Victorian Building Authority

Massive pain to deal with re-registering as a plumber. Have to jump through numerous hoops and endless forms to fill out as part of my application pleading with them why I deserve to be re-registered. I have criminal charge since being registered last (nothing to do with company embessilment or sub standard plumbing work), it has nothing to do with my capabilities as a plumber and the matter has been dealt with but the vba for some reason sees it as a mission take away a person's livelihood if they see fit. The process is long, tedious, ridiculous and absolutely unneeded. I've done time as an apprentice and been registered 15 years in the industry, and now feel like I'm lower than dirt. This just the last of a long history of being impossible to deal with the VBA, go back to the old PIC for Plumbers, so much easier to deal with, more approachable and actually knew what they were talking about. The epitome leftist government lapdog with the built in rainbow lanyards and didgeridoo waiting music, it's hard to take.

Just watch any Victoria based video on 'Site Inspections' YouTube channel and you'll get an idea of how corrupt councils and building inspectors, useless builders, and incompetent lazy government organisations like this utterly fail to protect or care about the ordinary person.

I find it hard to believe that such an unhelpful organisation exists in Australia. This authority was unable to assist in any way. In addition the tasks they requested I do were misleading and a complete waste of time. I see zero value in their existence. If you enjoy going around in circles and wasting time, then I would highly recommend the VBA.

It is 2023 and we still have to make all payments using PDF files with our credit card details attached via emails. Thousands of credit card details are sitting on the VBA's server in unsecured emails. How can a government body like this not offer a secure online payment portal?

Extremely dissatisfied with VBA service from their staff. I’ve had 2x different staff explain that it would be a lot quicker to approve & safer to have my provisional plumb registration done than go through to my registration. As I needed either of the two to work for an employer. Last minute I was told to get my provisional reg as it would be approved quicker. Sent it all through & called to speed it up and make sure it was sent as I had a loan and lots of bills coming up with no income. The bloke on the phone didn’t have any idea and accused me of not sending it in. Confirmed it with him and found it was sent in, sigh… and then said it will take 14-21 days before being reviewed which was the same time for as the registration…. I may as well get the registration. And save myself $500
Anyways I urged him to see if he could speed it up & he came back to me with an automated script read over the phone, he had said due to the time of the year we can’t process it any quicker…. Have some guts mate…. This is the service you will get from vba. Told one thing multiple times and then told another thing. No one has an idea of what is required to be done, they’re only sure of things when they take your money then they don’t care at all…. No guts

There are some great staff in the VBA but my experience is overall the VBA seek to NOT investigate significant building law issues - until you cite the legal obligations back to them - and then when forced to do so have covert processes that take FOI’s, then FOI reviews from OVIC to get to the bottom of. Their actions mean that building law continues to be overlooked by authorities who don’t issue temporary occupancy permits for events because the VBA offered immunity to them. It happens at the expense of public safety…. It’s baffling. The VBA need reform or to be dissolved as this is just one issue - waterproofing should be by registered practitioners and there’s so much evidence for it - but the unions complain and the VBA just lets building crumble. It’s just not working.

The purpose of the VBA is to ensure that builders and plumbers work is compliant. When I advised them of non-compliant plumbing and building work, with building and plumbing inspector reports they refused to hold the plumber and builder accountable. Even though they were clear breaches of the legislation the VBA is meant to enforce, they brushed it of as “contractual”. Exhaust fans discharging into an unventilated roof space? The VBA will do nothing… the plumber couldn’t fit the fixtures because breaches too far back so they removed flanges and backing plates to “make it fit” but now it leaks into the wall… the VBA will do nothing.

I was speaking with Tina from the VBA and what a disgrace this woman is. Couldn't answer any of our questions and then hung up on our call. WHY WORK FOR THE VBA IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HELP PEOPLE! Disgusting behaviour. Hope she's fired and they replace her with someone decent who can actually help the general public.

How are these guys still the building authority for Victoria!? !
Apart from the unqualified customer service agents and their constant incorrect answers or the standard runaround as they don’t know the answers or their inability to provide any sort of documented emails for any sort of questions… i can’t understand how this level of complacency and lack of any sort of feedback or service is accepted today.
Today I called at 4: 30pm and am still waiting at 5: 15pm… they close at 5pm and we have no idea if they are even open and whether to keep holding. Now at 5: 20pm after waiting over 45min they have hung up. How about at least let the public know where we are in the queue for Christ sake. There’s an hour of my day gone, AGAIN! Pathetic. Truely pathetic!
Time for a change and time to cut from the head down!

I wish there was a star lower than 1 as these peoples job is to protect the dodgy builder at all costs, they are running around like chooks with no heads trying all avenues to get out of doing there job, wich is to protect the public from shotty builders and take over the over the responsability of the repair, like they so proudly promote, shame on you vba you are a discrace to victoria and this country, no wonder this country is going backwards thanks to useless people like the vba,

So far in my dealings with the VBA, I have found them to be extremely helpful. They have provided me with advice within their scope, and have been really responsive even in this time of the COVID19 lockdown. I want to name the people that have assisted, but don't know about security, so I won't. (CR11125)

I have heard stories of VBA personnel favouring service providers etc.who have internal contacts, but I for now will go with the view that they are independent, and will do the right thing by both parties, when I lodge a complaint with them about our builder and surveyor.

15/03/2021: I am reducing my rating by a star, because it does not seem like the VBA has much authority. My building surveyor has not been responding to a simple question about the approval of our foundations. He provided approval based on the builder's engineering report, but when I provided my forensic engineering report, he refuses to acknowledge one way or another if he still supports the builders one or mine. The VBA are trying, but I am still waiting.

30/08/2022: Down to 2 stars. The VBA has had my complaints for 2 years now. I rang for a status and was advised by the agent that both my complaints were closed and I had not been informed. After writing to the CEO in May 2022, I received a response to say that they were still investigating my complaints. I have no idea when (if) there will be any action taken against the errant building practitioners.

I have retired now and i am so glad i don`t have to deal with this toxic organisation anymore. Needs to be knocked down and rebuilt completely. What a waste of taxpayers money,

They pathetic bunch of people who steal oxygen. Go back to the plumbers having there own identity. THERE WEB SITE 360 IS ALWAY OUT OF ORDER.

Vba is just a joke, but not funny
Actually there are too many this sort of money wasting gov organisations

A complaint was lodged about negligent building practitioner with the VBA back in 2019 and as of May 2022, the investigation process is still ongoing. Should not take more than 2 years to investigate matters. How can consumers have any faith for our building industry when the Government agency responsible for its regulation is completely incompetent. The Minister for this agency needs to look into the gross waste of taxpayer money funding this below par service and raise the bar. Building practitioners know the VBA have no power and abuse this by providing non-complying work, knowing no one is going to hold them to account. There needs to be more consumer protection. Absolute disgrace.

Been dealing with clown Tony Si, supposed tech advice, I have got nothing but very stress for my occupancy permit review, for 12 months Tony Si has been very difficult to deal with and doesn't even have care of duty and very bad service and doesn't have idea about regulation. Terrible person.

Have major issues with my stormwater drainage holding large amounts of water in various places.logded a complaint with the VBA and it come back in my favour so they can force the plumber to replace all of the drains around my housebut they have no power to make him reinstate all my concrete paths and drive way which he has to pull out to get the drains replaced l just don't understand why the VBA don't force the plumber to use his insurance to cover the cost of all the reinstatement. Just can't understand why the VBA have no power to inforce the plumber!?

Paid for the freedom of information service. Since, I have been sent the wrong information twice, other clients details. Very unprofessional and breach of confidentiality.

So far i have had a great service from the VBA, they helped me to identify issues and resolve them with the plumber at fault.

I have had a horrible experience with the vba. They do not help the workers and building industry. When will they change?