Help with Getting Deposit Back from Carpenter Who Didn't Complete Job

endeee on 11/09/2022 - 12:33
Last edited 11/09/2022 - 17:28 by 1 other user

Hello, wondering if anyone had similar experience or can help me with this case?

Long story short. I hired a carpenter on hipages to do a job for a door replacement at the end of February. I was told to pay a deposit before he could order the door to his bank account which I stupidly did and regret. It is now September and the job has not been completed yet. the guy kept saying he'll do the job and made up excuses for the delay. first shipping delays, then sickness and kept promising he'd do the job every time I asked when it would be completed. He has now stopped replying to my calls and messages.

I have contacted hipages but he is no longer registered to them so they can't help me out. I have contacted Victoria Consumers Affairs and they couldn't help either because he was not responding. I have also contacted my bank and is now currently in dispute. I have his ABN details, anything else I can do to try get my money back?

• 

  Ash-Say on 11/09/2022 - 13:27

  +2

  Sorry for your experience.

  You shouldn't have paid any deposit. If the tradie can't afford to get material, they shouldn't be in the business.

  Good luck with bank but I think the chances are considering its now over 6 months.

  • 

    Euphemistic on 11/09/2022 - 18:08

    +6

    I think it’s acceptable for a tradie to ask for a deposit for materials. Some jobs require a lot of materials purchased up front. The customer can also cancel a job on a whim and leave the tradie with a bunch of materials that won’t suit bother job.

    Unfortunately there’s an element of trust required between both parties when both might not be as honest as they should be.

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  bobbified on 11/09/2022 - 14:16

  +1

  How did you pay the deposit? Chargeback may still be possible if you paid by card.

  • 

    endeee on 11/09/2022 - 18:04

    Bank transfer

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  AndyC1 on 11/09/2022 - 17:05

  You are up the creek without a boat…

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  JIMB0 on 11/09/2022 - 17:58

  Do you know where he lives?

  • 

    endeee on 11/09/2022 - 18:05

    I do have an address after I looked up his ABN on ASIC

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  elgrande on 11/09/2022 - 19:27

  How much $

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  poboy on 11/09/2022 - 20:02

  I feel for you. We all have costly life lessons, some more expensive than others. I probably would have paid the deposit too.

  Sometimes, people are buggers.

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  buckster on 11/09/2022 - 20:30

  +1

  VCAT? Although it's not always fast it certainly can deliver results

  https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/couple-win-legal…

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  pasey25 on 11/09/2022 - 20:31

  On the flip side, I once had a carpenter do half a job, with no deposit then he ghosted me. I only had to pay another carpenter half to finish the job off. Guy never contacted me for any payment 🤷🏻‍♂️

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  mauricem on 11/09/2022 - 20:43

  Is he licenced with the state building authority? In Qld tradespeople must be licenced for any work over $3300.
  The QBCC https://www.onlineservices.qbcc.qld.gov.au/OnlineLicenceSear…
  lists complaints and judgements against builders, tradies etc and will hear complaints and suspend licenses if required. Surely Vic has a similar thing?

  • 

    endeee on 12/09/2022 - 01:05

    seems like VIC only has it for builders and plumbers

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  Ori0n on 12/09/2022 - 17:24

  +1

  If you feel like this is an out and out scam - you could consider reporting him to your local police station - they deal with scams and fraud.
  Also potentially consider reporting this as a cybercrime https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report as you've basically been deceived into sending someone money online. https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/report/are-you-a-victim-of-cyb…