Bitumen bandits roll up to Ipswich
Bitumen bandits are back, this time in the Ipswich area, offering driveway repairs and bitumen laying services warns the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
It’s a scam that’s targeted many Queenslanders over the years, but with a lot of us at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, residents are being warned that door-to-door scammers are ramping up their operations.
One particular itinerant bitumen trader has visited businesses in the Karrabin area this week offering a ‘hotmix deal’, stating they had left over materials. The trader is using a van with no business logo and is going by the name of Bob.
Commissioner for Fair Trading, Victoria Thomson said regardless of how great the offer seems, itinerant bitumen layers often leave consumers out of pocket.
“They sometimes provide invoices that appear legitimate but when consumers try to follow up with the trader using the details on them they discover they’ve used false addresses and contact details.
“Bitumen bandits are complete scammers and OFT have heard reports of them travelling in areas surrounding Ipswich,” Ms Thomson said.
“The left-over bitumen story is a common tactic, but they do vary their approaches and mix and match their sales pitches.
“Sometimes watered-down bitumen is laid on ungraded or poorly graded ground and consumers find themselves further out of pocket as they later have to pay another trader to have it removed and replaced.
“Sometimes the scammers start by quoting a low cost to seal the deal and then try to force consumers to pay thousands of dollars on the spot. Consumers are almost forced to comply because if the work isn’t finished, they can’t get their car out of the garage.
“Sometimes the scammers simply take large deposits, perform no work, and never return. There is no way to get a refund as these types of traders usually vanish.”
Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumers have extra rights if they receive unsolicited approaches by traders at their homes. Door-to-door traders must advise consumers about the 10-day cooling-off period and it is illegal for them to accept payment or commence any services during this time.
Door to door traders must leave your premises if you ask them too and they must not approach any residence displaying a 'do not knock' notice or sticker. Queensland residents can order a free sticker from the OFT website.
If you think you have seen these traders, contact the Office of Fair Trading on 13 QGOV (13 74 68) so we can track their movements and warn other consumers.