Queensland’s building watchdog has issued a Public Warning about a Brisbane man for performing work outside his licence class, taking excessive deposits from home owners and failing to rectify defective work.
The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) is urging consumers, contractors and suppliers to be cautious in their dealings with Matthew Todd Cooley and his businesses Renovations Brisbane Pty Ltd and Cooley M Services Pty Ltd, trading as Hire a Hubby Ascot (Qld).
The QBCC is aware of several complaints relating to Mr Cooley and his associated businesses, and warns anyone dealing with him and his businesses to exercise extreme caution, and to seek legal advice before making any payments, to protect their interests.
QBCC Commissioner, Brett Bassett, said the alleged offending had occurred in suburbs that included Balmoral, Norman Park, Hawthorne, Bulimba, Clayfield and Nundah.
He said complaints about building work by Mr Cooley and his businesses can be made by phoning the QBCC on 139 333.
“The QBCC strongly encourages consumers to always use the free licence check on the QBCC website to confirm that the person they are dealing with is appropriately licensed,” Mr Bassett said.
The QBCC website also offers a free Find a Local Contractor search, that allows consumers to find licensed, skilled, local tradespersons.
Mr Cooley is alleged to have undertaken building work outside of his QBCC licence class, taken deposits in excess of the maximum allowed under the QBCC Act and failed to comply with a QBCC-issued direction to rectify defective building work.
BACKGROUND
This Public Warning is issued by the Commissioner of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) under section 20J(1)(i) of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991.