Kylie and Scott Sommer’s Inspired Paving failed to complete the landscaping work in time for a home wedding in Kiara. Stock image
Camera IconKylie and Scott Sommer’s Inspired Paving failed to complete the landscaping work in time for a home wedding in Kiara. Stock image Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

Law catches up with Wanneroo landscaping business

Justin BianchiniWanneroo Times

A WANNEROO couple involved in a landscaping business has been fined $12,000 by the Perth Magistrates Court March 8 and ordered to pay almost $33,000 in compensation for taking deposits but not completing the work.

Kylie Elizabeth Sommer, trading as Inspired Paving, and her husband Scott Robert Sommer, who was involved in the business, had taken substantial deposits from six consumers between August 2016 and April 2017 but, in most cases, did not carry out the landscaping work and failed to provide a refund.

Each was fined $6000 and the couple was also ordered to pay $2713.30 in costs.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

The charges arose from the following cases:

• Kiara man who paid $26,771 between August and November 2016 for landscaping and fencing work but only some of the work was done by the deadline set by the consumer to coincide with a wedding at his home.

Padbury woman who paid a deposit of $4650 in November 2016 for paving work but only the compacting of the ground was done.

Parkerville woman who paid $19,891 in October and November 2016 for paving work that was never started.

Ellenbrook woman who paid the total quote of $2330 in December 2016 for paving work but only the removal of some existing paving was carried out.

Hamersley man who paid a $1260 deposit in February 2017 for paving and fencing work never started.

Wanneroo woman who paid a $3200 deposit in April 2017 for paving and fencing work but only some of the quoted services were done.

One of the consumers had already obtained a court order in their favour for compensation and two of the consumers were awarded an amount less than the deposits they paid, as they received partial supply of the materials and services from the couple.

Consumer Protection commissioner Lanie Chopping said these were serious offences that betrayed the trust consumers had placed in the business.

“Under the Australian Consumer Law, it is a criminal offence to take a deposit and then not deliver the goods and services within a reasonable time,” Ms Chopping said.

More news from around Perth

“The lesson here for consumers is to limit your risk by providing minimal money up front. We recommend no more than 10 per cent as a deposit and, for bigger jobs, progress payments can be made but only when certain stages of the work are completed and material supplied.

“Under no circumstances should consumers pay the full amount up front as this provides little incentive for some tradespeople to finish the work and takes away any bargaining power the consumer has if the work does not meet expectations.

“It’s also wise to set clear timeframes for the completion of the work and get it in writing so there is no confusion. If there are unacceptable delays in completing the work, consumers can demand a refund in order to engage another operator or contact Consumer Protection.”

Consumers having any issues with tradespeople can lodge an online complaint at Consumer Protection or inquiries can be made by email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 304 054.