MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – A disgruntled customer from Messina, Mrs Laverne Layland, this week warned residents to be careful in their choice of local businesses dealing in the selling of granite products.

Her warning follows after, as she states, she was cheated out of a R5 500 deposit given to a local businessman for the installation of several kitchen tops. The businessman told her that she should pay the said deposit and that her kitchen tops would be installed before Easter.

Since the initial payment, Mrs Layland says that nothing has happened. Numerous attempts to retrieve her deposit have also failed. Every time, she said, the businessman makes promises that the products are underway.However, they never arrive.

At one stage Mrs Layland threatened the businessman that she was going to take the matter to the police. The man was called to the police station were he promised to pay back her deposit within one week. A week later still no payment was received and Mrs Layland was forced to bring charges against the businessman.

Mrs Layland said that she spoke to one of the businessman's suppliers who told her that he stopped supplying to the man due to the man's failure to pay. She also stated that she cannot understand how the businessman can still do business as it is her understanding that he has been liquidated.