An unlicensed Inverell motor vehicle repairer has been ordered to pay $12,100 in fines and costs by Armidale Local Court.

Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge said Robert Gordon Clarke pleaded guilty to carrying out unlicensed motor vehicle repair and autogas work in the Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, and Northern Tablelands areas.

He also pleaded guilty to operating without a registered business name and falsely claiming his motor vehicle repair services met the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) vehicle registration requirements.

In addition, Mr Clarke falsely represented he was authorised by NSW Fair Trading and the appropriate Australian Standards Bodies to examine and certify autogas installations.

“Mr Clarke’s actions could have easily have ended in tragedy,” Ms Judge said.

“He has never held a licence to carry out motor vehicle repair and autogas work in NSW.

“Between 2007 and 2009, Mr Clarke advertised and worked as a motor vehicle and autogas repairer.

“During that time, he was servicing and testing LPG cylinders in motor vehicles and using a SAI Global Pty Ltd stamp test certification 360 he was not authorised to use.

“As a result, consumers were left out of pocket and forced to have their LPG autogas tanks re-certified by an appropriately qualified person.”

Ms Judge said there was no place for illegal or backyard operators in the marketplace.

“Over the past 12 months, Fair Trading officers have carried out nearly 800 inspections of motor vehicle repairers across the state,” she said.

“Since 1 July 2009, there have been four prosecutions of motor vehicle repairers. Fair Trading has also handed out 25 penalty notices worth a total of $45,760.”

Motor vehicle repairs ranked number six in the top ten of consumer grievances across NSW last year, with more than 1,600 individual complaints lodged with Fair Trading.

“The most common complaints related to the quality of work, warranty issues and damage to customers’ property,” she said.

“Consumers have a right to expect repairers to be licensed and have the appropriate qualifications to carry out the work safely and effectively.

“Repairers caught carrying out repairs without a licence face fines of up to $110,000 or 12 months imprisonment.”

Consumers should always:

• check a trader is licensed by using the licence register online or by calling 13 32 20
• get a quote in writing
• ask to be contacted if additional work needs to be done
• request an itemised account and
• ask for references to verify the trader’s work history.

Ms Judge said NSW Fair Trading will soon become a one stop shop for gas issues thanks to reforms introduced by the Keneally Government.

Under the new regime Fair Trading will be responsible for:

• licensing gasfitters and
• setting standards for gasfitting work and gas appliances including autogas and LPG (with limited exceptions for industrial installations).

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