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Sham Qld builder to repay $70k after faking licence
A man who posed as a licensed builder and took more than $90,000 from Queensland home owners has been convicted, fined, and ordered to pay compensation.
Matthew Archer was prosecuted at a hearing in the Ipswich Magistrates Court in April by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
At the hearing, Archer was convicted of unlawfully carrying out building work, using another person’s licence, and commencing work without a compliant contract.
The court heard Archer used the licence number of a former licence holder with the same name and created a forged QBCC licence certificate.
He quoted approximately $95,000 for an extension at a house in Placid Hills, Gatton and accepted more than $90,000 in payments, but carried out limited work and failed to complete the project.
According to the QBBC, the court imposed a $12,000 fine and ordered Mr Archer to pay $70,000 in compensation to the affected home owners.
Of that amount, Archer must pay $50,000 by 12 April 2027 or risk two months’ imprisonment; alternatively, he will be required to return to court to show cause.
QBCC CEO and commissioner, Angelo Lambrinos, said Archer had shown consistent dishonesty by falsely claiming to be licensed, using another person’s licence number and taking substantial sums of money from trusting home owners.
He said the case highlighted the importance of owners doing their due diligence and ensuring their contractor was legitimately licensed, including checking the photo on their QBCC licence.
“While optional, digital licences enable consumers to check that the person they are dealing with matches the photo on their licence, confirm the licence is current, and ensure it is appropriate for the work being carried out.”
Lambrinos encouraged owners to use the QBCC’s resources before engaging a contractor.
“The QBCC will unapologetically act when someone is deliberately or repeatedly breaking the law to protect home owners and the reputations of hard-working licensees who do the right thing,” he concluded.
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