Advice please? Unite

Jowo_2

Eh, firefox, do you remember that disgruntled Unite student (studying law, perversely enough) who was outraged when she was served notice after she'd let her mates stay there for a month without permission when she was away and they'd been complaints about the noise?

As far as she was concerned, they were guests of hers, many of the students had overnight visitors and as she wasn't charging them any money, she didn't believe that she was illegally subletting her room.

She couldn't be persuaded that it was an outrageous breach to let people move in who weren't on the tenancy agreement.

Colincbayley

20 quid to get in a locked door is cheap, a locksmith would have been £100+

It does not matter if it is in your contract or not that they can charge this fee. I doubt your contract says they have to let you in if you forget your key. So you had two choices, pay them 20 or a locksmith a heck of a lot more.

I think you have got off light!

Colincbayley

j10011 wrote: »

In all fairness 00ec25, I used to work for a university's accomodation services (not these ones - Unite is private) and we would always give a temp key card and there would be no fee, and we would not make someone wait an hour - it would be done there and then. I remember spending hours letting people in, and if it is a genuine one off mistake then I would have no issue.

My point is that some people are being charges, some aren't and when I ask for clarification on the matter they admit they let some in for free but that shouldn't apparently happen?! If they were charging everyone fairly and separately then fair enough.

As for teaching people a lesson do you feel the same is about bank charges then? Do banks do it to teach you a lesson...has that stopped people from complaining?

I asked them to look at my situation compassionately, and I have asked that they clarify this to all of the residents, so 00ec25 I'd love to hear your response.

So your complaint is not that you are being charged but that others are sometimes not!! :rolleyes:

lynzpower

Whats going on here?

Am i reallyt seeing a page of moneysavers saying "tough luck" to a large company potentially charges that are not in the contract?

AFAIK Unite students are on special licenses- NOT ASTs.

I would personally pay it then do a small claims to get it back if you are certain that it is isnt in the contract. Ive not seen a UNITE contract, so I wouldnt be able to be sure though.

Certainly,. Id challenge it. Does your university have a housing office that might be able to advise?

j10011

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j10011

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j10011

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Jowo_2

The absence of sympathy about a modest charge relating to your failure to look after your keypass where your lack of access seems to have been swiftly remedied is not the same as abuse.

I've offered you various tips on who can offer you expert advice to find out the legalities of the charge and how to challenge it.

According to Unite's website, those in E&W are offered ASTs

http://www.unite-students.com/unite-stage2/static/england-termsandconditions.page

mizzbiz

The terms of your contract can't be changed without notifying you first - even if they change them mid-term, so they are wrng to do that. Companies can't make random charges on an ad-hoc basis, regardless of whether or not the self-righteous on MSE think so or not.

If I was you, I would have contested the charge and refused to pay, and then let them take me to court and see how far they get without any former notification.

Fire_Fox

The major problem with providing sensible advice is that you keep moving the goalposts. First:
"this policy was recently introduced after I signed a contract with them, and I have had no notification regarding my contract being altered. Please could you tell me whether they are allowed to do this please?"

Then
"accidentally left my key behind. They do say in an addtional page on key collection that they will charge £20 to replace the key, but they didn't have anything, if you have accidentally left your key in your room."

And
"Well it is just that the policy is operated at their discretion, ie, in other flats they are let in for free, and that really a security guard who has a masterkey and comes up a lift and opens the door shouldn't cost £20 - it's not like they are having to give me a brand new key."

Then
"My point is that some people are being charges, some aren't and when I ask for clarification on the matter they admit they let some in for free but that shouldn't apparently happen?! If they were charging everyone fairly and separately then fair enough."

And
"Fire Fox, my point is that it isn't in my contract, and the security guard told me to see them in future as they feel it is unfair. Unfortunately it happened in the daytime when there are staff there."

If you stuck to one argument, I'd be a lot more sympathetic instead of thinking of you as a whining student. I'm getting the impression that this is nothing to do with what is or isn't specified in the contract (you'd have forgotten the key regardless) and a lot more about the application of the policy. I assume you are not female with a great rack, so you got charged: later in life you will probably get promoted over the bimbo.