Big fine for working without a licence

MAN ACCEPTED PAYMENT BEFORE STARTING RENO JOB

A southern Alberta man has been hit with a hefty fine for unlawfully accepting payment for a renovation job before he actually began the work.

Clynton Clifford Mann received money from a client in May of 2017, but he didn’t hold the proper licence for accepting payment in advance.

Mann, 39, pleaded guilty Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to one count of engaging in a business transaction without a licence under the Fair Trading Act — since replaced by the Consumer Protection Act — and was fined $5,000. Although he completed some of the work for which he was hired, he was also ordered to make restitution of $8,800 for the uncompleted portion of the $17,000 job.

“I’m very, very sorry,” Mann told the judge.

The judge noted that while he considered the matter serious, it would have been considerably more serious had Mann not done any of the work for which he was hired. He agreed with the recommended high fine, which he suggested would help deter others from conducting business in a similar manner.

Crown prosecutor Vaughan Hartigan noted the maximum fine allowed under the existing Consumer Protection Act is $300,000.

Mann, who is currently not working but receiving payments through the Workers’ Compensation Board, was given until the end of June next year to make restitution, pay the fine, and pay a victim surcharge of $750. He can, however, apply for an extension to the deadline.

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