Tradies battle marketing bros in court

Tradies have contacted A Current Affair, claiming they are in the midst of a costly court battle after working with marketing company 'Rockmelon Agency'.

The small business owners say they came across 'Rockmelon Agency' on Facebook, after viewing a series of social media videos featuring co-owners Ricky and Kian.

The duo from Sydney's south-west appear on a yacht in one video promising to "Ripen" businesses to their full potential with explosive customer growth.

"I borrowed the money and I paid them upfront. It was around $1,700 a month," said Ahmed El-Dayri, owner of Luxremedial Developments in Sydney's west.

As part of the contract, 'Rockmelon Agency' set up a website for Ahmed.

"It's not really a website. My kid would have built it... and I paid $800 for (it)," said Ahmed.

Rockmelon Agency told Ahmed it was just a temporary landing page to attract customers, but Ahmed said the original version had spelling errors, fake reviews and featured stock images of jobs Ahmed's company had never done.

Ahmed says he agreed verbally with 'Rockmelon Agency' that he could leave after four months if he wasn't satisfied, but when he tried to part ways he was told he had signed a six-month contract and he had to continue paying.

According to Rockmelon Agency's lawyers, Ahmed's contract also promised five qualified leads per month, or he wouldn't have to pay.

Rockmelon claims to have delivered 81 qualified leads for customers within the first four months. But according to Ahmed, a lot of the new customers seemed to be based overseas.

"I was getting emails from (the) UK, from London," said Ahmed. "I don't know how they set it up, but it just wasn't making sense."

According to a text exchange with a representative from Rockmelon Agency, Ahmed was encouraged to send an email requesting a pause on his contract.

"...tell them company gone bust I'm shutting down..." Ahmed replied.

Ahmed was then issued Wind Up Orders, and sent an email from a debt collector saying he owed Kian and Ricky $7948.75, plus and additional $8049.75 in debt collector fees.

A court date was set for Victoria's Supreme Court, but Ahmed says he couldn't afford to travel to Melbourne. Instead he began calling other businesses ordered to court by 'Rockmelon Agency'.

"He just called me out of nowhere, I just got shocked to be honest," said Mohamed Abdin who began his bricklaying business two years ago.

Mohamed says he refused to pay Rockmelon Agency after two months, not realising he had also signed a six-month contract.

"Rockmelon Agency kept promising me, promising me and nothing was happening," Mohamed said.

Both Ahmed and Mohamed's businesses have gone into liquidation, and they are in thousands of dollars of debt.

A Current Affair is not saying Rockmelon Agency is the reason these businesses have gone under, but we did want to ask them about their unhappy clients.

A Current Affair understands at least eight businesses refused to pay after Rockmelon Agency allegedly failed to deliver on their promises, claiming they felt pressured into signing the contracts.

When we paid a visit to their podcast recording studio near Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west, they refused to answer our questions.

A comprehensive response was later received through their lawyers. Rockmelon denied the allegations made by its customers and claimed it was Ahmed and Mohamed's own actions that led to their financial troubles.

Watch the full video in the player above.

EXTRACT OF STATEMENT FROM ROCKMELON AGENCY

"Mr El-Dayri signed a 'No Slow Months Growth Package' service agreement with Rockmelon Agency on 15 July 2025.

"The agreement was executed by Mr El-Dayri personally, including his signature, full name, business name, position, and payment card details.

"The key contractual terms were:

• Package: No Slow Months Growth Package

• Term: 6-month minimum (explicitly stated multiple times in the agreement)

• Investment: $925 per fortnight (GST inclusive), totalling $11,100 over the full term

• Inclusions: Full Meta Ads campaign setup and management, 4 professional video ads, 1 custom high-converting landing page, lead tracking and performance reports

• Guarantee: The No Risk Growth Pact — if Rockmelon did not deliver at least 5 qualified leads in any full calendar month, the client would not pay for that month

"Our Clients delivered all services under the agreement. This included the generation and delivery of 81 qualified leads for Mr El-Dayri's business — vastly exceeding the minimum guarantee of 5 per month.

"In breach of the agreement, Mr El-Dayri ceased making payments in September 2025.

"Despite multiple contact attempts, a formal final notice issued on 6 November 2025, and extended leniency, Mr El-Dayri failed to make any payment or respond substantively.

"Seven consecutive fortnightly invoices remain unpaid, totalling $6,475.00."