Contents
Customers complain: Despite high down payments, they received the pool late and with major defects.
German comedian and TV presenter Kaya Yanar wanted to have a pool built at his home in Switzerland. In doing so, he fell for the excellent salesman Lars Lindgren, the owner of Crystal-Schwimmbaeder GmbH. Lindgren’s offer looked very attractive: an “all-inclusive” package with a raised floor pool, gardening work and much more, at a reasonable all-inclusive price and with a short delivery time.
In 2020, Yanar signed the contract and made a down payment of CHF 63,000. Then nothing happened for months. Only after more than a year and repeated follow-ups did construction finally begin.
Pools with serious defects
Today there is a pool in Kaya Yanar’s garden, but it is in poor condition. A report commissioned by the Yanars lists various deficiencies: the lifting floor pool, for example, is dirty and can only be cleaned with great effort, if at all. Pumps, pipes and filters are undersized. The report describes these shortcomings and many more.
The Yanar family’s pool also has serious defects that have not been remedied to this day, even after repeated requests. On behalf of customers, swimming pool expert Jürg Rufer appraised a total of twelve pool projects by Crystal-Schwimmbaeder GmbH that had serious defects.
Swimming pool expert Jürg Rufer finds serious deficiencies in Yanars:
Managing Director Lars Lindgren writes: “Certain suppliers were no longer able to supply us with the same quality as before Corona. The deficiencies have been corrected or are in the process of being corrected». And as for the Yanars pool, Lindgren says: The pool could very well be cleaned. And the technology was installed with the latest status: “But if this is not the case, we are happy to replace it on request.”
Lots of unsatisfied customers
The approach of business owner Lars Lindgren seems to have a system. “Kassensturz” has knowledge of 20 to 30 cases. Customers have paid a lot of money and are upset. For example, you didn’t receive a pool or only after months of exhausting discussions and a lot of putting off. Or the pools are not working.
Lars Lindgren writes: “It has no system and is simply a sad fact that we are correcting. Every customer will receive their ordered goods as well as the ordered pool or whirlpool as contractually agreed.» He sees himself as a victim of a scam.
Subcontractors are also affected
The excerpt from the debt collection register for Crystal-Schwimmbaeder GmbH is long. At the end of August 2023, the company was operating at around 3.3 million francs. Creditors are not only customers: “Kassensturz” has knowledge of several subcontractors that have never been paid, including Yanars’ horticultural contractor. Crystal swimming pools business owner Lars Lindgren promises that the garden builder will get back any outstanding money through installment agreements.