All Round Trade Constructions: Court fines builder Justin Barber
Tarneit builder All Round Trade Constructions has been fined thousands by a court. This is what the dodgy tradie did wrong.
West
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A dodgy Tarneit builder has been fined thousands of dollars after he was busted building a shed and a pergola without a permit.
Tradesman Justin Barber was working as All Round Trade Constructions when he undertook work at a Pascoe Vale South home in November 2018, the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court heard.
Barber, who touts himself on his business’s Facebook page as a professional who strives to deliver work at affordable prices, had never been a registered builder with the Victorian Building Authority, the court heard.
He also failed to obtain a permit from Moreland Council, despite the homeowner forking out $21,890 to him to complete the relevant paperwork, supply materials and do the job.
Barber’s business has a four star rating on Google.
But unhappy customers slammed him in their own reviews, criticising his poor quality work, “appalling service” and for failing to return to botched jobs.
VBA director of compliance and enforcement Rosemary Martin said anyone looking to hire a builder should first check to see if they were registered.
The court heard when pressed by pergola manufacturer Stratco for copies of the pergola permit, Barber tried to cover his tracks by presenting them with a fraudulent permit.
Ms Martin said such problems could be avoided and fixing non-compliant work could prove costly for homeowners.
“Make sure that you do your research and ensure the practitioner you’re working with is registered with the VBA and has all the right insurance in place,” she said.
“You can go to our website to check their credentials before starting any project, that way you can help avoid any nasty surprises.”
Barber was fined $4000 by the court.
For advice on picking the right builder or tradesperson, visit the VBA’s website.
Justin Barber has been contacted for comment.
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