Dodgy bitumen traders operating on the Sunshine Coast
Published Wednesday, 11 February, 2009 at 04:39 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
The Office of Fair Trading is warning consumers to be aware of dodgy bitumen layers targeting Sunshine Coast residents.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the men posing as bitumen layers had approached residents offering discounted driveway repairs.
“The men claim they are working on construction sites in the area and have left over material and offer to do the job for a low price,” Mr Shine said.
“Typically these rough operators demand upfront payment then do a substandard job using watered down materials.
“Often the jobs have to be fixed by a qualified trader, leaving the consumer to pay twice for the same job.”
Mr Shine urged consumers in the area to be vigilant and not to engage the services of any door-to-door traders without doing the proper checks.
“These dishonest operators travel from one place to another looking for opportunities to deceive unsuspecting consumers,” he said.
Mr Shine said anyone who has dealt with these men or been approached by them recently should report it to the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04.”
“Door-to-door trading laws protect both consumers and industry from the dangers of traders who attempt to take the money and run.
"These dodgy traders often use high-pressure tactics, rushing consumers into making on-the-spot decisions and demanding cash upfront,” he said.
Under the Fair Trading Act 1989 door-to-door traders must:
• restrict door-to-door trading hours to 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturday, with no trading allowed on Sundays and public holidays
• provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price, for the sale of goods or services valued at more than $75
• allow a 10-day cooling-off period for consumers to cancel a contract, with no payments to be taken or work commenced during this time
• provide consumers with information about how to cancel agreements, and
carry and present identification.
“Traders caught breaching the Act face fines of up to $40,500 for individuals and $202,500 for companies,” he said.
In 2007, the Petrie Magistrates Court ordered Matthew Walter Kefford, 26 of Mount Macedon, Victoria, to pay $30,000 in fines and recorded a conviction for breaching door-to-door trading laws.
For further information on the responsibilities of door-to-door trading in Queensland, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.
Media contact: Lisa Taylor 0488741689
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine said the men posing as bitumen layers had approached residents offering discounted driveway repairs.
“The men claim they are working on construction sites in the area and have left over material and offer to do the job for a low price,” Mr Shine said.
“Typically these rough operators demand upfront payment then do a substandard job using watered down materials.
“Often the jobs have to be fixed by a qualified trader, leaving the consumer to pay twice for the same job.”
Mr Shine urged consumers in the area to be vigilant and not to engage the services of any door-to-door traders without doing the proper checks.
“These dishonest operators travel from one place to another looking for opportunities to deceive unsuspecting consumers,” he said.
Mr Shine said anyone who has dealt with these men or been approached by them recently should report it to the Office of Fair Trading on 13 13 04.”
“Door-to-door trading laws protect both consumers and industry from the dangers of traders who attempt to take the money and run.
"These dodgy traders often use high-pressure tactics, rushing consumers into making on-the-spot decisions and demanding cash upfront,” he said.
Under the Fair Trading Act 1989 door-to-door traders must:
• restrict door-to-door trading hours to 9am-6pm Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturday, with no trading allowed on Sundays and public holidays
• provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price, for the sale of goods or services valued at more than $75
• allow a 10-day cooling-off period for consumers to cancel a contract, with no payments to be taken or work commenced during this time
• provide consumers with information about how to cancel agreements, and
carry and present identification.
“Traders caught breaching the Act face fines of up to $40,500 for individuals and $202,500 for companies,” he said.
In 2007, the Petrie Magistrates Court ordered Matthew Walter Kefford, 26 of Mount Macedon, Victoria, to pay $30,000 in fines and recorded a conviction for breaching door-to-door trading laws.
For further information on the responsibilities of door-to-door trading in Queensland, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au.
Media contact: Lisa Taylor 0488741689