JRV Glass and Property Maintenance leaves unhappy customers owed thousands
The substandard work Geelong families paid for was one thing, but claims about a dodgy tradie’s attitude when confronted was the final straw.
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Rising supply costs and price pressures are sending construction companies and renovators to the wall. Chad Van Estrop explores what happened when one handyman over-promised and underdelivered, leaving a trail of substandard work and unhappy customers in his wake.
A Geelong tradie and his workforce, who took payment for property renovations that weren’t started or which were incomplete, has left homeowners seething and out of pocket at least $35,000.
Joey Venables, 45, operated JRV Glass and Property Maintenance which has gone bust and the company’s Australian Business Number (ABN) was cancelled on June 8.
Five of the company’s customers have spoken out.
Some said Mr Venables wanted deposits paid quickly during face-to-face meetings while one said his workmanship was “appalling.”
Others have reported the company’s poor or incomplete work online. The Addy found just one positive review.
According to the Australian Business Register, an ABN registered to Joey Ray Venables was reactivated on June 21.
Records show that ABN was activated in 2004, and cancelled between September 2017 and June 2022; from September 2014 and November 2015; and from August 2007 to August 2013.
Customer claims with JRV Glass — which operated for about four years and offered services including bathroom renovations and glazing — range between $700 and $15,600.
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Records show the company had an overdue glass bill earlier this year of almost $11,000; an overdue invoice for training of the company’s apprentice; and the company was registered to Benita Evans — Mr Venables’ now ex-partner.
In an online video posted last year, Mr Venables said he owned and operated JRV Glass and Property Maintenance.
On Friday, Mr Venables disputed he was the business owner and told the Addy he was “an employee” of the business; that he had involvement with its finances; and his name wasn’t “on a thing” relating to ownership.
The company is subject to at least two matters at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and Mr Venables participated in conciliation at Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV) as a representative of JRV Glass.
Alison Lewis-Nicholson, 72, who lives on the Bellarine Peninsula, paid the company $15,600 to install 11 double-glazed windows at her home.
She said Mr Venables replaced nine windows, and the workmanship was poor which left the window sills water damaged.
“He didn’t do a very good job and water would get in,” Ms Lewis-Nicholson said.
When Ms Lewis-Nicholson followed up about the remaining windows, she said Mr Venables stalled and eventually installed single-glazed windows.
“One window has plantation shutters that could open. After the new window went in the shutter wouldn’t open. Joey said ‘that’s bad luck’.”
Ms Lewis-Nicholson said Mr Venables promised to complete the work in May.
“If you see a company called JRV Glass and Property Maintenance do absolutely steer clear.
“If we all keep quiet it will just keep happening.”
Mr Venables told the Addy the business was in “liquidation” and he felt gutted for customers.
“It’s totally out of my hands. I feel gutted because I had good rapport with all of our clients.
“I’ve had nothing to do with the business. I was advised to walk away.”
Asked about the ABN reactivated on June 21, Mr Venables said: “I’ve got to work. I’ve got to pay bills.”
Mr Venables was asked if customers of JRV Glass and Property Maintenance would be repaid but the Addy is unable to publish his response due to legal reasons.
Christie Moores and her husband, Kent, paid the company an $8800 deposit in December to replace nine windows at their Belmont home.
“(Joey Venables) told us if we didn’t get the payment in before Christmas (2021) we wouldn’t get the windows until later this year,” Ms Moores said.
“We made the transaction quite quickly. Not one of the windows was replaced.”
Ms Moores said Mr Venables promised to complete the work in April and May, but by June she made a police report and filed documents at VCAT to recoup money owed.
A 60-year-old Portarlington woman told the Addy she’d paid the company $3700 for a bathroom and laundry renovation which wasn’t complete.
Writing about Mr Venables, Kimberley Jackson posted on social media: “We’ve used him heaps and not only has he been the cheapest but amazing!”
Geelong mum Karen Reynolds, who engaged Mr Venables late last year, has a different story.
She said his work to tile her bathroom, repaint a bathtub and install a shower screen was not completed to a proper standard, leaving her out of pocket thousands of dollars.
“The workmanship was appalling. The glass panel for the shower screen was 300mm too long,” Ms Reynolds said.
“He didn’t know how to install the glass. He would say ‘I’m coming to complete work’ but never turn up.”
Ms Reynolds paid $1800 to the company in October last year following a $3300 quote.
She said Mr Venables sanded enamel off her bath which left it damaged and unusable.
Ms Reynolds had to spend $4750 to have the bath removed and a new one plumbed in.
In late May Mr Venables attended mediation at the DBDRV as an authorised representative of JRV Glass and Property Maintenance, with Ms Reynolds.
Ms Reynolds said Mr Venables agreed to pay her $4750.
Since the settlement Ms Reynolds said she was not paid.
“I don’t know that I will get my money back but he needs to be stopped,” she said.
“I don’t understand why people don’t pursue him for work he hasn’t completed or that is not up to standard.”
Clifton Springs resident Janine Mackey paid the company $748 on May 24, a day after she got a quote to replace a glass panel on a sliding door.
She said two weeks after the work was paid for in full, Mr Venables had not completed it.
By early June a representative from JRV Glass called Ms Mackey to say the business had gone bust.
Ms Mackey said she wanted to go to VCAT to recoup money owed.
“I had saved three quarters of a year so I could pay for the work. I don’t want him to get away with it,” she said.
Ms Evans was approached but was unable to comment for legal reasons.
Mr Venables chose to not respond to the individual cases mentioned.
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