Ray gets square with dodgy Plumbing Detectives boss
After months of campaigning, Ray Hadley may have finally brought down a shonky plumber who’s been ripping off vulnerable Australians.
On May 30, Ray revealed the Plumbing Detectives charged an 81-year-old woman $700 to fix a leaky tap – a job which took just 30 minutes.
Instead of rectifying the situation, the business threatened The Ray Hadley Morning Show and stood by their behaviour.
What ensued was a flood of emails and calls from other listeners, all with similar stories of dodgy dealings with the Plumbing Detectives.
It prompted Police Commissioner Mick Fuller to step in and order the company to cease and desist using the word ‘detectives’ in their name.
Now, after dozens more complaints, Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean joins Ray Hadley in the studio with a major announcement.
Click PLAY below to watch Minister Kean make the announcement
“Ray, I wanted you and your listeners to be the first to know, that today Fair Trading has cancelled the licence of the director of the Plumbing Detectives Mr Belal Dassouki.
“That means Mr Dassouki can no longer operate as a plumber, drainer or gas fitter in the state of NSW.
“In addition to that Ray, he will no longer be able to hold an office of a company that undertakes those activities or oversee any work undertaken in that area.”
The company has seven days to appoint another director or it will have to cease operation altogether.
Ray questions whether Dassouki can simply transfer the licence to co-owner Mahmoud Sayadi.
Mr Keans says it is possible but insists Fair Trading will not rest until it’s gotten to the bottom of the Plumbing Detectives’ dodgy dealings.
“The announcement we’ve made today doesn’t preclude us from taking strong action against them in the future.”
Click PLAY below for the full interview