Concreter finally refunds consumer

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has taken an Ormeau concreter to court after he again failed to provide concreting services.

Paul Lawrence Coplick pleaded guilty and was fined $12,000 for failing to provide services within a reasonable time under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).

The matter was heard on 13 June 2022 in the Southport Magistrates Court with Mr Coplick being convicted and fined but not required to pay compensation having refunded the consumer prior to the court hearing.

This matter was commenced after Mr Coplick provided a quote to a consumer in late 2021 for concreting services, took a deposit of $2,000, but did not undertake the work or provide a refund the consumer.

Mr Coplick has been prosecuted by the OFT previously for failing to provide concreting services.

Commissioner for Fair Trading Victoria Thomson said the OFT will continue to protect the rights of Queensland consumers who are left out of pocket by traders doing the wrong thing.

“In this situation Mr Coplick should have refunded the consumer when he realised he could not do the work, but he didn’t do so until the OFT took the matter to court.”

“Traders who find themselves in situations like this should do themselves a favour and provide refunds to their customers.  Not doing so has proven to be a very expensive way of doing business for this trader,” Ms Thompson said.

“Consumers considering building or construction work, including concreting, can check traders are licensed via a free online licence search on the Queensland Building and Construction Commissions (QBCC) website."

The OFT encourages consumers who have paid for goods or services but have not received them to approach the trader for a refund in the first instance. If they are unsuccessful, they should lodge a complaint with the OFT online at www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading.