LIKE many peole who live in Polokwane, I rent a home from an estate agency. Imagine my shock when the owner of the house I rent, whom I know personally, phoned me to ask me if I had paid the rent or not.

Turns out the agency, Bokkie Pretorius Eiendomme, which was sold by its namesake to Elmarie Maree, has closed its doors with Elmarie disappearing like mist before the sun. Along with all the tenants' deposits, I must add.

The owner of the house I live in eventually sent her an sms out of desperation and the very next day (11 Feb) the rent was at long last paid into his account. But he has had no success in contacting her and has cancelled his contract by sms.

I have also had no luck contacting her. The agency's offices are closed, no one knows why or where the woman has gone to. The office telephone number just rings. Elmarie's cell phone is permanently off and the voice mailbox is full. my sms's have gone ignored.

The owner has asked me to pay him his rent directly from now on, but I WANT MY DEPOSIT BACK!!!

Surfing the net for a solution, I came across the Estate Agency Advisory Board on www.eaab.org.za. Complaints and claims can be made with them about any registered estate agency. On their home page, click on the tab "Regulation and Legislation" and then choose the relevant form. Complaints can be faxed to Maria on 086 613 8755 and claims (download Estate Agents Fidelity Fund Claim) can be faxed to Dineo on 086 613 8739. It takes between 15 and 30 days to process the claim.