Key Takeaways:
- Steven Varga, a Gold Coast fencer, has a reputation for abandoning his customers and leaving them with unfinished work.
- Multiple customers have come forward with complaints about Varga’s business practices, including Amber, Nick, and Emma, who have all paid significant amounts of money for work that was never completed.
- Varga operates under several company names, including East Coast PVC Fencing, East Coast Gates & Fabrication, and Emerge Developments & Construction.
- Varga is not licensed to take on jobs over $3300, but has continued to operate and take on new customers.
- Customers are calling for Varga to be stopped and for him to be held accountable for his actions.
Introduction to the Issue
Steven Varga, a Gold Coast fencer, has a reputation for being a "fleeing fencer," and it seems that this reputation is well-deserved. When A Current Affair showed up to investigate, Varga fled the scene, refusing to speak on camera. However, his customers have been more than willing to share their stories of woe. According to his website, East Coast PVC Fencing, Varga promises to build "the last fence you’ll ever need." However, his customers say that this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Victims Speak Out
One of Varga’s customers, single mum Amber, forked out her life savings to secure her home west of the Gold Coast. She paid Varga $20,000, but 10 months on, all she has to show for it is a few fence panels. Her car has also been boxed in because Varga promised to concrete the ditch in her driveway and install a gate, but never did. Amber initially thought that the abandoned job was just "bad luck," but she soon found out that she was not alone. There are many other victims with unfinished fences, and they are all speaking out about their experiences with Varga. Nick, another customer, paid Varga around $10,000 and doesn’t have much to show for it. He’s missing 12 meters of fencing and four gates, and Varga has continued to promise that the work will be completed, but it never is.
A Pattern of Behavior
It seems that Varga has a pattern of behavior when it comes to his customers. He takes their money, promises to do the work, and then disappears. Emma, another customer, wants her young family to be safe living next to a busy road in Brisbane, but Varga left her gates out in the weather and never returned. She paid him $20,000 in May, but she’s still waiting on all of her gates and her gatehouse. Varga’s excuses are always the same – he’s always got some reason why he can’t show up to do the work. This has left Emma’s family feeling insecure and unsafe, and they’re not alone. There are many other customers who have been affected by Varga’s business practices, and they’re all calling for him to be stopped.
Lack of Licensing and Regulation
Varga operates under several company names, including East Coast Gates & Fabrication and Emerge Developments & Construction. However, he is not licensed to take on jobs over $3300. Despite this, he has continued to operate and take on new customers. In fact, he’s even registered a new business, Emerge Realty & Investments, although it’s not clear what this business will be doing. The fact that Varga is not licensed and is continuing to operate despite this is a major concern for his customers. They’re worried that he will continue to take their money and leave them with unfinished work, and they’re calling for him to be held accountable.
The Need for Accountability
Varga’s customers are fed up with his excuses and his lack of accountability. They’re calling for him to be stopped and for him to be held accountable for his actions. They want him to finish the work that he’s started and to refund the money that he’s taken from them. Varga has told A Current Affair that he now has fully licensed contractors in place to complete the remaining work, but his customers are skeptical. They’ve heard it all before, and they’re not convinced that Varga will follow through on his promises. It’s time for Varga to be held accountable for his actions, and for his customers to get the justice they deserve.
Conclusion
The story of Steven Varga and his fencing business is a cautionary tale about the importance of doing your research and being careful when hiring contractors. Varga’s customers thought they were getting a good deal, but they ended up losing thousands of dollars and being left with unfinished work. It’s a reminder that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is, and that it’s always important to check the credentials and licensing of any contractor before hiring them. In the case of Varga, it’s clear that he has a pattern of behavior that is designed to take advantage of his customers, and it’s time for him to be held accountable.
