Fair Trading
NSW Fair Trading is advising consumers to avoid unlicensed operators offering residential trades work to residents in Western Sydney, Tevita Tiliti Ungounga, also known as David Ungounga, and Nillo Ashok Duggal.
Mr Ungounga does not hold a contractors licence. Mr Ungounga has previously used T.T. Construction (an unregistered business name) and T & T Sandstone Construction Pty Ltd (a deregistered company) when dealing with consumers. Mr Ungounga has been the subject of two previous public warnings published by Fair Trading in 2018 and 2020.
Despite the warnings, complaints against Mr Ungounga continue to be received.
Mr Nillo Ashok Duggal trades under the name 360 Degree Home Building Solutions Pty Ltd even though that company is deregistered. Mr Duggal does not hold a contractor's licence. Recently, consumers complained about residential contracts he entered into, under which works were done,
some of which appears unsafe. The complaints are being investigated.
In 2020, Mr Duggal was convicted of offences under the Home Building Act 1989 for unlicensed contracting, and fined $35,000. Irrespective of the prosecution, complaints against Mr Duggal continue to be received by NSW Fair Trading.
Executive Director of Investigations & Enforcement for the Better Regulation Division Valerie Griswold said the department encourages consumers to utilise the online tools available to them to do the research.
"We're urging consumers to do their research before engaging any contractor for work," she said. "This will ensure the right people for the job are hired and they have the appropriate licenses to carry out the work."
"Consumers should also be wary of handing over excessive deposits from consumers above the 10% of the contract price allowed by the Home Building Act, prior to meeting a trader and prior to the commencement of work."
Anyone who has had problems in their dealings in New South Wales with either Mr Ungounga or Mr Duggal, or has information about their continued operation, should contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 to lodge a complaint.
Consumers are also urged to check that their tradesperson is appropriately licensed to do the work and can check if a trader holds the appropriate licence by visiting Fair Trading's website https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/online-tools/home-building-licence-check or by calling us on 13 32 20.
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