No excluding VAT mentioned in Letter - Am I obliged to pay?

vax2002

I am absolutely confused at what a visual inspection could reveal ?
How many flats ?
That is some scam they come up with..
What next a "visual" electrical inspection, a visual gas inspection, a visual joinery inspection.
Then they stick VAT on a quoted price.
I think you have been had.

QfanatiQ

vax2002 wrote: »

I am absolutely confused at what a visual inspection could reveal ?
How many flats ?
That is some scam they come up with..
What next a "visual" electrical inspection, a visual gas inspection, a visual joinery inspection.
Then they stick VAT on a quoted price.
I think you have been had.

The more I spend time looking at this the more keen I am to take this up with the board and write an official letter to the Managment company.

I have only been had in as far as I went with their suggestion rather than spending the time for myself.

They are not taking any money direct and this company DID do good works on communal areas BEFORE our current management company was novated.

Thanks people,
Q

QfanatiQ

I finally got a call back from the management company yesterday.
I stuck to the points rather than getting caught up in the delays of them

I Asked why Gas Safe was mentioned - our directors (flat owners in block) apparently asked for it despite it not being needed
Asked why no pressure test - sort of fobbed of on this - as that does require a degree of tinkering with boiler it was decided not to request this level
Finally - No vat - I said due to the 8/10 mins and the lack of knowledge of the guy, not only do I feel this is high, i am certainly not happy with £55 (then) +VAT.

They then admitted it was there mistake and they thought the £55 was all in.

I am following up with the company by way of recorded letter and e-mail and will also be contacting the directors regarding the whole set up and how we move on next time and more importantly pressure test etc.

As it transpires, I made a claim myself due to a leak from above, and it was not a stop !!!!, it was the boiler pipe breaking!

Cheers everyone.
…..Q

bod1467

I think it is one word - stopcock. But we know what you mean, despite the profanity filter.

QfanatiQ

bod1467 wrote: »

I think it is one word - stopcock. But we know what you mean, despite the profanity filter.

Indeed you are right!

Cheers…..Q

Kingsd316

Did the inspection save you £66 on your insurance premium?

Just wondering as it does sound odd only being there 10 ish minutes

QfanatiQ

Kingsd316 wrote: »

Did the inspection save you £66 on your insurance premium?

Just wondering as it does sound odd only being there 10 ish minutes

I doubt for all flats the insurance is as much as £66 each

We were all requested to get a plumbing check done
This was to reduce the overall insurance premium for the entire block (buildings insurance I guess). Apparently in flats, it is welcomed by insurance companies is certain checks and regular maintenance are done. If this can be proved savings are offered.

The management company are not attached to the plumbers.
We could have had our own plumber
They provided the check sheet.

I have just written a summery of my conversation

In this, I am asking for the information from the insurance company that states or premium will be looked at if we do this (it is noted the management company have only ever said MIGHT reduce premium)

Some of the issues are
- Large amount of flats, not many have carried out inspection
- Not all flats are occupied by owner so hard to track down
- The management company can only suggest we do this but not force (not that you would have thought that in the letter)

So chances are, we will not get any reduction as I expect we have started the request too late and not many will do it.

There are just shy of 200 flats - 1 - 4 beds
When we have the residents meetings, typically 12-16 people turn up. Never had more than 20.

It is strange people are not interested in the overall well being of the block as we all pay charges for communal areas and as such, sometimes certain works and contracts need to be checked/contested.

Cheers…..Q

bod1467

Such is the way of people. I used to be chairman of our residents committee, and we used to self-factor (arrange public liability insurance for common areas, maintenance of common areas etc.). Doing so meant that each property saved quite a bit per year in charges. However many property owners were a nightmare to deal with and extract money from, so we ended up getting a factor. This effectively doubled the charges for everyone!

QfanatiQ

I thought part everyone had to chip in for insurance?

What would happen If i moved in and insured myself, but the other 199 had not, building insurance? Surely I am not covered for the rebuild of my home? It was all a factor of our mortgage grant to show the entire place was insured as it was part of a bigger development.

I can appreciate it is hard to manage individual owners.

One of my gripes was our neighbours rented out their flat
But to students. I nor the management etc new what agency were dealing with them and no contact for them.
I was fortunate to have a friend who did a land search so I could find out their registered main residence.
Sometimes property developer/estate agents have their uses.

I am happy to get the4 checks done
but I want professional service for my money.

Also, it means I am in a stronger position to fight the cause and deal with issues.

Cheers,
Q