Pensioners beware of dodgy tree lopper

Pensioners in Queensland are urged to be wary of a dodgy door-to-door trader who is preying on the vulnerable.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is warning against the suspected unlawful business practices of tree lopper, Elevisi Moli, who has been door-knocking neighbourhoods for work.

The proprietor of the Kingston, Brisbane-based business and several workers are known to travel around Queensland peddling their tree cutting services to residents at home.

Fair Trading Minister, Peter Lawlor, said “The OFT recently launched an investigation into the practices of All Qld Tree Services and in the meantime I encourage Queenslanders to be very wary if approached at home by this company,” Mr Lawlor said.
 
It was recently reported that an elderly Maryborough woman paid the company $10,500 to have the branches on a tree in her yard trimmed.

“The amount charged for the type of work raises questions. The company reportedly only accepts cash and pressure tactics are used,” Mr Lawlor said.

“The OFT is concerned the trader may have broken door-to-door trading laws which are in place to protect consumers.”

The OFT has also received a complaint from an 83-year-old Bundaberg man who says the group pressured him to go to the bank and withdraw $8,000 to pay for two trees to be cut down and others to be trimmed.

Mr Lawlor said dodgy itinerant door-to-door traders charged too much, messed up the work and pressured people before doing a runner.

“They’ll often offer to drive the person down to the ATM to get their cash. When there’s a group of tradesmen in your home demanding money, it can be very intimidating.”

Under the Fair Trading Act 1989, door-to-door salespeople must:

• produce an identity card with the trader’s full name and address
• only contact customers between 9am-6pm from Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on Saturdays. Calls on Sundays or public holidays are prohibited
• provide a written contract clearly stating the breakdown of costs, including GST and the total price when the goods or services are more than $75
• provide a 10-day cooling-off period when the goods and services are worth more than $75. During this time no payment, including deposits, can be accepted and no work can be commenced
• provide a form outlining the consumer’s right to cancel a door-to-door contract
• provide a form to actually make the cancellation within the cooling off period

Members of the public can report suspicious activity of a trader to the OFT by visiting http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or calling 13 13 04.