An unlicensed Eastwood electrician has been ordered to pay more than $42,000 in fines and costs for carrying out electrical work without qualifications and for using a licence number that did not belong to him.

Fair Trading Deputy Commissioner, Steve Griffin, said Ferras Aridah, trading as Active Spark Electrical Services, carried out unlicensed electrical wiring work on 19 residential and commercial units in a building in Rozelle, between September 2006 and May 2008.

“Mr Aridah made false representations claiming to be a licensed contractor and citing a licence number used by another tradesperson,” Mr Griffin said.

“Mr Aridah has never held a contractor licence or certificate for any class of work regulated by NSW Fair Trading.”

Mr Griffin said Mr Aridah was convicted of the following offences under the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2004, the Electricity (Consumer Safety) Regulation 2006, and the Home Building Act 1989:

• section 31(1) of the 2004 Act for carrying out work not in accordance with Australian Standards;
• clause 35(1) of 2006 Regulation for carrying out safety and compliance tests whiles unqualified;
• section 4(1)(a) of 1989 Act for unlicensed contracting of specialist electrical work;
• section 12 of 1989 Act for unlicensed specialist work, being electrical wiring work; and
• section 17(1)(a) of 1989 Act for falsely representing that he was the holder of a contractors licence.

“The licensing system exists so consumers can be confident they are dealing with traders who have the qualifications and skills to undertake the work,” Mr Griffin said.

“Consumers should always check if a tradesperson’s licence is current and valid for the specific work required before entering into any contract or agreement.

“Traders caught operating without a licence can incur fines of up to $22,000 for an individual or up to $110,000 for a company.

“To check the licence details of a tradesperson or for more information, visit Fair Trading website or call 13 32 20.”

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