allegedly ignored her and Michelle says with winter approaching, she’s going to be stuck with a leaking Wendy.
“I was referred to this company by a neighbour. I made contact and on 3 November last year, they came to deliver the Wendy. I paid R8 500 cash,” she says.
“I paid for three sides, which was to be attached to our older Wendy house, as well as 10 roof sheets, two single windows, a door and installation of wooden flooring and the flashing.
PAID FOR JOB: The R8500 receipt. PHOTO: JACK LESTRADE.
“They were to put the place up on the same day. But the first night we slept without a roof.”
The Daily Voice visited the home and inspected the structure, which didn’t have a door frame and two window frames hung loose.
There were holes in the sides and the uneven wooden slats allowed the wind to gust through.
The flooring was uneven, and stepping too hard on the floor resulted in electrical appliances on the other side of the small room to wobble and fall from the counters.
DIE MOER IN: Michelle wants the company to fix her Wendy. PHOTO: JACK LESTRADE.
“I had to get guys in the area to assist us and still had to pay the company R1200 for labour. Their boys never came.
“The roof sheeting they gave was paper thin and we used stronger sheets and waterproofed the roof, which cost me a further R500.
“We also did the flashing ourselves, costing R1500,” she says.
Michelle says she wants the company to fix her Wendy and reimburse her.
“When I called the owner, he was rude and placed my calls on hold or dropped them.
“I want them to come fix their work. There’s nothing we can do with this place.”
PAPER THIN: Roof sheeting. PHOTO: JACK LESTRADE.
When the Daily Voice spoke to Johan van Heerden, who owns the Strand company, he claimed it was Michelle’s own fault.
“The job stood still as she did not have enough bricks which were to be used as a foundation.
“That’s why her flooring is unstable. If she buys the bricks, we will go ahead. I will not charge labour,” he says.
“(But) if I have to come out to fix the job more than one day, I will charge her, because it costs R600 petrol to get to her. I can’t give out so much for other people’s mistakes.”