A national removalist, who repeatedly failed to deliver a promised "gold class" service, has been fined $80,000 by NSW Fair Trading, the largest fine issued for the quarter.
Christopher Wayne Stanley Boyce from Bustamove Removals was fined for accepting payment for removalist services without properly providing them.
Mr Boyce was convicted of 16 Australian Consumer Law offences, trading under the registered business name Bustamove Removals, from June 25, 2013, to July 2015 and under the unregistered business name Interstate Relocation Specialists (IRS) since July 2015.
While trading as IRS he used an ABN belonging to another Christopher Boyce in Queensland, who operates an electrical contracting company.
Mr Boyce's was one of $777,000 worth of fines and penalties imposed on non-compliant business between April 1 and June 30, an increase of more than $100,000 over the previous quarter.
Fair Trading issued a warning not to deal with Mr Boyce in July, after receiving more than 40 complaints relating to loss of items, damaged goods, failure to provide receipts, contracts or insurance, failure for items to arrive and changes in delivery times without notice.
Judy Webster was one consumer who fell victim to the dealings of Mr Boyce in August last year, when she paid almost $13,500 to transport one 40 foot and six 20 foot containers of furniture and household belongings, by rail, between the Sunshine Coast and North Queensland.
"The containers had been sitting in a storage yard for seven years," Ms Webster told Fairfax Media in May.
"We had to take out a loan to pay him. He took the money and then never came anywhere near us."
Another customer, Jeremy Ducklin, had to engage an alternative removal firm in June last year when Mr Boyce did not show up to transport goods interstate, despite a $1760 payment to do so.
Fair Trading's third Quarter Enforcement Report for 2015/2016 revealed offences under the Home Building Act remained at the top of the list, with 167 offences resulting in $300,000 in fines and penalties.
"We encourage consumers to conduct thorough research into prospective contractors before signing anything or transacting any money," Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said, pointing consumers to Fair Trading's public register for licensed occupations.
Ninety-three penalty notices were issued under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act during the quarter, including one offender in Sydney who received a 15-year license ban and an order to repay more than $815,000 to the Property Compensation Fund.
Mr Stowe said that Fair Trading had issued fines to the tune of more than $777,000 was testament to the department's "effective and well-regulated system ensuring consumer rights".
