A tradie who accepted payment but failed to complete the work has been fined $7,500 by the Fremantle Magistrates Court and ordered to pay compensation of $6,600 to three clients.

Adam Lodge, trading as Southwestern Roofing and Building Maintenance, was also ordered to pay costs of $1,000 after pleading guilty to three charges of failing to supply all services within a reasonable time.

The charges related to three clients who hired Mr Lodge to carry out work on their patios that was never completed.

Two of the jobs were to remove existing patios and then carry out associated works including installation of new gutters. Mr Lodge collected payments from both clients and began the work but failed to complete the jobs.

Both clients employed other tradespeople to finish the work.

One charge related to taking a deposit to install a patio but then not returning to commence the work.

Mr Lodge told the court that he had got in over his head with the work and was no longer self-employed.

Acting Commissioner for Consumer Protection Penny Lipscombe said that under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), once money is accepted and the contract is confirmed, then the work has to be carried out within the agreed timeframe or within a reasonable time.

“To take money and then fail to carry out the work is a serious breach of consumer law and tradespeople who engage in this misconduct will find themselves being prosecuted,” she said

Consumers who have issues with tradespeople taking deposits and then failing to begin or complete the work can contact Consumer Protection by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Claudine Murphy (08) 6552 9366 / 0423 846 397 / claudine.murphy@dmirs.wa.gov.au