A couple have been left stunned after claiming they accidentally received a full response email from a construction company describing them as “crazy”.
Owner Don Jollie and his wife signed a $479.00 contract with Melbourne-based custom residential builder Holbrook Homes in 2022.
The couple say they are still waiting for their project to be completed in Sunbury, about 38 kilometers northwest of Melbourne’s CBD.
Jollie approached Holbrook Homes director Marcel Nassour and explained that she would not be making any further payments.
A couple were left stunned after claiming they accidentally received a full response email from a construction company describing them as “crazy” (file image)
Homeowner Don Jollie and his wife signed a $479.00 contract with Melbourne-based custom residential builder Holbrook Homes in 2022 (file image)
A company email was originally written to engineers, before Jollie claimed she accidentally sent it to them. news.com.au reported.
“I really need your help please, this customer wants to make sure their frame is 100 percent before making any more payments,” the email said.
‘Clients have driven me to the brink of madness because they are afraid that if they pay me I will leave.
“These guys are crazy and I just want to pay my bills and move on.”
Jollie explained that the bank would not pay another construction fee because the second floor of her house had not yet been started.
“Everyone has come to my house knowing that (the company) has to get to a point where I can give them $70,000,” Jollie said.
Jollie believes the company could be on the brink of liquidation.
He also fears there will be no more work at his home after a portable toilet was removed from the property last month.
Nassour explained that a partial payment for Mr Jollie’s house was “due and payable” as the structure was already complete. He also stated that the portable toilet would be returned to the site.
The boss of Holbrook Homes denied claims his business was on the brink of collapse and assured customers all their contractual obligations would be met.
Jollie approached Holbrook Homes director Marcel Nassour and explained that she would not be making any further payments (file image)
“Once I have completed all my work, I must leave the company ‘in operation’ for the remainder of the warranty insurance period,” Mr. Nassour said.
“But I won’t do any construction work, I’ll just meet the insurance requirements.”
The construction business started in 2016 and advertises services for Australians who want to build their dream home, as well as taking on projects from liquidated builders.
Nassour became sole director 18 months ago and says running the company became especially difficult after his business partner died of a heart attack in 2023.
Two payment claims totaling $65,000 were filed against Holbrook Homes last year, according to a CreditorWatch report.
A concrete company reported a $28,000 default in December after Holbrook Homes failed to pay its debts two months earlier.
The matter was taken to court in February and a decision was made to pay the concreting company the amount owed.
Holbrook Homes started in 2016 and advertises services for Australians to build their dream home, as well as taking on projects from liquidated builders (pictured, image from the company’s website).
In March, another company received a default judgment order for Holbrook Homes to pay its $37,000 unpaid bill.
Meanwhile, two clients of Holbrook Homes won their case against the construction company in September last year.
The case was taken to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and centered on defects within customers’ homes, and the company was ordered to pay $306,000 to the two customers.
