The Office of Fair Trading is urging people to be cautious of two tradies operating in South-East Queensland.
Public warnings have been issued for James Bruce Michael Darren Brown and his stair supply, installation and renovation businesses, and Matthew Geoffrey Rixon, also known as Joseph J. Sara, and his fencing and renovation businesses.
Two consumers, who are based on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, allege they have paid Mr Brown substantial deposits for goods and services, including renovations, and for the manufacture and installation of stairs, which he has failed to provide.
It’s not his first brush with the marketplace regulator.
Mr Brown was found guilty of multiple breaches of Australian Consumer Law in 2022 and 2024, after separate Office of Fair Trading investigations found he had failed to provide goods and services after taking significant deposits from several Queenslanders.
He has been fined a total of more than $110,000 and ordered to pay more than $61,330 in compensation to affected consumers.
Mr Brown operates his businesses through two companies and a trust, including:
• SMC Stair Supplies Pty Ltd (ABN 16 636 802 867 – now cancelled);
• Unique Group of Companies (AU) Pty Ltd (ACN 662 017 209 and ABN 90 662 017 209) trading as Unique Stairs Gold Coast, Unique Bathroom Make Overs and Unique Extensions and Renovations; and
• Trustee for The Adversity Group Trust (ABN 54 147 433 599) trading as Unique Stairs Queensland.
The Office of Fair Trading also advised consumers not to deal with Matthew Geoffrey Rixon, who is using the alias Joseph J. Sara, or his business Fence Sure (Brisbane) and Sunstate Home Improvements (ABN 84 867 156 693).
Mr Rixon has a long history with the Queensland and New South Wales marketplace regulators, as the subject of multiple public warnings and legal action in both states.
He has been convicted of several offences, including fraud, and is currently under an injunctive order by the NSW Supreme Court that prohibits him from contracting, being engaged in or involved with residential building work in any capacity.
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OFT is aware Mr Rixon has returned to Queensland and is currently operating in the South-East, offering fencing and renovation services.
It is concerned he is continuing to use tactics such as using fake ABNs or the ABNs of other unrelated companies without their approval.
SEQ sub-contractors are also advised Mr Rixon often uses subbies and fails to pay them for the work they commence.
Fair Trading Commissioner Victoria Thomson urged consumers to be wary.
“It’s clear these traders have a blatant disregard for the law and, despite various legal and enforcement actions, are up to their old tricks,” she said.
“We are concerned they may continue to take large sums of money from Queenslanders and not supply the goods or services as promised.
“Our message to Queenslanders is clear: do not deal with these traders under any circumstances.
“We’re urging consumers to remain vigilant and do your research by checking reviews, doing a general internet search of the businesses you’re looking to use and asking friends, relatives and neighbours for names of tradies they recommend.
“One of the most important things to check before engaging a tradie is that they’re licensed with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC).
“A quick free search of the licensee register on the QBCC website shows neither of these traders are currently licensed to do building work in Queensland.”
Consumers should be aware there are other businesses operating in Queensland with similar names that are not linked to these public warnings.
OFT recommends checking the ACN or ABN to confirm businesses, as well as checking they have an appropriate licence.
The QBCC provides a free licence search on its website.
Consumers who have paid either trader for goods or services but have not received them should lodge a complaint with OFT.
