Tradie Joey Venables leaves women in 60s, 70s in the lurch, as seven women reveal rip-off

A tradie who “ripped off” a string of women has left them out of pocket with repair bills worth thousands. Now, the woman responsible for his business has made a startling claim.

A dodgy tradie who “ripped off” elderly and middle-aged women has left them out of pocket more than $65,000 and with repair bills worth thousands following a trail of sub-standard work.

Joey Venables, 45, operated JRV Glass and Property Maintenance before it went bust in June.

The Geelong Advertiser has spoken to seven women from the Geelong region who engaged Mr Venables to complete work. All said he operated the business.

One woman said Mr Venables’ incomplete work meant she spent $11,500 to have it fixed.

Another said her shower was leaking onto the frame of her house a year after she was charged $13,750 for a bathroom renovation by Mr Venables.

Tradesman Joey Venables has been accused of not completing work he was paid for. Picture: Facebook.

Both women spoke on the condition of anonymity but the Addy has seen evidence to back up their claims.

Other women and families Mr Venables has left in his wake include 72-year-old Alison Lewis-Nicholson who paid $15,600 to install 11 double-glazed windows that weren’t fitted correctly, and a 60-year-old Portarlington woman who paid $3700 for a bathroom and laundry renovation that wasn’t completed.

Karen Reynolds was left out of pocket thousands after tradie Joey Venables didn't complete work at her Geelong home. Picture: Alison Wynd

A Victorian peak body for builders has sent a warning to homeowners engaging tradies for small renovations.

A Master Builders Victoria spokesman said homeowners should ensure a builder was registered with the Victorian Building Authority; that tradies should support their qualifications with references, and homeowners could engage a building consultant to inspect a project while it was completed.

Karen Reynolds bath before Mr Venables started to work on it.

This is how Mr Venables left Karen Reynolds bath tub

A Geelong woman in her 40s who called in Mr Venables last year to complete work at her home was left with a $11,500 repair bill on top of $8,200 she paid to him to complete the work.

“I feel really disappointed. I feel like he ripped me off,” the woman said.

The woman said Mr Venables’ work was poor.

“They poured concrete on top of concrete. Literally there were cracks in it that day.

“He had to cut the side of a door because it wouldn’t fit; he wasn’t measuring, he was just cutting by eye.”

The woman alleged when she questioned the standard of the floor, Mr Venables said: “It will be alright just put some carpet over it.”

The woman said she made repeated attempts to have Mr Venables fix the cracked floor.

She said he told her in a text message, about three months after he started work, that he didn’t have time to complete it.

Asked how she’d recommend homeowners vet tradies, the woman said: “Look up the ABN and if it isn’t the name of the person you are dealing with, question it. You can’t trust online reviews.”

Corporate records show the business was registered to Mr Venables’ now ex-partner, Benita Evans.

On Tuesday she said she’d declared bankruptcy.

“I’m really sorry about what’s happened. I can’t physically pay them back.”

On Tuesday Mr Venables repeated claims he did not own or operate the business.

But in an online video, posted in June 2021, Mr Venables said “I own and operate JRV Glass”.

Earlier this month he said he had no involvement with the business’ finances.

The business is subject to at least three matters due to go to VCAT.

Originally published as Tradie Joey Venables leaves women in 60s, 70s in the lurch, as seven women reveal rip-off