A landscaper is facing an arrest warrant after failing to attend court to answer charges of allegedly taking money from consumers and then not carrying out the work.

WA consumers are being warned not to conduct business with Trent Danny Caines, trading as TDC Landscaping. Mr Caines mostly advertises via Gumtree and charges large deposits, if not the full amount, for landscaping and brick paving work.

Since September 2015, Consumer Protection has received eight complaints from consumers who claim to be owed significant amounts of money for work which they say has not been carried out. It is an offence under the Australian Consumer Law to accept payment and not complete the work within a reasonable time.

No refunds have been provided and Consumer Protection continues to have difficulty in contacting Mr Caines to resolve the complaints. An arrest warrant was issued on 24 August 2017 at the request of Consumer Protection on the basis that Mr Caines had been actively avoiding service of prosecution notices relating to eight charges of breaching the Australian Consumer Law.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard said consumers should not conduct any business with Mr Caines until the current complaints are resolved.

“We believe that Mr Caines continues to advertise his services and operate his business and, with a warrant issued for his arrest, we warn consumers not to deal with him,” Mr Hillyard said.

“Our message to consumers looking for these types of services is to consider our warning before engaging with Mr Caines and his landscaping business. If you have paid a deposit or the full amount without getting any work done, then contact us to lodge a complaint.”

Consumers can lodge an online complaint on the Consumer Protection website www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au or enquiries can be made by emailing consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@dmirs.wa.gov.au