Consumers are being warned of dodgy door knockers in the Riverina preying on vulnerable people and using scare tactics to secure work, Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said.
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Mr Kean said the scammers were offering what appeared to be cheap work, then charging hugely inflated prices upon completion.
“These dodgy tradies are renowned for cold-calling innocent residents, providing verbal quotes for cheap home improvements or driveway work, and then bullying them into paying far more than originally stated,” he said.
“At this stage we believe the traders remain in the area, and Fair Trading officers are continuing their enquiries. I urge consumers to be on high alert, and not to be pressured into accepting work from tradies who randomly turn up on your doorstep and intimidate you into accepting work.”
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a cooling-off period of 10 business days automatically applies to unsolicited sales where the goods or services are valued at $100 or more. Payment cannot be demanded during the cooling-off period.
Consumers should check if a trader holds the relevant licence before engaging them to work on their home, Mr Kean said.
For more information, or to check a licence, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
