Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)

Very back experience. Judge skipped the evidence and jump to next point and blamed for mention it, even though it was written on the documents and provided to them months in advance. Feel that he might skipped on purpose and just want the landlord to pay for other’s mistakes.

VCAT is useless, the customer service lady Katrina or Rina was so rude & was just talking down to me & over me, no surprises there with government workers under labor.incompetent & not qualified to even do customer service. They break you down so you give up the same as all there departments!

Vcat hearings are not worth the time or money. The 'judges' are mostly not legally qualified and real estate agents do not follow Vcat orders as they know that there are no consequences.
Just save yourself money, time and stress involved in going to Vcat as they are just another toothless tiger. After two years and losing my file & documentation twice, three hearings with the real estate agent doing everything to delay the case from asking again and again to reopen the case for no reason and lying every time he opened his mouth I finally won my case but now there isn't anyone to enforce the oder made

Do not expect any professionalism from anyone at Vcat!

Bunch of clowns. They try and make the process seem formal its just a government random "member" talking over you and rushing the hearing. They don't make any orders or take real action.

You may aswell just fight with your landlord/real estate agent directly you'd be better off

NO STARS! VCAT are a useless organisation, had my hearing onsite so Member Tilley could see the defects on every single patio security screen, she told me to obtain a Expert Report to help support the case, at the hearing she said the document was not credible. After showing her my clear and precise defect report, the expert witness report and her seeing the defects onsite, she only awarded me 5% of quoted amount ($700 of $15,000 claim) - this amount will not fix any of my damaged screens and she allowed the business owner who damaged the screens on install day to walked away without taking responsibility.

I am extremely disappointed with the whole process, i would have thought if she had 2 reports and being onsite seeing the damaged caused by him she would at least make him pay for the damaged to be fixed.

It was evident that she misunderstood and misread all the evidence presented, if not qualified, dont be the member for the hearing, get a member that works/had worked in the building trade and understands codes and Australian standards.

What happen to consumer rights. Avoid VCAT, save your money, time and mental health!

You said it was a 2 dollar fee and now I'm down $68 dollars just to tell me I have no leg to stand on you absolute thieves

VCAT provided me with absolutely zero help. I'm going through a dispute where a neighbour is turning my electricity off and instead of doing they're job and helping me with this issue, I got told to go through someone else. Keep in mind I went to the police about this matter and they told me they can't help me and that VCAT can. What an absolute joke. Don't bother reaching out to VCAT for help because they'll just turn you down and do nothing.

Clumsy system, suppose to be a court for the people but if you don't know the law forget about it. You will be disadvantaged if you don't hire an expensive lawyer. VCAT should look at the facts and make a determination not rely on arguments from lawyers. My mum learnt her lesson the first time then the second time hired a lawyer, what a surprise! She won the second time with the case almost being identical. What a joke and another example of money always wins.

I had high hopes using VCAT’s mediation system. The mediator was agitated from the get go and was not interested in trying to assist. Having a read of a majority of the reviews below, I can only empathise with those who have had similar experiences as my self. The mediator was quite frankly rude and abrupt. After waiting months for this day, I am appalled to say the least.

VCAT members (henchmen, Trumps, judges) act in a childish, misleading and rude manner, due to egos and 'conflicts of interest'. However, VCAT is a super-protector of the Government and any parties who sponsor it, such as 'owners corporation associations and managers' etc. If you wish to win at VCAT donate 1.1 million yearly, or represent those organizations, associations, etc, who do (as subtly documented in 'now obscured' past VCAT annual reports).

Anyone employed by VCAT should recuse or resign - if they have any self-pride, respect for non-bullying, decency or honesty.

VCAT is the legal system's dumpster for its dummies!

Why are so many honest VCAT reviews deleted?

I am renting a property. The landlord have entered the property (including the house, they have a key) several times without informing me. I was at work, im a teacher, when I returned my doggie was gone. The landlord sent a gardener around, without informing us. He entered the property illegally and she ran off and was run over by a vehicle. Her vet costs was almost $8000. I asked for compensation. VCAT decided that it was my fault, due to the fact that the evidence I provided (vet bills with dates on it from when it happened) is not sufficient. I honestly do not understand how on earth this could not be enough evidence. I have epilepsy and stress is a trigger for a seizure. My doctor wrote a letter (dated) that I could have a seizure & could we please resolve this case as soon as possible. The landlord refused. I hand 2 seizures since. VCAT also said that they can take my Bond because my former housemate moved out and I can’t find him. He’s not on social media and doesn’t answer his phone. Ive tried several times. I am incredibly disappointed that VCAT can rule that it is fine for a landlord to enter the house you rent without informing you (even worse, send someone else’s around to enter the property) without informing you.

Wasting lots of waiting time and effort to call. System is real bad.customers service team so arrogant, like to talk more than listen.try to cut in everything proving she’s smart.bad experience with this woman.no wonder people complaint when dealing with govt departments.really they get pay well too doing not much yet they’re thinking knowing better anyone simply because they work with government

Corrupted and incompetent system. They should be overhauled and replaced by compassionate and competent people.

After more than a year waiting for our hearing, the presider just sided with the respondent even when we have presented a lot of evidence. The breakdown of the cost was indicated in the application but still the presider asked and told the applicants that it was not justifiable.

When giving the order, the presider just assumed a cost as well. The presider just assumed that the evidence presented were of minor that is why the cost the applicants will get is of minor value too. Does the presider even considered that the applicants filed a case because it was not minor? ! If it was really just a minor thing, then filing cases will not happen. JUST COMMON SENSE!

And that why it is a civil hearing - all should be taken into consideration.

Warning to all filing civil cases, VCAT will side with the respondents even if they did not present any counterclaims and even if the applicants did the hard work.

CORRUPTED and BLIND, VCAT people should be ashamed.

My mother was under a VCAT administration order at the time she passed away in 2021. They were informed of her death 5 days afterwards but 18 mths later i still received a letter from them advising it is time to reassess the order. I understand it has been a difficult few years for these organizations because of covid19 & the technology challenges with everyone trying to do things online during lockdown etc. But this was distressing for me when i thought everything was sorted. I had to phone & wait on hold to sort this out & the guy who answered the phone said i could just ignore the notice. He was also was unable to give a reason for the error, well maybe he needs some training in customer service skills.

One star way too much. After enduring the coldest Winter with no appropriate heating. I am now still living in an apartment that does not reach occupancy standards by Australian tenants legislation. First hearing and landlord completely ignores compliance order and 2nd hearing will be God knows when and in the meantime I'm here having to pay rent to the landlord when I could be paying it into a special account but can't until the judge says so which will be months away.

Vcat has totally collapsed as an authority, bond claims are taking 2 years or more and real estate agents are now exploiting this fact in mass, everywhere I see including myself agents and landlords are abusing tenants by withholding the bond even if they have no valid claim because they know tenants don’t want to wait 2-3 years just to get a hearing if ever. This is an extremely serious matter and state government must intervene right away, it seems to me the government has also gone to sleep and doing nothing.there is no justice for real estate disputes anymore, the system is protecting the guilty and enabling them, and tenants are suffering

Timelines don’t apply to VCAT since they work with antiquated systems that date back to pre-1980. Therefore, be prepared to wait years for a VCAT decision where there will be a complete lack of transparency as to how decisions are made. You will need to deal with arrogant, lazy and incompetent staff that only turn up to work so that they can collect their taxpayer funded pay cheque. Absolutely disgraceful.

ABSOLUTELY rude and unhelpful staff. No help whatsoever. Lost the email l sent them to the DBDRV. They promised to send me a complaint form in the mail. ABSOLUTELY received nothing.l don't know how your meant to go through the process if you don't have a computer. Mabe they should look as to why there rating is so ridiculously APPAULING!

They are supposed to help society solve issues but they do the opposite and enable wrong doers. Majority of members have no idea what they are doing or any sense of good judgement, let alone clearly looking at facts. Submitted 19+ pages of evidence/supporting information, wasted time and effort. A member actually told me VCAT does not care for truth!

Don’t waste your money and time. After 2 years of wasting time, Even though there were 3 expert reports stating the defect. VCAT member was too busy taking breaks for one day hearing rather than focusing on reading what’s written on the report and claiming it’s not serious enough. Why to have Australian Standard in place when courts are not keen to comply with it.in next 5 years there is going to be so many defects in all the houses being built and owners will be out of pocket as vCAT decisions are not conveying the right message to dodge tradesman to do the right practices.