A custom trailer business based in Kempsey, NSW and its manager has been convicted and penalised by the Kempsey Local Court after it was determined that the company has ripped off consumers.
On 9 August, the court determined that between 2020 and 2023, SNB Plus 3 Pty Ltd (SNB) accepted $70,000 in payments from consumers for trailers but failed to supply the trailers within a reasonable timeframe, in some instances failing to supply the trailers at all.
As a result, the NSW Fair Trading prosecuted SNB and its manager Bradley Martin for the failures to supply. Another company director, Sarah Martin, was also named for her involvement in the scheme even though she was disqualified from the motor dealer industry.
During the proceedings, Kempsey Local Court heard evidence about multiple consumers who engaged with SNB, including two that paid $12,000 and $11,750 respectively for trailers they didn’t receive.
With the ruling SNB was fined $8,000 and was ordered to pay an additional $4,000 in legal costs. Bradley Martin was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay $42,315 in compensation to multiple consumers and $4,000 in legal costs. Sarah Martin was also ordered to pay $5,232.80 in compensation and $4,000 in legal costs
Separate from compensation orders, a number of consumers who had not received goods from SNB either received the custom trailers they paid for or a refund after NSW Fair Trading involvement.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann commented, “This outcome is a win for consumers and should serve as a warning to anyone who thinks they can get away with non-supply of goods. We encourage consumers who feel they have been wronged by a supplier to bring the matter to NSW Fair Trading for investigation. We are here to fight for consumers.”
