Portable building provider to pay more than $2 million for ripping off Queenslanders

A Toowoomba-based portable building provider has been ordered to pay more than $2 million after the Office of Fair Trading took them to court for breaches of Australian Consumer Law.

Christopher Terrance Edards and his company Chace Roofing Sheds and Patios Pty Ltd left a number of Queenslanders out of pocket, taking more than $1.3 million from consumers for portable buildings that were not provided

Christopher Terrance Edards and his company Chace Roofing Sheds and Patios Pty Ltd have been ordered to pay more than $2 million in fines, compensation and other costs after they were found guilty of 38 counts of wrongly accepting payment under Australian Consumer Law in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today.

It comes after an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation revealed the Toowoomba-based portable building provider took more than $1.3 million from Queenslanders for tiny homes, cabins and granny flats that were never provided.

OFT received complaints from 19 consumers who each paid between $20,000 to $217,000 to Mr Edards and his company for portable buildings they didn’t receive.

The offending took place between August 2021 and October 2023 and impacted Queenslanders from Beenleigh to Mackay and as far west as Longreach.

One customer paid more than $45,000 for a portable two-bedroom home to live out her dying husband’s wish to live closer to her family and grandchildren. She wanted to put this portable home on her daughter’s property after her husband passed away, but to date it has not been supplied and no refund has been received. The customer described the experience as two-and-a-half years of “devastation and heartache”.

Another customer and her brother wanted to buy a portable building for their father after their mother was diagnosed with cancer. Four days after they paid a $50,000 deposit their mother died. Seven months later they seized a partially completed cabin from Mr Edards. The cabin still can’t be lived in and the father remains homeless. They have not received a refund from Mr Edards or his company.

Today’s prosecution comes after OFT took the unusual and serious step of publicly warning Queenslanders about Mr Edards and his companies in January last year.

If you haven't received goods or services that you've paid for, and haven't been able to resolve the issue with the trader, you can make a complaint to the Office of Fair Trading.

Commissioner for Fair Trading, Victoria Thomson said Mr Edards actions were completely unacceptable and had distressing impacts on affected customers who suffered significant financial losses.

“Several consumers across our state invested significant funds with Mr Edards and were left with nothing to show for it.

“This trader’s conduct shows a clear disregard for our laws and has significantly impacted customers who have been left in the lurch.

“We work hard to enforce Queenslanders' rights and will take action against any traders who act inappropriately

“We will continue to crack down on dodgy traders who are taking money from consumers and failing to supply.”