Bogus builder leaves family $62,000 out of pocket and living in construction site
Mother-of-three Sheetu Sharma has been cooking for her family in a garage for months after she and her husband paid a woman pretending to be a builder to renovate their home.
"It's really..it's a nightmare. It was my dream - it has turned into a nightmare. Just because of this person," Sheetu told A Current Affair.
Sheetu and her husband Lovleen agreed to a quote of $66,000 for a renovation of their kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
Mother-of-three Sheetu Sharma has been cooking for her family in a garage for months after she and her husband paid a woman pretending to be a builder to renovate their home. A Current Affair
The couple said they paid 'Miki' $62,000 in bank transfers and their home was left in a shambles - incomplete with cords hanging out of walls, holes in walls.
They have effectively been left living in a construction site.
The woman, who calls herself "Miki" and advertises her building and renovation work on Facebook as "Tim Reno", pretends to be a qualified builder, accepts huge sums of money from trusting families and then goes missing in action.
Not only is A Current Affair hearing horror stories from homeowners, but tradies are also coming forward claiming she has done runners on them once they have completed work for her.
Sheetu and her husband Lovleen agreed to a quote of $66,000 for a renovation of their kitchen, bathroom and laundry. A Current Affair
One plumber, Steve Holmes, tells us he's now $9000 out of pocket, with nine invoices ignored.
"Very very angry and upset. You know,I go to work, I work hard, I try to give my clients the best value I can," Steve said.
Victoria's building regulator investigated Miki last year, as did Victoria Police. She was convicted in court and yet these customers say she's back at it.
Watch the full story in the video above.
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