Only duds: Facebook Marketplace seller fined after ripping off customer

• Only Pods Pty Ltd traded in the supply of demountable buildings to Queenslanders through Facebook Marketplace.
• The company and its representative pleaded guilty to accepting payment but failing to deliver goods within a specified period and has been ordered to pay more than $55,000 in fines and compensation.

A Gold Coast demountable building supplier has been ordered to pay $10,000 and its representative has been ordered to pay more than $45,000 in fines and compensation in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today after pleading guilty to accepting payment and failing to supply goods within a specified period.

Only Pods Pty Ltd and its representative, Lyndsay William Brown, left a consumer more than $37,000 out of pocket after they ordered a demountable building via Facebook Marketplace.

The order, confirmed by Mr Brown as being currently in stock, was to be delivered to a Wieambilla address on 5 January 2023.

The date was agreed to by Mr Brown via Marketplace communications with the buyer and again on an invoice for $37,500 issued on 20 December 2022, which was paid the same day.

Over the six weeks following the payment, Mr Brown made multiple changes to the order and delivery date before eventually agreeing to a full refund. When the refund was not paid, the consumer lodged a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading.

To date, no refund has been provided to the consumer.

Commissioner for Fair Trading Victoria Thomson reminded traders of their obligations to their customers.

“Traders need to honour their commitments to consumers and deliver the products and services their customers have paid for,” Ms Thomson said.

“Online businesses—including those using platforms like Facebook Marketplace—have the same responsibilities as bricks and mortar businesses.

“The Office of Fair Trading will continue to stand up for Queenslanders who don’t receive what they have paid for.”

If you haven’t received goods or services you’ve paid for, the Office of Fair Trading recommends approaching the trader in the first instance. If unsuccessful, you can lodge a complaint at qld.gov.au/fairtrading