Herethere - that would depend on the method they used to get rid of the paint. Paint is a pain in the arse to remove without damaging the brickwork. It can be removed by chemicals or abrasives (sandblasting), but chemical means, although less likely to damage the brickwork, are not necessarily going to be successful. I suspect they will cut out that possibility and do it with abrasives as there is less to worry about H&S wise as well. Abrasives will cut into the pointing as well as the brick, meaning the wall will need repointing and you will end up with the same result. So yes, same problems.
TBH, I would leave it and maintain it, particularly if it is not currently causing any problems. Paint doesn't stop bricks being porous, but yes, it can damage the brickwork. The bubbling you have seen is more likely to be a result of water (from a leak, not rain) / strong sunshine hitting the paint. You are far more likely to damage the bricks by taking it off. In fact, you will damage them.
You can buy special masonry paint. Farrow and Ball do it. I know it is middle class aspirational, blah blah blah but it really is the best thing for your Victorian house. Any bits that are bubbling, flaking, etc, can be gently rubbed down (in the same way you would for interior paint) and repainted. You can do this yourself.
If you do decide after all you want it stripped, give your Council's conservation officer a ring. They may have a list of contractors who they know are decent particularly when dealing with period properties. Not all of them do, but ours does. Same if you want to repaint it. If you are in a conservation area or it's listed - check with them before doing anything anyway.