Court outcome: Jacob Anthony Moratti

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is asking consumers to check a tradesperson is registered and holds appropriate qualifications before agreeing to their services.

Jacob Anthony Moratti has been found guilty and convicted of accepting payment from consumers but failing to provide concreting services. He was also found guilty and convicted of making a false or misleading representation that he held a licence with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission when he did not.

Mr Moratti was fined $35,000 in the Cleveland Magistrate Court (17 April 2023) and ordered to pay over $21,200 in compensation to consumers.

Mr Moratti lured consumers by posting advertisements on social media and service seeking online platforms using different business names, including Italia Concrete Services Qld, Jaytobe Concrete Services, Jakobi Concrete Construction and Jake Moratti.

After contact was made, Mr Moratti would request payment upfront to confirm the services. Mr Moratti made numerous false claims to consumers for the delay in commencing concreting services before ceasing contact with them.

Quotes attributed to Acting Fair Trading Commissioner David McKarzel:

“It is disappointing that this person has shown no remorse for his victims and continued to reoffend and act deceitfully.

“We advise consumers to do their own checks by looking up reviews and free licence and business registers, so they only use traders with good reputations and avoid disappointment.

“If a consumer has not received the goods or services they have paid for, the OFT recommends approaching the trader in the first instance. If this is unsuccessful, they should lodge a complaint via our website www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading or by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68).”