Instapools: Customer Reviews, Complaints and Red Flags

Author

Mitch Haar contemplating it

Mitch Haar

Mabel R (Name suppressed) havnt even started yet and u have issues, just get ur money and go elsewhere

Author

I suspect it will be like getting blood from a stone

Karl Tornquist

Mabel R (Name suppressed) good luck getting your money back. He’ll probably say it used for admin, council submissions, Certifiers etc and won’t refund anything

Author

Karl Tornquist that’s what I’m afraid of

Karin Kay

Mabel R (Name suppressed) if he does then request copies of receipts/records etc. maybe get legal advise re steps can take

Author

Karin Kay I have already asked the admin person to call me with this and am waiting for their reply

Karl Tornquist

Mabel R (Name suppressed) did you get a written quote? Quote “should” say what the deposit is to be used for, hopefully not much higher than 20%?

Edwin Sammut

Mitch Haar I hope he pays up as what you’re saying sounds like a scam. Did you research the company before signing up ??

Author

Edwin Sammut he’s built my neighbours pool, but as I said, I can’t find reviews good or bad on Google.

Mabel R (Name suppressed) did you also check with fair trading see if licenced and bad reviews. I would cut my losses . You will have nothing but trouble .

Lindsey Curmi

Just googled and they do have a few reveiws if it’s the one in monavale Sydney .but they have could been put on there selves ,I’d get your money back and go with a well known pool place .

Author

Lindsey Curmi I actually can’t find any. Where did you find them?

Gillian Adamthwaite

Mabel R (Name suppressed) this probably isn’t a thing but could you talk to the local police in particular the fraud department??? Maybe there have been other incidents of fraud by this clown they may be able to point you in the right direction, after all fraud is a crime you may be eligible for a victim of crime payment at least be entitled to some of your deposit back????

Emily Kilpatrick

Gillian Adamthwaite unfortunately this is a contracted agreement so doesn’t fall under Police fraud guidelines and would be a civil matter for NCAT.

This is definitely not something that would make you eligible for victim of crime compensation either.

Sally Dekker

Bad vibe

Send message cancelling and get your money back.

Author

Sally Dekker I’ve called his admin person and am waiting for her to call me back.

Sally Dekker

Mabel R (Name suppressed) Hope it’s sorted but I would go with gut instinct, too many people have problems.

Pippa Moore Horton

Mabel R (Name suppressed) try and make sure everything is by email and ask for a response of email receipt... I've found some business people have no sense of how to behave with others even though they're taking your money. Keep everything factual and respectful, no extras - my husband taught me this, don't go into details just... ' as per our agreement the pool was due to be finished by.... You are not responding to our calls. We want our full deposit back and are currently seeking legal advice.' I always cc any emails to my husband so that we have extra back up in the paper trail. All the best with it all.

If he deliberately conned you, he will not willingly return your money upon request. Straight to tribunal!

Kim Moran

What area are you in?

Kate Donaldson

Kim Moran keen to know this also

Author

Kate Donaldson NSW

Definitely try and get money back. Sounds dodgy.

Chris Kafer

Always check google. Any business. Get a refund and go elsewhere. Imagine the headache you’ll have if he ever actually starts building it. Run.

Author

Chris Kafer No google reviews that I can find. He built my neighbours pool so I know he’s legit, he’s just not being responsive.

Chris Kafer

Mabel R (Name suppressed) mmmm. Maybe he is legitimately doing it tough with family life than. But could at least be honest.

Chris Kafer no excuse for not returning calls and being dishonest

Author

Ellen Kotteakos agreed. And the excuses are so farcical and far fetched. Every time I speak with him, he’s got another crisis worse than the last, at first I was sympathetic and now I’m just finding it difficult to believe him.

Mabel R (Name suppressed) yeh no it’s red flags you won’t be hearing from him . If you continue with this guy it will be a nightmare .

Go straight to ACCC

Author

George Chrysler might have to, but would prefer to sort all of it out before having to take that kind of action.

Mabel R (Name suppressed) big big red flag

here .

Mabel R (Name suppressed) don't just do it,I wish I had have contacted them,I lost over 30,000 with dreamtime pools,if I had have contacted them early I wouldn't have lost as much

Author

George Chrysler I’m going to get our solicitors to have a look at all of the paperwork to see where we stand. I’m sorry you lost $30K, I don’t know how people can rort others and be able to sleep at night. It’s disgusting.

Madeline Helena

Mabel R (Name suppressed) he’s actually not allowed to take a deposit until the home builders warranty cert is issued.

Don’t feel bad about it - so many muppets out there doing the same - that’s how we ended up with Scenic Pools building our pool - they know how to charm you and sell a good story. Imagine if they used their powers for good instead of evil!

Mabel R (Name suppressed) this is what happened with dreamtime, if they ask for more money don't pay it,the other thing I learnt is find out who they source their pools from,you can contact them to see if your pool has been ordered,they told me mine was coming in 3 days,I paid $17000 then found out pool wasn't even ordered

Author

George Chrysler I’ll contact them tomorrow.

Nicki Emes

George Chrysler ACCC can’t actually do much. Just went through this with a shonky builder.. they’re actually quite restricted.

Nicki Emes they can look into them to see if they are solvent,when they go into liquidation it's hard

Nicki EmesLocal state civil tribunal deal w these things. ACCC won’t deal with “small fish”.

Sarah Prouse

Do you have a contract? Any works over $10,000 you must have a contract (here in Vic anyway). That will have set out payment arrangements etc.

Sarah Prouse in nsw it’s 20k

Rosie Allmyloving

Vanessa Humphreys I am in NSW and our deposit was a % portion of total cost.

Rosie Allmyloving yes 10%

Rosie Allmyloving

Vanessa Humphreys ours was 15%! Weird. But it is all inclusive so not just the pool

Mariah Fornalskie

Vanessa Humphreys In Qld is 5%

Vanessa Humphreys In NSW any work over $5000 requires a license and contract. There are two types of contract: work costing $5k-$20k and work costing over $20k

Rosie AllmylovingAs per Australian consumer laws, deposit is not to be more than 10%. And they cannot ask for part payment esp for work not completed. The law states that you’re not obligated to pay balance until completion of work.

Rosie Allmyloving

Seluj Ennẽ the deposit was not just for the pool.

Rosie Allmyloving. Just stating facts. What you agree to pay is your choice. Deposit is a percentage of the contract price, what you include in the contract price is irrelevant.

Warning Teddy Bear GIF, GIF may contain warning, danger, teddy bear, caution, beware, be careful, red flag, red flag warning and warning flag

GIPHY

Peter Vee

do everything by email..Request a refund..it's been way too long.Imagine the build

Katie Bagatella

Author

Katie Bagatella that’s a different company.

Does his 1st name start with R ?

Author

Kimberly Walters it sure does. His name is Richard Mirosevich

Mabel R (Name suppressed) I would recommend asking for the money back

How long are you into the process and how much have you paid him

I had the exact same experience with this person

I paid my deposit In September 2021 and he was to do the council paperwork and approvals etc

And he told me my pool would be in by end of January 2022

He still hadn’t done council come March 2022

I pulled out from the deal (I ended up getting the shell and equipment as I had no hope of getting my money back from him) but I had to source another installer

That was the best decision I made

Feel free to message me if you wish

Author

Kimberly Walters only paid the initial deposit, he promise us it would be in mid to late January, but nothing has been done here either.

Was your a Barrier Reef Pool shell?

Mabel R (Name suppressed) yes barrier reef

I can’t believe he is still doing it

I contacted the manufacturer directly several times to ask if he was legit and check the status of my shell etc

My local barrier reef dealer helped me alot when they didn’t need/have to but knew what I had been dealing with

I wonder if he is still using the same excuses

Author

Kimberly Walters initially I was sympathetic to his medical excuses. He initially told us that he was recently diagnosed with ADHD, he talks a million miles an hour and we gave him the benefit of the doubt knowing that his neurodiversity was a factor, but it’s been one tragedy after the next with ambulances and resected organs and all sorts of emergencies that we didn’t want to doubt or question. I mean if someone has a medical emergency, I’d be absolutely heartless to expect that my pool would precedence over his or his family’s health, but he’s never reached out to us to give us a heads up or to say I’ll be unavailable for the next two weeks due to health reasons either so it feels like he’s using these excuses knowing that as a customer you’re not going to be able question his reasons for being unresponsive.

Kimberly Walters Did you take him to court to get your money back?

Seluj Ennẽ no I got the shell and equipment as he wouldn’t return money

In the end I wanted a pool and the shell was sitting in the holding yard so I said I would buy it and the equipment and cut ties with him

I still to this day have not received paperwork for the warranty of the equipment though unfortunately

My pool was installed July 2022 and I have had my filter replaced today to a sand filter instead of cartridge

The equipment guy said the equipment/pumps I have are crap but wait for them to die and replace

Vanessa Lea

Mabel R (Name suppressed) we use to transport his Pool Shells he owes us quite a lot of money for transport & the excuses were always the same as you have above & after he was on holidays in the states after his invoices were 6mths overdue we said something on his FB profile because he stopped answering calls & emails - his profile is now locked

2years overdue & he is still dodging us & has changed his business name… again!

Author

Vanessa Lea looks like he’s about to do that again…

May be an image of pool and text that says "3:39 < richard mirosevich Filters Recent posts Posts you Richard Mirosevich added a new photo. 3d INSTAPOOLS SYDNEY SYDNEY Send Share Richard Mirnsevich"

Vanessa Lea

Mabel R (Name suppressed) sorry to hear

We transport, sell & install pools & have done for over 20yrs & we see so many cowboys that makes all the other decent companies look bad…

I hope you get some answers & your deposit back at least even if it does delay your progress by going thru the process again with someone else

Mathew Harrison

Mabel R (Name suppressed) Indicating they're instantly installed

Blaire Scott

Mabel R (Name suppressed) Trying not to add to your stress or upset you.

Please don't let this go any further.

There is some good advice on here and good starting points also who to get in touch with.

Unfortunately for the people who truly have ADHD, they don't use it as an excuse.

It is so sad unscrupulous people are now using a fake ADHD diagnosis as a cover up to hide amphetamine use.

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Shane Dirou

He has a registered business so keep chasing and report to your state consumer affairs department.

May be an image of text that says "11:29 86% Navigation MUMIU Historical details Pdf Print Email ABN details Entity name: help MIROSEVICH, RICHARD ABN status: Active from 19 Jul 2023 Entity type: Individual/Sole Trader Goods & Services Tax (GST): Registered from 20 ul 2023 Main business location: NSW 2102 Business name(s) Business name help From DIRECT FIBREGLASS POOLS AUSTRALIA @ 30 Sep"

William Kraan

Shane Dirou started business up July last year, oh dear

Author

William Kraan honestly, it’s getting worse and worse…. I’ve just found out he’s rebranded the company….

Author

This is his new company.

William Kraan

Mabel R (Name suppressed) oh no

Author

William Kraan I know, my worse suspicions were confirmed when I saw this.

Search google reviews

Author

Nicole Ioannou thanks. I have seen these, I was hoping for a more independent source of review, I mean as a company you’re not likely to showcase any negative feedback on your website, if you know what I mean….

Mabel R (Name suppressed) I had a very similar experience with a different company

They didn’t finish the job and didn’t do a proper hand over

We had to complete ourselves

Hope you have a handy hubby….coz without my husband my pool would still be in a whole in the ground with crusher dust

Author

OMG, this is my fear, I’m glad your husband was able to finish it but sounds like a disaster for you guys. My husband is handy but time poor due to his job so we thought about owner building, but decided against it.

Nonetheless, the reason we went ahead with this guy was because he promised us a service that to date has not been delivered, so utterly frustrating

Kevin Price

Mabel R (Name suppressed) was

Mabel R (Name suppressed) keep on him… ring and email/ text often. The pool industry has gone crazy since Covid and it’s not very governed.

Lots of cowboys

Author

Nicole Ioannou He’s not taking my calls and hung up on me because I had a go at him (out of sheer frustration due to him giving another excuse that the reason he didn’t call my husband back was because “a lot has happened over the weekend”). He started yelling back at me, and then proceeded to hang up on me.

Mabel R (Name suppressed) that’s terrible. Has he actually started because I would want my deposit back

Author

Nicole Ioannou no he hasn’t started anything, and has been evasive from the get go, hence my frustration with him today.

Mabel R (Name suppressed) I would request my deposit back

Start again

He isn’t your man

Dee OB

Mabel R (Name suppressed) I would suggest that you only correspond via email (politely - fight the urge!) so you have a paper trail/evidence that you have tried to contact him with no response.

Contact the ACCC, you should have some protection under Consumer Law, and they will be able to point you in the right direction for seeking help.

You have the right to end the contract if he has been dishonest about the terms e.g. time frames etc. Do you have a written contract?

Lee-Ann Tidda

Nicole Ioannou all 5 yrs ago

Ashleigh Kaye

Nicole Ioannou is that even the same company Mabel is talking about?

View all 2 replies

Noel Fairclough

For what it's worth - when we built our (Aug 2022 - April 2023, yes it was a very VERY long build) - we paid no deposit. Our contract was we paid percentages of the overall price at different stages of completion (sort of like building a house). The builder fronted up all the initial costs and at the completion of each stage is where we transferred the money. The final payment was the day of pool handover where everything was working.

Author

Chris Cross we signed up with him because he built my neighbours pool. I saw it go in a few weeks ago.

Believe me, I’m not easily manipulated but he did bamboozle me and I feel very stupid.

He knew we were ready to go because we said as much, the pool has been in the pipeline for years and we were confident (due to his sales pitch) that he’d be the man for the job.

I did not look into his ABN though, and I take full responsibility for that.

Lauren Broadhurst

Mabel R (Name suppressed) I would have thought your neighbours experience was a pretty good reference, so don’t feel stupid

Author

Lauren Broadhurst thanks but it’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’ve outlayed all that money.

Susi Sexton

Mabel R (Name suppressed) was it a large amount you gave him? Consumer affairs in your state might be able to help ..I'm sorry you have had to deal with someone like this

Jen McNab

Mabel R (Name suppressed) don't feel stupid. We put our pool in 2 months ago and I didn't look into the installers ABN. All we went on was that they seemed nice and they had recently put in a friends pool. Everything went really well and we've had no problems ... you just don't know how things are going to happen. Goodluck. I'd push for a refund and go with another company if you can.

Mabel R (Name suppressed)Have you spoken to your neighbors about your experience with him? Is their pool still holding strong?

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Kerry May

I went with Narellan Pools and could not fault them

Jo Lovett

If there is a company rebrand, your in all sorts. He’s a dodge, tax dodger, a dodger of everything

Author

Jo Lovett unfortunately for us looks like this is exactly the case.

Mick Gallagher

Not a really old guy who goes by the name of Jim Thompson or Jim Thornton is it?

Author

Mick Gallagher no it’s not, his name is Richard Mirosevich.

Rachelle Bennett

Do an ABN search, you may find previously linked directors, owner or companies. Stupid company that pheonix

Paula Brennan

Messaged you

Too many cowboys out there

View 1 reply

Keep all record of communication. Take him to your state civil tribunal; it’s really the only way to get your money back. And you will get it back it will just take time. This con man is betting on you giving up and not have the time to front court, but you can call their bluff. Meanwhile you need to start finding another builder. If you hang in there and trust the civil legal process you’ll recoup your money (just not immediately). The civil tribunal is pro-consumer, so if you have enough evidence to bury the guy he will have no choice but pay you back; if he’s not licensed it will be on his record; if he has no builders insurance it will be on his record. If he ignores a court order to re-pay you the courts have power to take money from his bank account, refer him to debt collectors, etc. Unfortunately the onus is on the consumer to do the needful and get at least 3 quotes and carefully vet all trades before engaging. Online reviews are the most inaccurate way to vet (some builders have it written in their contract that you can’t leave negative feedback online - ofcourse you can! it’s not defamation if what you say is factual). You won’t need a fancy lawyer to win a civil trial (you can represent yourself), just keep all records of his misconduct and you’ll win.

Laura Vallance

Sounds exactly like our experience with Dreamtime Pools and they went into liquidation… I say run for the hill and don’t pay another cent!!!

Author

Laura Vallance I won’t. Sorry that happened to you. A lot of people lost money with Dreamtime judging by the comments on this post. Very sad.

Lorna Sutton

Try a complaint to Office of Fair Trading or equivalent in your state. In Qld they are very responsive and have promptly sorted issues in the past where businesses haven’t supplied goods/services promised.

Eric Stasinakis

How long ago did you pay the deposit? In Victoria November December and January are pretty much dead months to start a job as most trades are behind in trying to complete work ' hopefully that's the case with him not being able to start it and is trying to buy time with excuses ' his trades would of taken their annual leave in that also ' hopefully it all gets sorted for you.

Author

Eric Stasinakis

Yeah, totally understand that trades have a shutdown period, our deposit was paid early November. That was a question we asked him as we are aware of the trades shutting down for Christmas break and he said that it wasn’t a problem as his trades work all the way through, hence the mid to late January date he gave us.

TBH the issue isn’t so much the delays, it was pretty ambitious of him to say January, it’s more the fact that he’s ignored my husband’s calls last week and now mine after our heated conversation today, and now I’m even more concerned because he did message me at about 10pm tonight to tell me to take this post down.

It’s all unnerving, frustrating and very worrying as he’s said in his messages to me tonight that according to consumer law I am “up for the cost of the agreement in full if you go ahead or not”.

Also still waiting for the admin person to respond and there’s been silence from her too.

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

View all 6 replies

Kathleen MacGregor

Mabel R (Name suppressed) as a sole trader he’s going to be personally on the hook if you do take him to court. Not even a pty Ltd to protect himself with (which is super silly of him) so I wouldn’t hesitate to call his bluff.

Author

Kathleen MacGregor OML, maybe that’s why he’s a sole trader, might not have anything to lose? Another spanner in the works

Kathleen MacGregor

Mabel R (Name suppressed) if he’s got a house (hiding in a spouse’s name is no longer the safe harbour it used to be) then he should want to address his outstanding issues for sure.

It is better for you this way, just not for him.

Daryl Bancroft

Check that he has not gone into liquidation

I would talk to a lawyer just an initial consultation to put you on your rights …

It is a very difficult industry for honesty & trust..

Good luck Mabel

Author

Daryl Bancroft I suspect something like this has occurred as he’s very recently rebranded

Fiona Hillary

Mabel R (Name suppressed) it’s all about the ABN https://abr.business.gov.au/

ABR.BUSINESS.GOV.AU

ABN Lookup

Daryl Bancroft

Mabel R (Name suppressed) sad to say pool builders do this all the time they usually change states though from what I have seen.

Gillian Adamthwaite

Or shame him nationally in the local paper/ a current affair, they will probably by the sounds of it dig up lots of victims by him ??

Tina Morrison

Sounds like a good story for A Current Affair to cover there are a few ppl here who have had similar issues & could share there stories get the awareness out there of what he is up too & save the next poor person the headaches you are enduring, good luck but I smell a

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Author

Tina Morrison I was going to to post anonymously for fear of retribution from him, but decided not to as I haven’t done anything wrong and it’s so unfair that so many people get away with this.

Tina Morrison

Mabel R (Name suppressed) absolutely there needs to be tougher laws brought down on these type they shouldn’t be able to reregister under a different name

Elizabeth Roberts

So many problems with the building industry as a whole and so little regulation it’s very frustrating! There’s a lot of these types of people around, sell the dream, talk the talk and then completely let you down. We’ve had a few of these types of experiences during our house renovation. Our pool company has been ok but we’re going to tribunal for our builders. Do not let him get away with it if you can, call fair trading, go through the channels and then take him to tribunal. Accept that he’s unlikely to finish or even start your pool. Demand for your deposit back on text on email. Everything needs to be in writing with him and keep a track record of every interaction. It’s time consuming and stressful but it’s either that or walk away with nothing and let him do it again to someone else.

So sorry that you’re going through this. I wish the industry was better regulated

Tina Maggio

Robyn McDougall

We were ripped off by a tradie on the Gold Coast and he has been doing it to many people for years. There is no way to stop them. They change their biz name and the QBCC can’t do anything. They take your money and then have excuses and when he did do work it was so defective I had to pay to get it all ripped up! The pool industry is full of cowboys with no consequences. Reading above there are more people who have had the same thing happen from this guy too.

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Robyn McDougallThat’s why I appreciate social media groups like this one. It allows us to name and shame the tradies that the law seems to protect.

Cindy Bauer

You’re already not happy and he’s not sticking to the terms of the contract by the sound of it. Don’t be silly enough to go ahead with it. Your gut instinct is telling you it’s wrong.

We had a similar incident with our pool over 15 years ago. We got authorities involved and we found out he had done some really shonky stuff and been on current affairs and people complaining everywhere. Had to do some digging to find this. It was a reputable good company too.

It was known in the pool industry. When he took over, he run the company down. We were too far in, as a hole had been dug and left. We hired an independent inspector/ supervisor in the end. He was the mediator and go between and everything that was done had to be approved or signed off by him. Could’ve been the ACCC that advised us, I really can’t remember as it was so long ago and I try to forget it and the stress associated with it. Didn’t even do handover at the end which would’ve taught us how to run the pool etc and left a glob of unremovable glue on the top pool step. We’d had enough and just didn’t pay the last $1500 owing. He threatened us with all sorts, we said once you clean up the mess, do handover and straighten the Skimmer box, we’ll sign off. We aren’t crooks, (as he’d been shown to be ) and you still need to sign off. It never happened.

I think he also went by Richard, but it wasn’t his true name and didn’t match his nationality, we ended up finding out. Was in S.A.

Good luck, but if work hasn’t started, don’t go ahead, ask for a refund and then when and if he says no, start taking action with the ombudsman etc and get your money back. I think the ombudsman was my first call and then there’s a place that handles call from small businesses not doing the right thing.

P.s. just read your post again- also you can’t go ahead and do business with someone so hostile towards you already. You think he’d also be happy to refund your money. Just both of you cancel or negate the contract.

Tell him that as you are already high having so many problems you’d like your deposit money back and the contract cancelled. Speak to an ombudsman too. If he says no, tell him you’ve already sought some professional advice, spoken to the ombudsman and acting on their advice and that you or a lawyer or a professional body will be in touch with him if he does not refund your money. Letter of demand too by registered post. This can be done by you, look it up.

Also I’d be so wary if it’s a new business as someone else said and already changed the name. Warning bells.

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Simone Kirsten

Cindy Bauer 100% spot on

Julia Payne

Similar to our experience, we also have no idea how to use our pool or heat it etc

Melissa Tilley

Do not go ahead with this as a business owner if I heard this about myself I’d give back your deposit straight away and wish you luck it would be in the best interest for both of you.

Barry Jackson

Try to get money back. If used credit card can you get credit card company to reverse charge? If direct bank transfer can you request reversing transfer due to fraudulent activity?

Shane Sauvarin

NOTICE TO EVERYONE. Never ever ever pay a deposit these days. NEVER

Margaret Neilson McManus

Shane Sauvarin I don’t know that many would proceed without some type of deposit being paid.

Shane Sauvarin

Margaret Neilson McManus The reality is, the good ones will.

Shane Sauvarin I completely agree. The good ones won’t take money until job is done.

Micky Aitch

Shane Sauvarin you won’t get a pool then.. the installer has to pay for the shell up front otherwise it won’t be manufactured.. my 5.0 x 3.5 shell was $18k.. I doubt a small company will pay that upfront only for the customer to then pull out due to “extenuating circumstances”… we’re not talking about having a gate made

Shane Sauvarin

Micky Aitch I just checked my backyard, and yep, I have a pool. Didn’t pay a deposit.

Agree with your sentiment, but legitimate companies shouldn’t require them.

Mer Gee

In writing, immediately request your money to be immediately refunded, send via Australia post so that it is signed for. Contact the department if fair trading in nsw and the ACCC. Don’t wait.

Karli Ein

Get on to a current affair! Looks like you're not the only one this has happened to

Tina Anne

Is the correct department Fair Trading - or whatever they are called now? If a person is continually opening up businesses it's called phoenixing. That is an ASIC matter.

2 w
Like
Share
Edited

Kimberley Belinda

Please don’t take this post down as people like me who may be looking at places need to be warned.

Arthur Vandelay

contact consumer affairs

I would stop taking his phone calls (unless you can record the conversation, which legally you can’t without his consent). If he wants/needs to communicate with you it must be in writing (email, text) so you have a record of his threats. Only the weak make threats; he knows he will lose.