Trusted an "agent" for my partner visa — turns out he wasn't even MARA-registered

Paid him $3,200 in instalments to "handle" my 820 application. He was a family friend of a friend. Half the documents he submitted on my behalf were factually wrong (wrong employment dates, wrong relationship start date). Immigration sent an RFI, I started reading it carefully, realised the application was a mess. Looked him up on the MARA register — not on it. Never was. Reported him to ABF and got a real registered agent to fix the mess (another $2,800). Visa eventually approved but it took an extra 8 months. Two-second check: https://www.mara.gov.au is the only register that matters. If they're not on it, they cannot legally give immigration assistance for a fee, full stop.