Tradie quote an expensive proposition

AN Ingham tradie has been hit with a hefty fine after illegally quoting a customer for a job.

Adrian Castles, 51, faced the Townsville Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to one charge of carrying out building work while not the holder of a contractor’s licence.

The court was told Castles, an asbestos removalist, quoted a customer $28,000 for a bathroom renovation in January last year while trading as AMYC Asbestos.

Defence solicitor Bradley Searston said Castles did not hold the relevant licence to offer this quote.

“He had undertaken some asbestos removal work for the complainant,” Mr Searston said.

“The complainant then asked if my client could undertake bathroom renovation at her house and he indicated to her at that time that he was not able to undertake the work.

“My client could not arrange for someone else who did have a licence to do the work. The allegation is that he provided the quote.”

Outside court, Castles said he had been trying to organise a builder to do the job for the customer when he quoted the job on their behalf.

“Then the floods came and he said ‘I’m too busy I can’t get anyone’,” Castles said.

Mr Searston said the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) initially issued Castles with an infringement notice before it withdrew the notice and elected to take the matter to court.

A QBCC prosecutor said it chose to withdraw the notice at its rent”.

Mr Searston asked the court to consider lowering any financial penalties it imposed.

“He has now had to pay legal costs, in my submission, in circumstances where it could have been dealt with an infringement notice,” he said.

Magistrate Viviana Keegan said the laws surrounding construction licences were designed to protect customers.

In sentencing she said she took into account the fact that Castles did not undertake any of the work.

“You have to take restrictions on your licence very seriously,” she said.

“There is a public interest reason that we have these rules and regulations and that is to protect the consumer.”

She fined him $2000. No conviction was recorded. discretion as a

“deter