Trades and services - what are your rights when things go wrong?
I
f you’re already having problems finding tradespeople, WA’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry predicts the situation will get even worse in the next three to five years.
As our trades and service industries struggle to cope with demand, stories of long delays and poor work standards are becoming commonplace.
Businesses providing trades and services are experiencing difficulties in finding suitably qualified staff, and many consumers are being caught out by operators carrying out sub-standard work. In this situation, knowing your rights as a consumer is essential.
Making claims against someone providing a service can seem less clear-cut than dealing with a defective product. Judging the quality of their work can, to a degree, be subjective. But you do have a right to have work carried out with due care and skill.
The service you are paying for must be of a certain standard and quality.
If the operator fails to deliver this, you are entitled to have the work carried out again.
You may also be entitled to compensation if the work carried out has resulted in other damage.
All services are covered by a statutory warranty. It’s not a written warranty given to you by the operator; it is implied when you engage someone to provide a service for you. These implied consumer rights are covered by
Trade Practices Act 1974 or by fair trading laws in each state.
The only time these warranties may not apply is if you don’t adequately explain what you want done, or if you go against the advice of the operator and insist on having the work done a certain way.
If details of the work to be carried out are not included on a quote form, ask for them to be detailed in writing. Having a clear description of the scope of the work in writing will make things easier for you, in the event that you do need to make a complaint.
How to make a complaint when things go wrong
