A Koondoola patio installer has been ordered to pay a total of $16,091.15 in fines, costs and compensation by the Perth Magistrates Court after taking deposits from four consumers but failing to carry out any work.

Thanh Giang Nguyen, trading as T.A.Y Patios and Outdoors, pleaded guilty to accepting four deposits between July 2016 and July 2017 without commencing any work or providing a refund, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. He was fined $7,200 ($1,800 for each charge) and ordered to pay $7,150 in compensation and $1,741.15 in court costs.

The deposits accepted to supply and install a patio included:

• $650 from a Yokine home owner in July 2016;
• $3,000 from a Marangaroo home owner in March 2017;
• $2,000 from a Maylands home owner in July 2017;
• $1,500 from a North Lake home owners in July 2017.

In handing down the penalty, Magistrate Smith said he took into account the conduct was repeated on four occasions over a number of months and told Mr Nguyen he should have stopped accepting money when his business turned bad.

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