In South Australia, Consumer and Business Services (CBS) says an unsolicited plumbing sale with a contract over $100 requires a written contract and carries a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel; with very limited exceptions, the business must not supply products or services, or take payment, during those 10 days (figures checked 1 October 2026). An invited visit solely to provide a quote can still result in an unsolicited sale if the consumer enters the contract at the time of the quote.
What makes a plumbing sale “unsolicited” in South Australia?
CBS gives several examples of when a tradesperson’s approach or on-site contract is considered unsolicited:
| What happened | CBS treatment |
|---|---|
| A tradesperson telephones you or arrives at your door without an invitation and offers goods or services | The approach is unsolicited. |
| You invite a tradesperson only to inspect the issue and provide a quote, but enter a contract at the time of the quote | The sale is unsolicited. |
| The tradesperson offers additional work while at your home and you agree to it through a new quote at that time | The contract for the additional work is an unsolicited consumer agreement. |
The quote-only example shows why the circumstances of the contract matter. Even though you invited the tradesperson to inspect the issue, agreeing to buy the work during that visit can bring the sale within the unsolicited-sale rules.
What happens when an unsolicited contract is over $100?
The protections described by CBS depend first on whether the sale is unsolicited and then on the contract amount.
| Issue | Rule for an unsolicited sale |
|---|---|
| Contract amount | Over $100 |
| Contract documentation | A written contract is required |
| Cancellation | The consumer has a 10-day cooling-off period to cancel |
| Supply and payment | With very limited exceptions, the business must not supply products or services, or take payment, during the 10 days |
These rules should not be applied to every plumbing contract merely because it is worth more than $100. A repair that the consumer requested is treated differently from an unsolicited sales agreement.
The cited CBS summary explains the cooling-off right but does not set out when the 10-day period begins or how a cancellation notice must be provided. Check the contract and the regulator’s current guidance rather than assuming those details.
How is a consumer-requested repair different?
CBS lists the following scenarios as not unsolicited:
| Consumer action | CBS treatment |
|---|---|
| You call out a tradesperson to perform repairs | The repair request is not unsolicited. |
| After receiving a quote, you call the tradesperson to confirm that you want to proceed | This follow-up request is not unsolicited in CBS’s example. |
That differs from entering the contract during a quote-only visit or agreeing on the spot to additional work offered at the property. These classifications answer whether the sale is unsolicited; they are not a assessment of every other contract or consumer-law issue that may apply.
What should you do during the tradesperson’s visit?
- Clarify whether you are requesting a quote only or asking the tradesperson to carry out repairs.
- If you are being pressured to agree to work on the spot, be firm and politely say no.
- Ask for an itemised, fixed quote and check the total cost, including whether a low call-out fee is offset by higher charges elsewhere.
- Compare quotes from different businesses and check that each tradesperson is licensed for the work.
- Note the licence number and check which business or trading names are connected with it in the CBS licensing register.
- If the sale is unsolicited and the contract is over $100, check that the contract is in writing and note the 10-day cooling-off period.
- Check that the amount requested matches the quote or contract and ask for proof of purchase, such as a receipt.
Where should you check current legal and insurance information?
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the regulator’s current page before signing an agreement or trying to cancel, and read your insurance policy’s Product Disclosure Statement for the policy terms that apply to you.
Sources
FAQ
Does asking for a quote automatically make the sale consumer-initiated?
No. In CBS’s example, the sale remains unsolicited if you invited the tradesperson only to inspect the issue and provide a quote but entered the contract at the time of the quote.
What if I called the plumber out to request repairs?
CBS lists a consumer-initiated repair request as not unsolicited. The same applies when you call after receiving a quote to confirm that you want the tradesperson to proceed.
Does the cooling-off rule apply to every plumbing contract over $100?
No. The written-contract and 10-day cooling-off rules described here apply when the sale is unsolicited. The contract amount alone does not make every plumbing job unsolicited.
Can the business supply services or take payment during the cooling-off period?
With very limited exceptions, the business must not supply products or services, or take payment, during the 10-day cooling-off period.
How is a cancellation made?
The cited CBS summary confirms the cancellation right but does not provide the notice method or explain when the cooling-off period starts. Check the contract and the regulator’s current guidance before acting.
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