Tradie Brent Macleod continues to take money without delivering

Geelong footy identity Brent Macleod has again allegedly left homeowners out of pocket and with unfinished work. It comes after the tradie owed $60,000 in 2020.

A Geelong tradie who has previously left homeowners and contractors $60,000 out of pocket after declaring bankruptcy has again allegedly failed to deliver work and goods his clients have paid for.

Two people who said Brent Macleod owed them money have spoken to the Geelong Advertiser to urge others to be more diligent when engaging tradespeople.

The Geelong Advertiser has seen a bank transfer that showed $4500 was transferred in February to a company Mr Macleod is linked to.

The payment was allegedly a deposit for a $10,200 job to build a deck and a subframe.

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Brent Macleod playing football in the GDFL. Picture: Alison Wynd

Geelong tradie Brent Macleod has taken money without completing work

In a text message to the client, seen by the Addy, Mr Macleod allegedly said works on the deck would begin in March.

The client, Geelong man Campbell Roydhouse, said Mr Macleod had not begun work on the job.

“No materials were delivered to my place and he didn’t do any work,” he alleged.

“It’s pretty brazen. I should have investigated him … I think that (what has happened to me) is a lesson to people that they should at least Google the (tradesperson they are paying).

“If I can, I’ll take him to court. He’s got to be stopped doing this sort of thing.”

Text messages seen by the Geelong Advertiser between Mr Roydhouse and Macleod — who has played football for clubs in the Geelong Football League and the Geelong District Football League — show Macleod asked for a part cash payment at the end of the job, before the job had started.

Between March and June this year, Mr Macleod who declared bankruptcy in 2020 leaving people owed $60,000 repeatedly stalled on the job, claiming he was “short staffed”, and committed to return Mr Roydhouse’s money.

Mr Roydhouse said his money had not been returned.

Melbourne tradie Paul Leone paid Mr Macleod $500 for a Milwaukee tool set more than three weeks ago but is yet to receive any of the merchandise he paid for.

“I just want my money back,” said Mr Leone, who said he had reported the matter to police.

“He keeps making up excuses and says ‘I will pay you the money’ but it never happens.

“He messaged me saying the money would be paid today,” Mr Leone said last week.

Geelong resident Michael Close paid Mr Macleod $3900 in 2019 for work at his house.

He said on Thursday he was yet to see the work completed.

A Leopold resident, who paid $6700 to Macleod to renovate and enclose an outdoor area at his home in 2020 also told the Addy on Thursday he was not repaid the money he was owed.

When the Geelong Advertiser contacted Macleod to speak about his financial dealings, he said: “I got no comment. I don’t speak to the Geelong Advertiser, I’m sorry.”

Originally published as Tradie Brent Macleod continues to take money without delivering