Bitumen Bandits resurface
Issue Date: - Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Consumer Protection is warning consumers not to deal with itinerant traders offering to lay asphalt driveways.
Commonly known in the Eastern States as Bitumen Bandits, the scam is reportedly resurfacing in Western Australia.
Consumer Protection is aware of reports in the Geraldton area of door to door salespeople offering to lay bitumen driveways.
Usually the scammers will claim they have just completed a bitumen surfacing job down the road, and are offering left over material at bargain prices, for payment in cash or by cheque.
Consumer Protection is aware of a case in Dongara this week where an elderly lady was asked to pay $3,700, which was considerably more than the work was worth.
A big concern is that often the targets are the elderly and people on low incomes. In the past some elderly people were intimidated into being driven to their banks to get the cash.
In most cases after completing the work, which is often substandard, the itinerant traders leave the district and consumers are unable to contact them or obtain refunds or warranties.
These itinerants are breaching the Door-to-Door Trading Act that gives consumers a 10-day cooling off period to change their mind or shop around to get advice, without having to make any payments within the cooling off period.
Consumer Protection is warning homeowners not to deal with these traders. If consumers receive any approaches with offers to lay asphalt driveways using left over materials at bargain prices, they should immediately contact the Consumer Protection hotline on 1300 30 40 54.
End of release.
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