Fair Trading Commissioner Lyn Baker is warning residents in Young and surrounding areas to be wary of rip-off merchants looking to cash in on damage caused by storms last night.

Ms Baker said that following severe storms, opportunistic and dodgy builders, glaziers and roof tilers often descended, hoping to catch desperate home owners off guard.

“They prey on the need to fix problems quickly, but a single telephone call to Fair Trading on 13 32 20 can save families financial loss and emotional heartache,” she said.

“The family home is the largest investment most people will ever make and it is not worth risking it to save a few dollars on some unlicensed, fly-by-night tradesperson.”

Fair Trading staff can assist by:

• providing information on how to choose suitable tradespeople to carry out repairs
• checking that trades people offering to do work are properly licensed and insured
• advising people in rented accommodation and their landlords about their rights and obligations and
• providing access to debt counselling for those in financial difficulties.

“I urge storm victims not to deal with tradespeople who are unlicensed or do not have insurance cover for the work,” Ms Baker said.

“Consumers who need to repair their homes are strongly advised to check with Fair Trading that the tradespeople they plan to employ are licensed for the particular task.

“Storm damage can also be a major issue for landlords, tenants and real estate agents when a rental property is damaged and requires urgent repairs, with possible issues of compensation.

“Householders who are approached by people who they believe may be questionable tradespeople, should contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20.”

You can check if a builder or tradesperson is licensed online or by calling 13 32 20.

Builders caught operating without the appropriate licence can faces fines of up to $22,000.

Back to Media releases