Furniture maker Ben Purchase has been fined $4000 without conviction, after pleading guilty to failing to comply with requirements to provide information as part of our investigations into his business.
We issued a statutory notice to Purchase, 40, of Carlton North, the director of company Ingrain Group Pty Ltd trading as Ingrain Designs, requiring him to give us more details of how he had dealt with consumer purchases and refund requests.
We took action after receiving multiple complaints from consumers that Purchase was accepting money for orders, failing to supply the furniture and ignoring requests for refunds.
Purchase failed to provide evidence in response to the notice, which was issued under the Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012 as part of our investigations. Failing to comply with a statutory notice is a criminal offence punishable by maximum penalty of more than $11,500 for each breach.
We continue to investigate allegations that Purchase has failed to supply customers with furniture they have paid for and has failed to provide refunds.
Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV), Nicole Rich, reminded traders that statutory notices to give evidence are not optional. Rich said CAV would continue to take action to address non-compliance, so that consumer regulators can use the tools provided to them under the law to help protect the community from unlawful business practices.
Consumers with concerns about their dealings with Purchase or Ingrain Designs are encouraged to contact us.