Update: A warning has been issued about a second unscrupulous, unlicensed landscaper who has been operating mainly in St George and Sutherland Shire.
Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox said today that people should not deal with Adam Mallass, who has several aliases, [see previous story below].
Several hours later, the minister warned about dealing with Steven Miller, sole proprietor of Aussie Landscapes.
He said Miller had been operating mainly in St George and the shire, and NSW Fair Trading had received six complaints since he was convicted of offences last February.
“Steven Miller accepts payment for work but fails to complete it, charges deposits as high as 50 per cent of the contract price, contracts to carry out unlicensed residential building work and fails to provide certificates of home warranty insurance,’’ he said.
Mr Mason-Cox said this was the second public warning issued by Fair Trading against Miller, who used the aliases of Steve Miller, Steven or Steve Malas or Steven James.
A previous public warning had been issued in 2012.
Mr Mason-Cox said that on February 7, this year, Miller was convicted by Parramatta Local Court for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law and Home Building Act and ordered to pay fines and costs of $67,310 and compensation of $17,247.
“Despite the court’s decision, [Miller] has made no attempt to cease his unlawful behaviour, pay the fines or compensation orders against him,” he said.
Mr Mason-Cox said since Miller also had continued to contract unlicensed landscaping work and there could be more prosecutions.
The minister said the warning, in the public interest, was being issued under section 86A of the Fair Trading Act 1987.
Anyone with concerns should contact Fair Trading, 13 32 20.
Warning issued
Fair Trading Minister, Matthew Mason-Cox has issued a warning about an unlicensed landscape contractor who has been operating in St George and Sutherland Shire.
“He leaves consumers high and dry after receiving excessive deposits for work he has no intention of completing," the minister said.
Mr Mason-Cox said residents should not deal with Adam Mallass, who operates under the business names of Hands On Group and Malas Property Management.
He said the warning against Mr Mallass, also known as Michael or Mick Malas, was being issued in the public interest, under section 86A of the Fair Trading Act 1987.
"Adam Mallass has a history of accepting payment for work but doing very little work and abandoning the site," the minister said.
"On November 1, 2013, Adam Mallass and Hands on Group Pty Ltd were convicted by Parramatta Local Court for breaches of the Australian Consumer Law and Home Building Act 1989 and ordered to pay fines, costs and compensation of $52, 551.
"Adam Mallass accepted payment without supplying services, carried out unlicensed structural landscaping work, and falsely represented that he held a contractor licence."
"Despite the conviction, Adam Mallass has made no attempt to cease his unlawful behaviour, pay the fines or compensation orders against him.”
Mr Mason-Cox said since his conviction, Adam Mallass had been using the unregistered business names of Hands on Group, Malas Property Management and the company Hands on Group Pty Ltd, of which he was a director, to contract unlicensed landscaping.
“Mr Mallass has been operating in the St George and Sutherland Shire areas but has also done jobs in Lilyfield, Five Dock and Church Point on the peninsula,’’ he said.
Consumers who have concerns about work carried out by Adam Mallass or his aliases should contact Fair Trading on 13 32 20.
