Hunter Valley concreter confronted over claims he took off with deposits before cement was poured

Accused of ripping off families, taking off with large deposits and leaving backyards worse than before, concreter Daniel Bartlett has cemented his reputation.

David and Maddy both hired Bartlett for jobs on their driveways, each coughing up tens of thousands of dollars.

In July last year, Maddy's family paid Bartlett $63,000.

READ MORE: Accused cop killer Dezi Freeman 'impersonated' CFA, new video reveals

Pregnant, Maddy said she needed a driveway built before her baby arrived.

Bartlett started the job, but Maddy claims he failed to finish it.

"We called, we texted, I emailed, a Facebook message, I got him on Instagram, TikTok, the whole nine yards ... just pleading with him to come back," she said.

It was a similar story for David, who coughed up $29,000 for a new driveway.

"I paid the money and I was busy with my own things and work and whatever, and he said, 'I'll see you next week'," David said.

Bartlett started the job in February but then, crickets.

"So I waited a week before I contacted him, I didn't hear from him and he didn't turn up, and I messaged him, 'Oh, when are you coming to pour?'" David said.

"Nothing, couple of days later, so I kept trying that, messaging him, phone calls, nothing."

David claims the ground was left uneven and riddled with holes.

A Current Affair has been made aware of at least 15 different people across the Hunter Valley region all claiming they were ripped off by Bartlett.

But it's not just his customers sounding the alarm.

Former workers have claimed Bartlett never paid their wages and a sign writer claims she is still chasing payment.

When A Current Affair caught up with Bartlett, he said he never meant to rip people off.

"I did not do this intentionally, and I am very f---ing heartfelt," he said.

"I am currently working for someone … because I couldn't afford to get out of the trouble that I was in."