South Australian consumers are being warned not to engage a company reported for allegedly approaching residents with cheap bitumen paving offers in McLaren Vale.
Consumer and Business Services (CBS) has issued a formal public warning against Blackstone Oz Pty Ltd, advising people not to engage the company for bitumen paving or other building work.
The warning follows an alleged door-knocking approach at a McLaren Vale property on the 20th of October, when people claiming to represent the company reportedly offered to lay bitumen for $30 per metre.
CBS says the group claimed they were working on nearby roadworks and had excess bitumen available, telling the residents they would only need to pay for labour, not materials.
The group allegedly began the paving work but was stopped after the residents raised concerns about the circumstances of the approach.
CBS says Blackstone Oz does not hold a building work contractors licence, which is required to enter into contracts for bitumen paving or other building work in South Australia.
Contracting to carry out building work without the required licence is an offence.
The public warning, issued on the 22nd of October under the Fair Trading Act and Australian Consumer Law, also raises concerns about possible breaches of rules governing unsolicited approaches to consumers at home.
Under those rules, consumers who agree to work following an unsolicited approach have a 10-business-day cooling-off period. During that time, the trader must not accept payment or carry out the work.
Traders must also provide a written contract and information about consumers’ cooling-off rights.
CBS is investigating whether any breaches of consumer or building work laws have occurred.
‘Bitumen Bandits’
The warning comes amid broader concerns about so-called ‘bitumen bandits’ operating across regional South Australia.
These itinerant operators often approach residents and businesses claiming to have leftover materials from nearby jobs, offering discounted driveway resurfacing or paving.
Police issued a warning in August after reports of similar approaches in Langhorne Creek, where residents were offered cheap driveway and paving work. Police warned that the work could be substandard, with customers potentially facing demands for substantially more money than originally agreed.
CBS says the groups can move quickly between locations, and is urging consumers to be wary of unsolicited offers, particularly those involving pressure to make an immediate decision or pay on the spot.
Anyone with concerns about dealings with Blackstone Oz can contact Consumer and Business Services on 131 882.
