Issue Date:  -  Thursday, 13 July 2000

Queensland carpet cleaners to face WA court

An October trial has been ordered for two carpet cleaners being prosecuted by the Ministry of Fair Trading.

David Stranaghan Senior and David Stranaghan Junior, of Redcliffe in Queensland, have been charged with 36 breaches of the Door-to-Door Trading Act.

The court received a written plea of not guilty from Stranaghan Senior and no reply from his son.

All charges have been set for a hearing on 3 October 2000.

It is alleged that the Stranaghans who have traded in Perth as Stuart's Cleaning Services, targeted retirement villages offering cheap carpet cleaning, but then charged customers up to $3700 for less than an hours work.

Stranaghan Senior faces 12 charges involving two complainants, whilst Stranaghan Junior faces 24 charges involving four complainants.

In all cases related to the charges the Stranaghans made unsolicited approaches to the complainants.

The charges involve six breaches of the Door-to-Door Trading Act:

 - failing to give a copy of the cleaning contract;
 - failing to give proper notice of the 10 day cooling off period;
 - failing to give a notice used to cancel a door-to-door contract;
 - accepting money during the cooling off period;
 - supplying services during the cooling off period;
 - failing to show identification.

Maximum fines under the Door-to-Door Act are $1000 for each offence.

Consumers wanting further advice on this or any related matter can ring the Fair Trading Call Centre on 1300 30 40 54 or send an email to consumer@docep.wa.gov.au.

You may also like to read our consumer information on door-to-door sales people.

Media inquiries:
Hayley Mayne
Tel: (08) 9282 0961
Mobile: 0409 118 982