Felix Moorehouse.
Camera IconFelix Moorehouse. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Scam gang still at large in suburbs

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

Consumer Protection has warned against Felix Moorehouse and John Pio Murphy, who are believed to operate under the business names Top Class Driveway and Roofing Improvements Pty Ltd (registered in Victoria), All New Roofing and Driveway Maintenance (non-registered) and All Season's Roofing and Driveway Restorations (non-registered).

A Consumer Protection spokesman said the businesses had been "extremely difficult to contact" and had refused to co-operate with the investigation.

In July, workmen operating under All Season's Roofing and Driveway Restorations convinced an Edgewater woman to pay them $2000 to clean her driveway, repair cracks and paint it.

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She discovered only a small number of cracks had been filled, which quickly reappeared.

The workers are believed to have gathered more than $10,000 from similar cases in Noranda, Forrestfield and Winthrop this year.

Moorehouse was ordered to pay $35,425 in fines by the Parramatta Local Court in Sydney in 2013 after being convicted of five offences under Australian Consumer Law.

Acting Consumer Protection commissioner Gary Newcombe warned the men used high-pressure sales pitches to convince residents to use their services at a low cost.

"The cost of the job is often more than it's worth and the work is usually sub-standard," he said.

�It's also difficult to track down these traders for a refund or to make a warranty claim if the consumer is not satisfied.

"They are also breaking consumer law by not observing a 10-day cooling off period for unsolicited sales and painters are required to be registered with the Building Commission to operate legally in WA."