Fridge repair, or not. What charges can I lay? Theft, fraud or both?

[Drifter]

Need some input please. We called out a fridge repair guy to have a look at ours, as it was on the blink. Over a period of time, we have paid for part after part after part, and still we dont have our fridge back. This all started six months ago, more or less.

When I do manage to get hold of him, it's one excuse after the other. I lost count of how many times he "is just testing it for a day or two", and then will bring the fridge back. To this day, our fridge has not been returned. I left a voice message on Whatsapp again yesterday , which he did listen to, but again, no reply.

I was wondering if I can lay a some sort of charge against this guy. In my opinion, this is basically theft and fraud now.

What can I do besides getting a few huge guys and raid his shop for my property?

 

[My_King]

I was looking for who the repair guy is, instinctively my eyes went to this part of the website:



Was expecting:

 

[Crayons]

Need some input please. We called out a fridge repair guy to have a look at ours, as it was on the blink. Over a period of time, we have paid for part after part after part, and still we dont have our fridge back. This all started six months ago, more or less.

When I do manage to get hold of him, it's one excuse after the other. I lost count of how many times he "is just testing it for a day or two", and then will bring the fridge back. To this day, our fridge has not been returned. I left a voice message on Whatsapp again yesterday , which he did listen to, but again, no reply.

I was wondering if I can lay a some sort of charge against this guy. In my opinion, this is basically theft and fraud now.

What can I do besides getting a few huge guys and raid his shop for my property?

How do you keep your food cold currently?

 

[saor]

You're a patient mofo if it's been 6 months.

 

[borro]

I think the fridge and him were meant to be together.

 

[rietrot]

Best you could probably do is go and fetch your fridge yourself.

Then take him to the small claims court?

 

[Drifter]

How do you keep your food cold currently?

We have a 2nd one, but it's small.

 

[Drifter]

Best you could probably do is go and fetch your fridge yourself.

Then take him to the small claims court?

Hmm, not good enough. This guy must burn.

 

[deweyzeph]

Unfortunately I think if you tried to lay a charge the police will probably tell you that this is a civil matter, not a criminal one.

 

[air]

He is using your fridge

 

[saor]

He is using your fridge

Probably locked away in a room without food being forced to make ice-blocks .

 

[Crayons]

but it's small.

That's what she said

 

[the eskimo]

Proper way to deal with this as a Civil Matter is to issue a letter of demand, and failing acceptable response to initiate Small Claims Court proceedings.

Criminally, if the guy is still indicating that he will give it back to you he hasn't yet committed a crime:

Services | SAPS (South African Police Service)

www.saps.gov.za

Theft

It consists of the unlawful appropriation of moveable corporeal property belonging to another with intent to deprive the owner permanently of the property.

(Not a lawyer, but do have some experience dealing with matters like this)

 

[gregmcc]

Jeez 6 months??! You are patient. I would have burnt down his shop after 3 weeks.

All you can do is take this to small claims court. Then you have to weigh up your time vs the cost of the fridge vs you don't care about the cost you just want this scumbag to pay.

 

[SHL]

What's the make/model of the fridge ?

 

[saor]

Jeez 6 months??! You are patient. I would have burnt down his shop after 3 weeks.

=

I don't know how this goes on for so long. At this point it would feel like me trying to find Wesley so I can punch him for the time he farted+cupped me in school the motherfucker.

 

[Stokstert]

You paid for parts before he delivered your fridge back? I only pay a guy for completed jobs.

 

[Anonymous™]

Probably locked away in a room without food being forced to make ice-blocks .

But the fact remains: he has one more fridge than OP.

Small Claims Court sounds like the most appropriate. You'll get some level of compensation there vs the long stories.

 

[Dimpie (COMPUTEK)]

Unfortunately I think if you tried to lay a charge the police will probably tell you that this is a civil matter, not a criminal one.

THIS ... Happens often, especially if you find a guy on social media to do repairs ... some get away with their crimes as not everyone is able to take them on in court. You gave the guy permission to remove the fridge from your property, so he didn't steel it (and he probably knows about this loophole)