Unlicensed Melbourne conveyancer stops operating following Consumer Affairs action

An unlicensed Melbourne conveyancer operating in Glen Waverley has agreed to stop operating her business and to return all money earned while providing these services.

Thorany Zhang operated HMT Conveyancing Services (Vic) without a conveyancer’s licence as required under the Conveyancers Act from August 2011 until in May 2013, when Consumer Affairs Victoria, became aware of information that she was unlicensed.

She has acknowledged she contravened the Conveyancers Act and Australian Consumer Law (Victoria) and has offered an undertaking to the Acting Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria.

She confirmed that HMT Conveyancing Services had stopped operating.

Zhang gave an undertaking to the Acting Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria that she would:

• refrain from carrying on a conveyancing business until she is licensed
• not advertise or promote herself (or any business she owns, controls or operates) as being licensed to carry on a conveyancing business until it is
• within seven days of signing the undertaking, transfer any open conveyancing files to a licensed conveyancer and notify the relevant consumers of the transfer and contact information for the licensed conveyancer
• return (within 14 days) all remuneration received for conveyancing work from August 2011 to July 2012 and December 2012 to January 2013
• disburse (within seven days) all money held in the HMT Conveyancing Services (Vic) trust account to the appropriate people
• notify the Acting Director (in writing) that she has complied with these undertakings
• immediately notify the Acting Director (in writing) of any further complaints she receives about HMT Conveyancing Services (Vic).