A Limpopo man is crying foul after he paid R41000 for goods he bought on lay-by in 2006, but which he did not receive.

A Limpopo man is crying foul after he paid R41000 for goods he bought on lay-by in 2006, but which he did not receive.

William Makgaretsa said he went to Super Furniture in Mark Street, Polokwane, to buy furniture.

He said he entered into a lay-by agreement with the store owner, Dankie van Vuuren, and paid her a R4500 deposit for the goods.

He said he was told that the goods would be kept at the shop until they were paid for.

"A lay-by agreement lasts for three months, but Van Vuuren agreed to keep the goods for longer because I was not able to pay R46000 within three months," he said.

Makgaretsa said he agreed to pay R1000 or more, until the debt was paid off.

Last April when he went to pay the balance and collect his goods, he found the shop closed.

He traced an employee Maggie Maupi, who complained that the staff had not been paid when Van Vuuren closed shop.

She said their boss had moved the furniture overnight and had disappeared.

She also said Van Vuuren had married Fred Swanepoel, owner of People's Furniture, before she closed the shop.

Consumer Line called the store looking for Van Vuuren and Fred Swanepoel answered the telephone.

Swanepoel denied knowing Van Vuuren or being married to her.

But he was later willing to accept Makgaretsa's complaint and offered to assist the customer.

Consumer Line has faxed Makgaretsa's complaint to Swanepoel for investigation and is anxiously awaiting a response from him.