Legislators yesterday unanimously passed a law aimed at protecting consumers from shoddy workmanship.

Many of the provisions of the Supply of Services (Implied Terms) Act 2003 are common law principles, but Government decided to bring the bill for clarity, certainty and ease of reference.

Consumers who are victims of shoddy work or exorbitant pricing will be able to use law in court.

"The advantages of this bill are the imposed duties that services provided to the consumer are carried out with reasonable care, skill and performed in reasonable time for a reasonable price," said Community Affairs Minister Randolph Horton as he introduced the bill.

He noted the Consumer Affairs Board had received 118 more complaints against service providers in 2002 than in 2001.

"Service providers" encompassed a range of professions, including lawyers, doctors, electricians, plumbers, contractors and mechanics, he said.

The bill is based on similar legislation in the United Kingdom but goes a step further in that it specifically does not allow agreements which exempt the service provider from some of its terms.

It applies only to people who represent themselves as in business to provide a service and not, for example, to the neighbour who volunteers to fix something in someone's house.

It is the third major piece of consumer protection legislation brought forward by the Government.

Legislators from both sides traded horror stories of shoddy workmanship, agreeing that the bill was a necessary one.

But they were also quick to point out that most of Bermuda's tradespeople were competent and ethical.

The Opposition United Bermuda Party hammered home the point that the bill did not impose standards but heralded it as a "good start".

"There is still much work to do in terms of raising the service bar and the standards bar throughout the community," said Alan Marshall (UBP).

Government members promised that a regime addressing standards, certification and licensing is on the way.

"At the end of the day we want to make sure the consumer gets value for money," said Ottiwell Simmons (PLP).

"Once we get everything in place, the licensing and the standards - then we would have something complete."

He added that the bill should put Bermuda's service providers on notice that they should prepare themselves to be competent, reliable and ethical at all times.