• Four consumers pay for decorative screens but get nothing in return
• Full refunds given two years later, just prior to Court appearance
• Business proprietor fined $5,000 for accepting payments but failing to deliver

A producer of custom laser-cut panels, screens and gates who took consumers’ money but failed to deliver has received a $5,000 fine imposed by the Perth Magistrates Court on 16 April 2021.

Garry Joseph Glen, trading as GSN Industries formerly of Forrestdale, pleaded guilty to breaching the Australian Consumer Law when he accepted payments totalling about $4,000 from four consumers from September 2018 to January 2019 but did not deliver the ordered items, despite numerous demands from the affected customers. The business is no longer operating.

Three of the consumers received small partial refunds in October 2020 and it wasn’t until February 2021 that full refunds were provided to all consumers. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said it took far too long for the refunds to be paid.

“It wasn’t until Consumer Protection got involved that small amounts of money were repaid to the aggrieved customers and full refunds were provided just prior to the matter going before the Court,” Ms Chopping said.

“Consumers who don’t get their goods and services delivered within a reasonable time shouldn’t have to wait so long for refunds, especially if they have requested them. Anyone who is getting a string of excuses when deliveries are delayed should contact us so we can check to make sure their excuses are not in fact lies.”

More information about consumer rights is available on the Consumer Protection website. Enquiries can be made by email consumer@demirs.wa.gov.au or by calling 1300 30 40 54.

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Media Contact: Alan Hynd, (08) 6552 9248 / 0429 078 791 / alan.hynd@demirs.wa.gov.au