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CB Attorneys and Lawyers Review of Melissa Saunderson
Melissa Saunderson

Melissa Saunderson review: Beware of Saunderson Attorneys 53

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6:02 am EDT
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Beware of Melissa Saunderson!

In June 2013, my amazing wife and I made use of a law firm called Saunderson Attorneys. We worked with a lady called Melissa Saunderson to do our ANC agreement. We sold a property in October 2013 and had to submit our ANC agreement. We then discovered that the H number Melissa Saunderson gave us belonged to a different couple. When we asked her about this, a world of problems started. Our ANC agreement was never lodged, defaulting our marriage to "in community of property"

Melissa Saunderson at Saunderson Attorneys did not submit our agreement before the deadline. This means that our contract was never lodged at the deeds office. We are now forced to sell the property in community of property. We then have to apply for a court order to make the changes. Since our problems started, Melissa Saunderon from Saunderson Attorneys has rejected lots of calls, hardly ever responds to emails, missed calls or sms messages. As a direct result of Melissa Saunderson, we are at risk of being married in community of property. Melissa Saunderson has often lied directly to us, and refuses to give as a date and time to meet with them in person. The managing partner Brad Saunderson has been just as unresponsive. We tried to phone him for the last week but always receive voice mail. He also failed to respond to our last 3 emails and various sms messgaes.

Beware of Melissa Saunderson And Saunderson Attorneys. Before you use this supposed law firm, please Google them. You will see that Google auto completes Saunderson Attorneys to Saunderson Attorney Complaints. There are tons of people who complain about exactly the same thing. Melissa Saunderson is extremely unprofessional an will cause you a lot of frustration...

This is a simple consumer warning, our official complaint consists of more than 21 pages.

Resolved

The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

53 comments
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Denver Ramnarain1
, US
Apr 27, 2022 1:26 am EDT

We were also scammed by these 2 fraudsters.

We were married in 2012 and found out when we were selling our house in 2018.

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Loction
, ZA
Mar 27, 2018 1:28 am EDT

I know I am a bit late but I was also scammed by this people. Only found out now as I needed to sell my property. Very sad.

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judaida
, ZA
Aug 05, 2017 6:27 am EDT
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i am a bit late on this response but i was also scammed.
Does anyone know what is happening with the case?
If anyone can also advise how i 'undo' my status of being married in COP?

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Ancjones2
, GB
Jun 11, 2017 4:08 am EDT
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They have changed their surnames to Ballard and have setup a company called Ballard base Ltd in Cambridge England.

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dpf
, ZA
Jan 30, 2017 7:51 am EST

In the same boat and found out recently that we have also been duped. Very unfortunate and upsetting. Will have to lodge a postnup which will cost! Any updates on how far the court case is going?

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Ffeog
, ZA
Nov 07, 2016 3:07 am EST
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I see that the apology does not deal with the fact that they manufactured genuine looking Deeds Office stamps and endorsed the antenuptial contract with these stamps and allocated them a fraudulent deeds office registration number.

If her husband was working in Kenya I am wondering if he actually signed them as notary or whether his signature was forged as well.

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Ancjones1
, GB
Oct 28, 2016 2:26 pm EDT

It is true they are in England get someone in South Africa to check how they got there visa to live and work over here. I am in England and have first hand knowledge of this.

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Ruly
, US
Oct 24, 2016 7:09 am EDT

Anyway, how does someone go to England with the pound being so strong and claim to have no money here. Once again, Melissa and Bradley Saunderson think we are idiots. No, we nailed you through the Law Society, the Deeds Office is going to nail you, and all the clients you decieived will have their turn to claim back the money you owe them. This will never go away! Shame on you! two!

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Ruly
, US
Oct 24, 2016 7:06 am EDT

I do not believe ancjones. That is probably Bradley and Melissa Saunderson, once again trying to pull the wool over our eyes. You had two cars and a big, beautiful house. You should have made a plan to ell off things and attend to your clients, not live in luxury and continue to fleece your clients. You looked me in the eye and lied to me when I asked you if Saunderson attorneys are fraudsters. You took my money and gave me a fake H number which the Deeds Office never had on record because you never filed it at the Deeds office.

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Ruly
, US
Oct 24, 2016 7:02 am EDT

The High Court issued an order against Bradley Saunderson - he cannot practice anymore as an attorney. The case was brought forward by the Law Society. Melissa and Bradley Saunderson made me spend over R18 000.00 on something that should have cost me at most R1500.00. We will forgive you Melissa, when you refund us all the money we have spent including the money for the postnuptial contract.

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ancjones
, GB
Oct 06, 2016 11:38 am EDT

They have left South Africa and are now living in England

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ancjones
, GB
Oct 06, 2016 11:25 am EDT

The saundersons have left South Africa and are now living in England

Delia Garrett
Delia Garrett
Alberton, ZA
Sep 15, 2016 8:50 am EDT

I did my ANC contract in 2011. Documents only shows a protocol number. How do I check if this contract was ever finalised as I have endless problems with home loan debt which the bank says I am liable for. Seems the banks knew something I didnt and didnt bother to advise me of these so called lawyers.

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MichH
, ZA
Jul 05, 2016 7:37 am EDT
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Just a bit of an update, I hear that Melissa is trying to say that the Deeds office has not done their job, they submitted everything to the Deeds Office to be registered.The H number which is stamped on my ANC Contract which clearly is made up was never registered either in Johannesburg or Pretoria Deeds Office as an Attorney physically went there to try draw my documents which does not exist. So if you have a H number reflecting on your so called contract - it still may not registered.

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MichH
, ZA
Jun 20, 2016 6:27 am EDT
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Gertha - report it to Warrant Office Mathebuls [protected] and The Law Society. We are still waiting for the Law Society to come back to us. We have just been given a reference number. We are consulting with an attorney on Wednesday but as far as I have been told telephonically, a thumb suck - one is looking at about R20 000 to get this reversed as one has to get an Advocate, appear in court, they have to advertise in the Govt Gazette, local newspapers etc... The Saundereson's have really put a lot of people in a horrible position and certainly hope they will pay dearly for this. So yes you are married in COP as this point.

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Gretha Zondagh
, US
Jun 20, 2016 3:02 am EDT

Hi Everyone we just realized the same happened to us!
Can anyone please advise me on what to to now?

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MichH
, ZA
Jun 13, 2016 8:26 am EDT
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We have no sympathy Melissa - you have put us all in a hell of a position

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MichH
, ZA
Jun 13, 2016 8:24 am EDT
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I have just found out that I am in the same boat. I have contacted the Warrant Officer who was most helpful. I will be reporting to the Law Society first thing in the morning. Michele H

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Devashini
, ZA
Jun 10, 2016 10:15 am EDT
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Melissa your sad story is not going to make anyone sympathetic towards you. U only put yourself more in debt now when u should have just sorted a simple task. We all are going to fight u on this one...

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MelissaSaunderson
, ZA
Jun 10, 2016 2:22 am EDT

About 6 years ago I wanted to study law. Because my husband was a qualified lawyer, a friend recommended that we start a home based practice dealing with prenuptial marriage contracts (an administrative legal service) that would provide an opportunity for me to meet the Law Society requirements of Articles. We had previously done a lot of legal work but for free to indigent people. Because my husband is the legally qualified person, the practice was in his name but I ran the day to day practice, met with clients, managed the finances and he only stepped in very occasionally to assist when required.
About two years ago, the business began to struggle financially. I was too embarrassed to tell my husband and was convinced that I could turn things around. Many businesses in South Africa were struggling. The practice had an account with the deeds office where I lodged the prenuptial contracts, and this got into arrears. The Deeds office was paid regularly and as much as we had, but not in full and while it now seems unsurprising, at the time I was surprised that they put a hold on the account and would not allow any more contracts to be lodged until the account was settled in full. The problem was that I was then sitting with clients whose contracts I had prepared that could not be registered.
I went to the banks to try to raise finance to settle the deeds office account as legally you can register the contract within 3 months so I was trying to beat this deadline. The banks determined that the earnings and existing indebtedness made it too risky and declined my requests. My husband was still, at this point, unaware of how bad things were. Our two vehicles were due to be paid off in a few months and I tried to reason with the Banks that this would free up disposable income, but they only agreed to revisit the matter when the vehicles were settled.
Unfortunately, I felt I could not tell my husband the situation and hoped that by continuing to trade I could earn the needed money to fix the financial mess and register the outstanding contracts in court.
My husband became aware of the crisis when a client somehow got his personal cell phone number and called him while he was working in Kenya. By the time he got home to South Africa it was too late to make any real difference other than to close the practice down. We had dozens of irate messages each day, many threatening the lives of myself and my family. We had people coming to our home to carry out their threats. We were literally too scared to leave or enter our home.
As a consequence of my actions my family and I have lost everything. Through no fault of his, my husband is vilified on the internet and neither of us have employment. We have lost our home and the life we once had.
I am deeply sorry for and ashamed of my actions. I have hurt and damaged many lives with my short-sightedness. I will do all that I can, when I can, to repay clients for services that I did not fully provide.
Yours faithfully
Melissa Saunderson

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Devashini
, ZA
Jun 10, 2016 1:20 am EDT
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I having also been trying to get a hold of these people, what do we now that we already married. How do we check our status?
Feel so disappointed and cheated.
Absolutely disgusted!

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Leeshen Patel
, US
Jun 03, 2016 2:29 am EDT

Just found out that I'm in the same boat.. How can we assist in getting these people behind bars?

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Philadelphia MD
, ZA
May 17, 2016 2:54 am EDT

Hi Tshepo Leburu

Did you manage to win with the Saundersons? OMG, I'm in the same boat ... I need my ante nuptial contract ASAP!

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LIZA77
, ZA
Mar 30, 2016 11:18 pm EDT

I used them to ... service was shocking beyond words, and Melissa was rude and unhelpful on every occasion I had dealings with her.
Now I unfortunately need there help with the agreement they did in 2013 - AND THEY IGNORE ME FLAT OUT. Very scary to hear and read this!

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Appul
, ZA
Mar 30, 2016 3:27 am EDT
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I had a word with Warrant Mathebula today. He goes tomorrow to court to present the case against the Saundersons. If anyone has not yet contacted the Warrant, please do so today. He needs all info possible before he goes to court in the morning. The Warrant can be contacted on [protected].

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Mario da Costa
, US
Mar 11, 2016 4:05 am EST

Hello all

I went to the investigating officer yesterday and he informed me that the case was postponed on Wednesday 09 March 2016. Criminal charges are being brought against Melissa Saunderson and he advised me to try get in touch with others on here who are taking legal action. If anyone on here is getting legal advice, please let me know. we need to band together to get this resolved properly.

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Denver Ramnarain1
, US
Apr 27, 2022 1:33 am EDT

Hello, did anything come of this case. We were also scammed

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DB1985
, US
Mar 02, 2016 8:35 am EST

Hi Guys, unfortunately my wife and i have gone through the same scam with Saunderson Attorneys. The sad part is I personally knew the Saundersons, so for them to scam people they know shows what type of people they are! i have been to the deeds office with our original contract with the falsified Deeds Office Stamp, there is definitely fraud here. we met with Attorneys yesterday as well as spoken to a very well respected advocate. We are going to fight this and we are going to recover the costs +/- R20000 to rectify the non registered forged ANC. i have found really good (and well priced) Attorneys who are really and more than willing to fight this. Feel free to contact me dam_bart@yahoo.co.uk and i will pass on the Attorneys info. i cant give too much away right now on a public forum as this is going to go to court. The more of us that stand together the better the chances of us recovering our costs.

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Mario da Costa
, US
Mar 02, 2016 3:14 am EST

I just called the deeds office and was given warrant officer ver Mathebuka's details too. This seriously needs to be rectified ASAP. Please keep the feed updated as to what's going on. Thanks and good luck to everyone on here that has been affected by these frauds.

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Appul
, ZA
Feb 29, 2016 5:05 am EST
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Just a follow up on the cell number for Bradley Saunderson. It is an active number. I left a message for him and he did phone back, but kept silent. Obviously wanted to check who he was dealing with. I also kept quiet, other than "hello" a few times. He phoned my number twice. He is ducking and diving and obviously does not want to accept the responsibility for. From what I can make out, monies were paid into his trust account and as far as I know trust account are registered with the Law Society. I am going to investigate the possibility of sueing him as Managing Partner of the firm, not for the reimbursement of my payment, but for the cost of putting me in the position I should have been in, which I believe is around R20 000. If there is anyone who also wants to do this, please contact me on richardl@54.co.za . It makes sense for all his victims to band together and see one attorney collectively in a class action. Saves each individual the costs of separate attorneys.

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Appul
, ZA
Feb 23, 2016 8:02 am EST
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We were also caught by these fraudsters. Called the deeds office - no ANC registered. Don't know about the rest of the people here, but we were taken for R850-00. Brad Saunderson's number [protected] doesn't answer, goes to voice mail. All other contact numbers are dead too.
The number for the Deeds Office is [protected]. Ask to speak to a lady called Peggy. She checked both Jhb and Pta Deeds offices for me.
Peggy also gave me the investigating officer's detail - Warrant Officer Mathebula on [protected] or [protected]. I believe the case is being heard next month some time. Will probably be postponed.
Information at hand is that the wife (Melissa) admitted to perpetrating this fraud without her husband's ( Bradley - who is the attorney) knowledge. Highly unlikely if you ask me. This was done in their house under his nose, so there is every probability he was in on it. The Organised Crimes unit is trying to link him to the fraud as well. So everyone who has been caught, please step forward and lets bury these thieves.

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Olivia Bradley-Carstens
, US
Feb 17, 2016 12:30 am EST

I have just found out that I am also in the same position. How do I contact the deeds office to assist with their investigation? I have emails from her that state it was lodged and then another email to say she has it returned... I hate this feeling of being scammed and now have had quotes of over R15000 to get a post-nuptial agreement done. How can someone do this to people who are starting new lives together at such a happy time.

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Tshepo Leburu
, ZA
Feb 10, 2016 8:41 am EST
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Can we involve the Hawks so they can arrest this bloody Brad and Melissa Saunderson

Super-Manager-Rares
Super-Manager-Rares
, US
Feb 08, 2016 4:34 am EST

No SPAM pls !

Super-Manager-Rares
Super-Manager-Rares
, US
Feb 08, 2016 4:33 am EST

No share your email and yahoo . Please!

CLOSED!

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Tshepo Leburu
, ZA
Feb 05, 2016 9:28 am EST
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Be warned this this attorney name Brad Saunderson, I went to his house on the 2nd den 16 and waited for 3 hours on his drive way and buzzed his intercom and they pretended that they were not inside and I ask one of the neighbor and they told me that I was not the first person to come there to look for them and they always hide themselves inside the house, I got his number from one of the neibour and today been the 5 th feb 16 I called him and he ignored my calls and I used a different fone and he answered and when I ask him why he is ignoring my calls as he took my money and never register my anc he hanged up on me, I also told him that I'm going to involve the Hawks as I believe they can assist since well he steal people money, I will not leave him to steal from me and I'm still going to go wait at his house and will make I get there early so they can stay inside and not go anywhere, this is his number :[protected] for those who can't get hold of them, I'll be going back to there house again at little falls,

Tshepo Leburu

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Tshepo Leburu
, ZA
Feb 05, 2016 8:47 am EST
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Beware of the Saunderson attorney, this is Brad Saunderson, the person that stole our money and never register our ANC, I'm also going to take him and the Wife Melissa to the Hawks for taking my money and never register my anc and I called him today with my number and he ignored my calls and few minutes later I called him with a different number and he answered, and when I ask him why they took the money and never register he hanged the fone up and never answer all my calls, on Wednesday the 2nd den 16, I went to his house at little falls and I buzzed the intercom and no one answered for about 2 hours and thought they was no one there and one of the neighbors came and told me the I'm not the first person who went to there house and I left to go buy something to drink and the neighbor told me that immediately after I left they also left three house which means they have been watching me on there cameras inside the house, the solution is to get the Hawks involved because he won't stop stealing people's money, BECAFULLY OF THIS THIEF PARTNERS, this is his picture from his from his what's up.he blocked me now

Regards Tshepo

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khensi
, ZA
Feb 05, 2016 5:01 am EST
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The Saunderson (husband & wife) were arrested in December 2015 and are out on bail. We received this information from the Deeds Office in Johannesburg. They are currently building a case against them and anyone who can assist with providing any information against them must come forward. You can contact the Deeds office In Johannesburg to get the investigating officers details or visit their offices in Johannesburg CBD.

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khensi
, ZA
Feb 05, 2016 2:35 am EST
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The Saunders (husband & wife) were arrested in December 2015 and are out on bail. We received this information from the Deeds Office in Johannesburg. They are currently building a case against them and anyone who can assist with providing any information against them must come forward. You can contact the Deeds office In Johannesburg to get the investigating officers details or visit their offices in Johannesburg CBD.

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Tshepo Leburu
, ZA
Jan 05, 2016 11:49 am EST
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Does anyone knows if they are still using their office in roodeport or have their other contact numbers because melissa number doesn't go throw, they stole our money as well and never register our Anc

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Lourette
, US
Dec 08, 2015 12:36 am EST
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Any luck here? I am trying to get hold of them. They never sent our contract to the deeds office! What do you do from here?