My review on Ali Ronagh Aliabadi (David Aliabadi) Landscaping, Gardening service | ABN 80 019 201 547
Based on my recent experience in March, 2024, in Epping Victoria 3076.
My Dream Garden Became a Nightmare
Every time I imagine what my backyard could have been, my heart sinks. It was supposed to be my haven, a canvas of nature painted with the vibrant colors of carefully chosen plants and flowers. The anticipation was palpable when I found Ali Ronagh Aliabadi—or as I knew him, ‘David’—through Hipages.com.au, to turn this dream into reality. Yet, this excitement was short-lived, as my dream garden soon became a tale of disillusionment and deceit.
March 1st, 2024, I made a choice that many homeowners do. I placed my trust—and a significant deposit of 2,946 AUD—in a professional to enhance the beauty of my home. The agreement was simple: the work would begin on the 5th and be done by the 8th. But as those dates came and went, I was met not with the blooms of new beginnings but with an ever-growing thicket of excuses.
Endless Delays For Suspicious, Unverified Reasons
My story is not just one of a project delayed; it’s a harrowing saga of manipulation. I was bombarded with calls to expedite payment, only to be followed by days filled with false promises. As I sat watching my untouched garden, the excuses piled up—back pain, a lost wallet, a lost passport, a broken phone, and a broken car were among the many.
But it wasn’t just the excuses that alarmed me; it was the silence. The times I would call only to be met with a switched-off phone, and the day I realized ‘David’ had vanished from Hipages.com.au, struck me with a chilling sense of betrayal.
He closed his account on hipages.com.au after taking my money.
The landscape of trust I had built in the online marketplace crumbled as Ali’s assurances turned to dust. I was not only left with an untransformed yard but also a void where my deposit used to be. The promises of a refund became as barren as the unturned soil in my backyard.
Changing Phone Number Multiple Times
Another big red flag and a strong signal of a criminal fraud is that Ali (David) changed his phone number regularly. Also, his phone repeatedly went off whenever it was the time and date of the project delivery.
Staff From Hipages.com.au Also Couldn’t Contact Ali (David)
Customer trust team from hipages.com.au reached out to me and they said that they also could not get in touch with Ali (David) by any means.
Commonwealth Bank Also Could Not Contact Ali (David)
I reached out to Commonwealth Bank where my account and Ali’s bank account are held at, with a hope to recover my money. The bank was trying to contact Ali multiple times but no success. He just disappeared.
The whole experience has been a lesson in the darker side of our digital age. The internet, which I had embraced as a place of connection and convenience, showed me its shadows. Even as I pursued justice through every avenue available to me, the conclusion remained elusive. I waited for a refund that never came, and for a landscaper who disappeared into the ether after eroding both my trust and my bank account.
The Case Has Been Reported to The Police Epping
I have reported the case to the Police Epping and they are looking at the matter. As a responsible consumer and resident, This action not to protect myself but also other consumers and residents in the surrounding neighbourhood.
VCAT Has Been Notified
In efforts to get back my hard-earned money, I also submitted the case to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – VCAT.
Stay Away From This Scammer
This person is neither landscaper/gardener or whatever he claims to be. If you don’t want to lose your hard earned money, stay away from this person. There are indeed many good services out there. So don’t risk your saving to this scammer.
Update as of July, 2024
Ali Ronagh Aliabadi is still uncontactable. All of his phone numbers are out of service. Neither I, the bank, nor the police can contact him.