TDS problems

Trebor01

Can anyone advise who governs the TDS.

I continue to have issues with the way the TDS is operated, with totally biased responses in favour of tenants during dispute resolution and would like to raise a complaint against them but cannot see who oversees their practises. Is this this FOS or the PO for example....?

Thanks.

tbs624

Presumably you have read http://www.thedisputeservice.co.uk/resources/files/14810%20Complaining-about-how-TDS-handled-your-case-PLC-May-11.pdf

If you have had several disappointing outcomes to your deposit disputes with Ts perhaps you need to be looking at your own tenancy processes and inventory preparation etc.

Trebor01

TBS624 - yes I have read the internal complaints process and am following it, but that was not my question. I asked who governs the TDS !!

Inventory prep has been carried out by qualified inventory clerks at both check in and check out.

The TDS seem to always favour tenants;

Example - And this is the actual wording from the TDS in their findings from a dispute regarding several other points, but this is just to show what I mean

Fridge described as "new condition" in the inventory. Crack to plinth may have been missed at check-in, as not immediately apparent on the tenants check out photos. Inventory clerk unlikely to have missed scratches on the door at check in.

My points to observe here are as follows.

(1) Why would a qualified check-in clerk mark the fridge as "in new condition" if it wasn't....?
(2) If the check-in clerk's opinion on the inventory (which was signed by the tenant) is not to be believed then why have a check in process in the first place.
(3) Why would a check-in clerk "miss" a cracked plinth, but not miss scratches to a door...?
(4) The photos referred to are those of the tenant. The tenant is hardly going to show pictures of damage they caused. No reference to those pictures submitted by the landlord, which clearly show damage to both the plinth and the door. TDS just ignored this evidence.

The TDS is very poor, and my question was regarding governing bodies that may be able to influence and improve TDS procedures, as quite clearly it does not work with the muppets it employes at the moment.

sequence

You can always take the tenant to court if you think you have a case.

theartfullodger

I have never had a problem with TDS and find deposit handling not an area of dispute with my tenants.

Most of your complaints seem to be with the inventory clerk (your employee effectively..) and/or your effectiveness in presenting evidence rather than with TDS.. (Were "your" photos - in the opinion of TDS - witnessed, dated, agreed and delivered to TDS on time??)

(1) Why would a qualified check-in clerk mark the fridge as "in new condition" if it wasn't....?
(2) If the check-in clerk's opinion on the inventory (which was signed by the tenant) is not to be believed then why have a check in process in the first place.
(3) Why would a check-in clerk "miss" a cracked plinth, but not miss scratches to a door...?
(4) The photos referred to are those of the tenant. The tenant is hardly going to show pictures of damage they caused. No reference to those pictures submitted by the landlord, which clearly show damage to both the plinth and the door. TDS just ignored this evidence.

perhaps you need to brush up on your management skills and TDS handling expertise..>>???

In business sometimes things don't go your way, sometimes you make a loss, sometimes someone doesn't do their job properly, sometimes you can't just sit back and watch the money roll in: If this comes as a surprise please post further..

There's two sorts of people...

a) Those who blame someone else and whine about why it's "their" fault..
ii) Those who recognise they - or their staff/agents/employees - make mistakes, get things wrong, learn from it & get better ..
3) Those who can't count..

Cheers!

Artful (Still getting things wrong, still learning.., successfully taken ex-Tenants to court, won, collected money..)

PS Is it possible the tenant & TDS adjudicator were both right and you've been expecting too much....???

PPS This post
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=44258228&postcount=13
seems to have some confusion over six or one month: Is such confusion common in your paperwork>??
& further in this post..
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/41034698#Comment_41034698
.. you seemed to send key, critical documents off without having backup copies - is that indicative of your record-keeping habits?? &
.. further in this post.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3255122
.. it seems you've fallen out with a tenant and a letting agent: Ever thought of going on a course on how to forge friendly relationships and not fall out with others??

Yorkie1

Surely if you have a complaint with the TDS arbitration service, you can either use one of the other 2 deposit schemes, or decline to use the arbitration service?

Trebor01

Theartfullodger - If you can't answer the question, please don't bother. All you have posted is that you have never had problems and made judgements of my own abilities, which quite frankly I find offensive. My complaints are not about the inventory clerk at all as they have provided a perfectly acceptable service so I am not sure what your point is, my comments were in relation to the poor views from the TDS based on quite clear inventory clerk check in and out comments, in fact I don't see the point in your reply at all......but thanks for the interest.....NOT.

Yorkie - This is a valid comment but not quite relevant seeing as though the position has occurred after the tenancy has ended, and during which the TDS was used to register the deposit. Never again I might add, they are completely useless, and as I am sure many of you will be aware, hundreds of comments about poor TDS services have been posted on the net. Don't use them, you have been warned.......!!!

tbs624

Thanks for posting your experience of TDS Artful. Always interesting to hear different LL (and T) perspectives of the deposit schemes.

Trebor01 - if you think that you have just cause for complaint about the handling of your case then make a formal complaint through the appropriate channels.

See:

"Can I complain about how the case was handled?
Yes, if you think:
 the decision made was wrong in law; or
 we failed to take into account evidence you gave us within the required timescales; or
 TDS staff delayed the adjudication unreasonably, were rude to you or did not keep you properly informed.

How do I complain?

Please follow this formal procedure. It is in two stages. If you are not satisfied at the end of the first stage, you can take your complaint to the next. The first stage is an investigation by the Head of Adjudication or a senior member of the adjudication team.
The second stage is a review of our first-stage response by the Chair of the TDS Board or an independent board member.
We will respond to all complaints in a courteous way. However, we will not respond to anyone who is aggressive or rude, or who threatens a member of our staff." My bolding.

Given your responses in this thread perhaps that last bit is the part you need to work on. Note that Artful's viewpoint of the service provided by TDS is every bit as valid as your own, just different.

Trebor01

tbs624 - But if you read my initial comment, how ever much you support Artfuls comments (I wonder why.....!!!!????), they are unrelated to the question and become insulting to my own abilities.

And I quote;

perhaps you need to brush up on your management skills and TDS handling expertise..>>??? What does Artful know about me....?

In business sometimes things don't go your way, sometimes you make a loss, sometimes someone doesn't do their job properly, sometimes you can't just sit back and watch the money roll in: If this comes as a surprise please post further.......and your point is what....?

There's two sorts of people...

a) Those who blame someone else and whine about why it's "their" fault..
ii) Those who recognise they - or their staff/agents/employees - make mistakes, get things wrong, learn from it & get better ..
3) Those who can't count.......really not sure what you are on about ?

My comments where not related to the clerks abilities at all, but the same suppositions being made here by Artful, with some very stupid comments to follow, so I beg to differ on his/her abilities to make any judgements on this subject one way or another, other than just useless and empty phrases.