A SUNSHINE North business was one of the victims of an unregistered builder pursued by Consumer Affairs.
The business entered into a contract with a 28-year-old builder who took $7000 from the owners for a contract on which he never began work.
The builder also never responded to communication about the work.
He was convicted on five charges of breaching Victorian domestic building and fair trading laws on home and commercial projects earlier this month.
The charges relate to almost $18,000 taken from consumers, including a contract to build a retaining wall for a Burwood family.
But he failed to do much more than “dig a few holes” according to Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O’Brien, who said $10,700 in compensation was awarded to the family along with a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) order of $7000 for the Sunshine North business.
“This is an important conviction against an unregistered builder who took thousands from Victorian consumers and then failed to deliver,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Not only will (the builder) have to pay out thousands in compensation, he’ll also have time to reflect on his behaviour while completing 250 hours of community service.”
Mr O’Brien said the charges were an important lesson for consumers and urged people to check credentials, references and registration of a builder before engaging their services.
Under Victorian building laws, a deposit for domestic building work can be no more than 10 per cent for work under $20,000 or five per cent for work over $20,000.
For more information visit Consumer Affair’s Victoria at www.consumer.vic.gov.au or www.buildingcommission.com.
