The Honourable Peter Lawlor
23/09/2010
Dodgy trader alert: Fair Trading warns about tree lopper
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is warning Queenslanders about the suspected unlawful business practices of a tree lopper who has been door-knocking neighbourhoods for work.
Fair Trading Minister Peter Lawlor said the OFT had good reason to believe All Qld Tree Services was ripping people off, particularly vulnerable pensioners.
"Earlier this year the OFT launched an investigation into the practices of All Qld Tree Services. Those investigations are continuing and relate to serious breaches of the door-to-door provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1989. In the meantime I encourage Queenslanders to be very wary if approached at home by this company," Mr Lawlor said.
Elevisi Moli is the proprietor of the Kingston, Brisbane-based business.
Mr Moli and a group of several workers are known to travel around Queensland peddling their services to residents at home.
It was previously reported in the media that an elderly Maryborough woman paid the company $10,500 to have the branches on a tree in her yard trimmed.
The OFT has also received a complaint from an 83-year-old Bundaberg man who says the group pressured him to go to the bank and withdraw $8,000 to pay for two trees to be cut down and others to be trimmed.
"The investigation has so far identified that the amounts charged by All Qld Tree Services far exceed the expected price for the amount of work undertaken. The company reportedly only accepts cash and pressure tactics are used," Mr Lawlor said.
"It has now been identified that Mr Moli trading as All Qld Tree Services has recently operated in the Northside of Brisbane, and last week approached an 87 and 79 year old couple and demanded cash to remove one tree"
Mr Lawlor said dodgy itinerant door-to-door traders charged too much, messed up the work and pressured people before doing a runner.
"Some approach residents by pointing out flaws in their home that apparently need fixing," Mr Lawlor said.
"They'll often offer to drive the person down to the ATM to get their cash. When there's a group of tradesmen in your home demanding money, it can be very intimidating."
Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, door-to-door salespeople must:
• produce an identity card with the trader's full name and address
• only contact customers between 9am-6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. Calls on Sundays or public holidays are prohibited
• provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price when the goods or services are more than $75
• provide a 10-day cooling-off period when the goods and services are worth more than $75. During this time no payment, including deposits, can be accepted and no work can be commenced.
• provide a form outlining the consumer's right to cancel a door-to-door contract
• provide a form to actually make t he cancellation within the cooling off period
Members of the public can report suspicious activity of a trader to the OFT by visiting www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or calling 13 13 04.
Traders caught breaching the Fair Trading Act face fines of up to $54,000 for individuals and $270,000 for companies.
