Consumer Protection are warning against itinerant traders who ignore cooling off periods and don't wait for the ok to go ahead with works.
At least two households in the Perth Metro area have lodged complaints against a roofing company that approached them unsolicited and began works based only on a verbal quote with no permission to go ahead.
Consumer Protection say the tradies work for Quality Home Care and Maintenance Pty Ltd under the sole director William Joseph Delaney and that they are breaking door to door trading laws by ignoring a required cooling off period.
They also advertise on Gumtree and in the Quokka, as well as dropping flyers in mailboxes using a virtual office at the Subiaco Business Centre in Hay Street.
It's believed many more households have been approached with multiple phone calls received by Consumer Affairs.
In both complaints the home owners received verbal quotes for roofing works and were surprised when works commenced without their go ahead. In one case they allowed the works to go ahead but after paying the company the owner realised the works were of poor quality and hadn't been completed, when they tried to get the workers back out to fix the job they couldn't reach them.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said home owners need to know their rights.
“Don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics and, if tradies start work without your permission, demand that they stop immediately and leave your premises. If they continue, it’s trespassing and consumers can call the police for assistance,” Mr Hillyard said.
“Under unsolicited sales or door to door trading laws, consumers are allowed a ten business day cooling off period before work begins or money is paid. Itinerant traders who do the job and take the money during this period are breaking the law."
“Home owners should not deal with itinerant traders who just turn up out of the blue. Large jobs around the home require consumers to get several quotes and check out the track record of the company, so don’t make hasty decisions you might later regret.”
More information on consumer rights with regard to door to door traders is available on the Consumer Protection website www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au. Home owners approached by itinerant traders who don’t abide by the conditions of the cooling off period should report them by emailing consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or calling 1300 30 40 54.
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