A builder has been accused of targeting struggling Australians who handed over their cash for home renovations that never eventuated.

Zane and Melody Ralph, a couple from Melbourne‘s western suburbs, exposed NT Kitchens owner Hiep T Phung, after he disappeared with the $9,000 they had paid him for home renovations.

While work did commence, it was left incomplete, leaving the family with their home in disarray.

Ms Ralph described the builder as a ‘Grinch’, who they are now in the process of taking to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Another alleged victim, disability support worker Abdul Ali Ghafoori, said Mr Phung charged him $19,400 for renovations never delivered.

Mr Ghafoori claimed Mr Phung had been told the renovations were to assist his own special needs children.

‘I have five kids, and the last one is autistic. He told me that he has two kids, like my kids. I told him I wanted to provide a nice home for my family,’ Mr Ghafoori said.

In a stroke of bad luck, Mr Ghafoori accidentally transferred Mr Phung an additional $4000 instead of $400 for a sliding door that never arrived.

‘When I realised, I immediately called him, and he said he would return it through his bank account, but I never got that back either,’ he said.

He also claimed that Mr Phung was using a different name. Mr Ghafoori said he only realised Mr Phung’s real name after he sent him an image of his licence while encouraging him to send even more cash.

‘I didn’t know his real name. When I found out, I Googled it and saw the article showing he had done the same thing,’ he said.

‘Unfortunately, he’s probably going to target someone else, and nobody knows who he is.’

Messages provided by Mr Ghafoori to Daily Mail Australia show Mr Phung repeatedly asking for more cash while being questioned about when work might commence.

Bank receipts also show each of the transactions Mr Ghafoori made to Mr Phung.

Mr Ghafoori said he reported Mr Phung to the police three times, but each time, he was dismissed and referred to VCAT.

It is a common complaint among those targeted by the builder.

‘Police refused to lodge my case … they told me it was not their job,’ Mr Ghafoori said.

Robyn Barrie, who claims she was fleeced $5000 by Mr Phung, was told the same thing by police.

Mr Phung had gutted her property’s kitchen for an additional $600 and never returned.

Ms Barrie said Mr Phung blamed an ugly split with his wife for his inaction.

She wrote the money off, obtaining a kitchen off Gumtree for a few hundred dollars and installing it herself. 

‘I told him “don’t worry I’ve sorted it out. Obviously I’m not happy that you’ve ripped me off, but I’m not pursuing you anymore, so you’ve got to just wear it, it’s on your conscience. You talked to me about karma, well this is your karma and if you ever get into a position where you have got your life sorted out then you can pay me back”. I don’t think that’s going to happen,’ Ms Barrie said. 

‘The gem was once I told him I had a kitchen sorted, he insisted he would come back and get me a “good kitchen” … he then offered to remove that kitchen and get me a better kitchen. He was bizarre,’ Ms Barrie said. 

When questioned by Daily Mail Australia in November about the Ralph family, Mr Phung claimed his father had recently died, which saw him ditch all correspondence with his customers. 

‘I’ve not robbed them… I’m not a thief. I’m so sorry about what happened… I did not rob them. They know my friend and I did not rob them. Many things have happened, that’s why,’ he said. 

A look at NT Kitchens’ social media page indicates even more people have been stung by Mr Phung. 

‘If I could give zero stars I would. Started a small pantry project in March and as of October it was still unfinished,’ another disgruntled customer posted in October. 

‘He never showed up when promised, damaged the bench top in at least 5 places with large chips missing. Hundreds of screw holes in the cabinetry, screwed through cupboard doors by mistake, failed to deliver shelves, edges of cabinetry etc. So many lies and drama.’

Ms Ralph said the stress of their ordeal had impacted her entire family. 

‘We’ve been living with half a renovation for months. We’ve got things all over the house because we have nowhere to put it all,’ she said. 

‘My husband and I have wasted over two weeks of our own time waiting around the house for him to show up, only for him to not arrive. We’d be lucky to get a text from him letting us know he wasn’t coming. It’s just beyond comprehension. Who runs a business like that?

‘We are honest, hard working people. We just want this work finished. Now we have no money left to complete the work because he’s taken it all.’

When Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Phung on November 13, he claimed he was committed to finishing the work he had started at the Ralph’s home.

Mr Phung said he was struggling financially to complete builds due to his recent divorce. 

‘I’m not running. I’m not a runner… I’m not playing games,’ he said. 

‘Too many things have happened to me over the past 11 months. I know it’s my business, but I will call them this week… what can I do? At the moment I have financial problems, I have to figure out the money and keep the job rolling.’

Mr Phung told Daily Mail Australia he would sort the Ralph’s renovation out. 

‘I will contact them and figure out the problem and keep the job rolling,’ he said. 

While Mr Phung did make contact with the Ralph family days later, the work remains incomplete. 

Daily Mail Australia tried to make contact with Mr Phung via phone and email over the latest accusations, but never received a response.