Consumer Watch with Natasha Pirrottina: The to-do list in order to find the right tradie for your job

Whether you’re planning some home improvements or just need a quick repair, finding the right tradesperson can make all the difference. Most tradies are hardworking, honest professionals who do great work. But every so often, Consumer Protection hears from people who’ve been left disappointed, out of pocket, or worse, by the few who don’t play by the rules. But how do you choose the right tradie for your job? Take the time to do a bit of homework as it will save you headaches later on. Get multiple written quotes to compare price and value, and it’s best these are given in-person. There has been a rise in scammers impersonating real tradespeople on online ‘find-a-trade’ platforms, asking for photos of jobs and sending fake invoices to trick people into paying. Nothing beats the power of word-of-mouth. Recommendations from neighbours, friends and family can go a long way towards finding someone reliable and trustworthy. Don’t be shy about asking for references or to see previous work. A good businessperson should never have a problem with this. If they do, that’s a red flag. When you’re looking to hire an electrician, gas fitter, builder, painter or plumber it’s important to check they’re licensed on wa.gov.au (https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/building-and-energy/building-and-energy-licence-and-registration-search) One of the most common complaints Consumer Protection receives is about tradies who demand large deposits upfront and then fail to start or complete the job. Paying too much before any work begins puts you at risk, especially if the tradesperson goes broke or disappears. While there’s nothing wrong with a tradie asking for deposit, it’s best to only pay about 10 per cent. For larger jobs try to negotiate progress payments as stages of the work are completed. Doing these things will reduce your risk and give you greater bargaining power if something goes wrong. It’s worth noting, if your job involves home building works valued at more than $7500, the law says you can only be asked to pay a deposit of 6.5 per cent or less before work begins. Paying by credit card is another smart move, as it may allow you to get your money back through a chargeback if goods or services aren’t delivered. Sometimes things legitimately do go wrong. If a tradie needs to cancel a job after taking a deposit without providing any goods or services, they are required to return that deposit in full. On the other hand, if they need to increase the quote after they’ve accepted a deposit you are allowed to back out of the agreement and also get your full deposit back. Similarly, if part of the job is unsolicited (for example, a tradie is already at your house fixing a tap and then offers to replace your hot water system) the law gives you a 10-business-day cooling-off period. During this time, they can’t start work or ask for payment, and you can change your mind without any penalty. Sometimes delays are genuinely out of a business’s control, such as bad weather, postal holdups or supply chain issues. In these cases, it’s best to give the business the opportunity to offer a solution, like a refund or a replacement. The same applies if the job wasn’t completed to the expected standard. Remember, most tradies do the right thing, but the Australian Consumer Law protects consumers from the ones who don’t. If you can’t resolve issues with the tradie first, you can lodge a complaint with Consumer Protection via www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au, email consumer@lgirs.wa.gov.au, or call 1300 30 40 54. Natasha Pirrottina is senior regional officer for Consumer Protection in the Mid West