Consumer Affairs Victoria is continuing to crack down on dodgy builders and tradies to protect Victorians from getting ripped off.
Our latest legal action is against Austin Bongart, 27, of Ballan. Bongart traded as Aussie’s Concrete and Fencing Solutions when he allegedly committed building work-related offences between April 2022 and January 2024.
Consumer Affairs Victoria alleges he:
- accepted excessive deposits
- failed to provide the agreed services within a reasonable time
- entered into a major domestic building contract while unregistered, and
- failed to provide an information statement to a customer as required.
Bongart advertised his services online. He was investigated after consumers made complaints that Bongart had taken up-front payments from them – often for several thousand dollars – for fencing or concreting. They reported he never returned to start the work or only started minimal work and failed to finish the job.
Bongart is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention on 4 August 2025.
This prosecution – under the Australian Consumer Law and the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 – follows action we’ve taken for poor conduct on other residential renovations and builds:
- Unregistered builder Mark (Najy) Rayes was recently convicted and fined for taking more than $100,000 in payments from customers for services he did not provide.
- The director of a ‘tiny home’ kit business entered a plea of guilty last November to charges of accepting $1.3 million in payments from customers, without supplying any products.
Builders must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission to do building works valued at over $10,000.
Electricians and plumbers must also be licensed or registered while people doing plastering, painting, tiling or fencing do not need a registration.
Consumer Affairs Victoria advises Victorians looking to hire a tradie to:
- get more than one written quote
- ask friends and family for references
- research the business before going ahead.
Be wary of anyone pressuring you to sign up and hand over a large deposit.
Visit the Building and Plumbing Commission website to find a registered builder.
Learn more about planning a renovation or build.