Shonky Maintenance Person!

[Honeydoll]

Hi there everyone!I was hoping if anyone can give me some advice or suggestions on how I can get my money back.You see, we hired a Handyman to do our lawns and he did a good job with the lawns. We asked him for a quote to change the flyscreens and quote us on other jobs. So, after agreeing to his price, we booked his services for the flyscreens. We paid him in advance by putting it into his account--$85.He wasn't able to come on the agreed date. So we rang and dates were set and never managed to come as he always got "caught in another job". We asked for a refund. He said that he would transfer it back into my account. Didn't happen. After a few days, I finally got hold of him and since I still wanted to avail of his services, we agreed to continue the lawn maintenance (scheduled Dec. 7 and then another one in Jan.) and we'll just pay the difference.It wasn't a surprise that he didn't show up on Dec 7.I rang him last Sat. to just request for a refund. He hang up on me. After that call, his mobile was just unavailable.My husband said that we'll just take legal action, like contact Fair Trading or send him a "Breach of Service". Only problem is that we don't have his address to send it to. Only info we have is ABN #, Electrical/Tech license # and bank account. Oh, and mobile #.I thought of getting my friend to ring him for a job and when he shows up at her place, we can meet/confront him then. But I'm not sure if that's allowed. What else can I do?To some people 85.00 is nothing but hey alot can be done w/ 85.00--like paying for my xmas layby for one.Any suggestions/advice is highly appreciated!Thanks!

[veve]

who issued the license?? what group?? if you have his number - and this story . . could you ring them and see if they could at least offer some assistance in how to contact him with your concerns???

sorry - I cant see any other way .. if they granted him the license .. they would want to know that he is doing a good job - not a shonky one ..

xx
JEn

[punkbaby]

Did you get a written quote prior to putting money in his account? Should your friend hire him ask her to ask him for his address or a recipt ec so you can then write him a letter or lodge a compliant. If you speak to him again, prior to calling him ring consumer affairs and ask them the correct way of threatning legal action, they will give advice and this way when you ring, keep your cool and tell him you have been advised by them this etc etc etc

Good luck hopefully he will give your money back

[UmmInayah]

Don't know if this will work, but can you do a search on the internet under the ABN? You might be able to find the address that way?

[punkbaby]

You can see someones post code via abn look up but no addresses :( i was thinking that too but figure everyones privacy would be out there if they showed that

[Honeydoll]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, I tried doing an ABN search and discovered that the ABN he has on his ad is invalid. :hair:I even calculated the value of his ABN number based on the formula they showed on the website. Like, deduct 1 from the 1st number. Then multiply each value of the ABN number to a weight value. Then add them all up and divide by 89. The value shouldn't have a difference. Ex. should be a flat 5 or 3..not 5.3453 or 3.242. :banghead:

My DH rang him today and the moment he heard who it was, he hang up on him:thumbsdown:

I contacted Fair Trading and the person I spoke w/ said he'll post out some forms for me. I am just hoping that this will help in getting our money back.

I am just so angry!:hissy:

[Gina1970]

Have you tried doing a search on his Electrical contractor licence number? Not sure where you are but in some States you can do an online search.

That should give you his 'business name' and with any luck you should be able to track back and find out his correct ABN?

[justmum]

In most states if he has registered a business name, his details will be listed with the department of fair trading.

Any electrical licence will definitely have his address details listed on a register too.

Have you thought about calling one of the current affairs programs? They love chasing people like this down particularly if you are one of several people who has been ripped off.

$85 may not seem like a lot of money to some people, but for anyone with a baby it is! And besides, it's not just the cash, it's the principle of it and that he might do it to someone else - go get him!

BTW, if his ABN is invalid, I would report him to the Tax Office too.

[Honeydoll]

I've contacted Fair Trading and they sent me a form w/c I filled out and posted out today. I'm expecting that they may receive it tomorrow but not get to go through it until next week.

They said they'll send out an acknowledgement receipt w/in 4 days of getting it. So, I'm expecting to get that maybe Friday next week. With the Xmas holidays, I'm not sure if they'll start viewing my case until the new year :(. I'm hoping that it'll be a quick one.

Yesterday, when we tried to ring him. I rang first, the moment he learned who the caller was, he hang up. Then we tried again, this time he didn't answer. My DH rang him and he hang up. After a few mins, we tried again and I believe he said F-- off before hanging up.

I'm just curious what runs in the minds of people like this to think that they have the right not to keep money that is not rightfully theirs.

[Amity22]

Thats unbelievable. $85.00 is allot of money and at chrissy time every little bit helps besides that its the principle of the matter.

Hope you get somewhere soon