A sharp spike in the number of complaints received from South Australians about rogue tradespeople has prompted the State Government to launch a new campaign.
In the past few months, hundreds more South Australians than usual have contacted the government to say they have been charged excessive amounts including for unnecessary and/or shoddy work.
The state's consumer watchdog, Consumer and Business Services, is investigating a significant number of these complaints for potentially breaching Australian Consumer Law.
People are being urged to take steps to protect themselves from being taken advantage of and to be aware of red flags when hiring a tradesperson.
If you need to hire a tradie you should:
- Get the scope right - Seek advice from at least three different tradespeople. That will help you know what tasks will need to be carried out, and whether anyone is suggesting tasks that are unnecessary. For example, one tradie might insist on a total replacement for a hot water system, while another might suggest repairs for a fraction of the cost.
- Request quotes - When seeking advice about the scope of the work, you can invite each tradesperson you contact to give you a quote. Some tradies charge thousands of dollars more than others, so get three quotes before deciding which tradie to hire. Make sure the quotes are itemised and fixed. Try to do this even if the situation seems urgent, as it can save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run.
- Know who to call - Some companies trade under many different names so you might think you’re requesting quotes from three different businesses, but they could all be the same company or owned by the same company. The simplest way to check who you’re really dealing with is by noting their licence number and searching the CBS licensing register to see which business or trading names are connected with that licence.
By law, every builder and tradesperson must display their licence number on any advertising including on social media, their website and business card. Make sure you only deal with someone who is licensed to do the kind of work you need done.
Anyone working without a licence - or outside of what their licence allows them to do – is breaking the law and their work could be substandard.
You can check if a tradesperson is licensed by:
- Asking to see their digital licence on their phone or tablet
- Checking their plastic licence card
- Looking up their licence details on the CBS licensing register
- Phoning Consumer and Business Services (CBS) on 131 882.
It’s a good idea to search online for independent reviews about a tradesperson and also ask friends and family for recommendations.
Don't assume that the person with the cheapest call out fee will be the cheapest to do the job and always take the time to compare the quotes from different businesses.
There have been many reports over the years of door-to-door traders taking money upfront, doing a poor-quality job and then disappearing. Anyone going door-to-door is an immediate red flag and under consumer law, there needs to be a written contract and a 10-day cooling off period.
Don’t pay too much in advance to a tradesperson. For smaller tasks, tradies usually only require payment at the end of the job. For bigger jobs, a maximum 10 per cent deposit is recommended.
Consumer Sean Hill said that in January this year, his air conditioner broke and a company quoted him $32,000 to replace the unit.
"They expected us to just accept it on the spot," Mr Hill said. "It makes you wonder how many people get ripped off because they feel like they have no other choice in an emergency."
He said people expected not to be taken advantage of from licensed traders entering their home.
"I'm so glad we didn't just go with their quote," Mr Hill said.
"The pressure they put us under was awful, and it's clear they rely on people feeling like it's too urgent to shop around. No one should be pressured and potentially ripped off like that."
For more information about the campaign click here.(external site)
