Residential Management Group Extortion! Please help

SimonR49

Hi there,

I live on an estate that RMG 'manages'. I'm actually in a semi-detached property, and although there are flats on the estate, I can't for the life of me work out what RMG do for their £125 per year.

Anyway, I last week received a letter from them explaining that I hadn't paid my annual invoice, and that they were now charging me an extra £21 as late payment. I phoned explaining that I'd never received the original invoice, so how could they justify the extra £21? I offered to pay the original invoice amount right then over the phone, but was rudely told that this was unacceptable. I then emailed their 'customer services', again explaining the situation, and just received an email back saying:

"As I'm sure Grace has previously advised the original invoice has been sent to the property address on 20th December 2013, this invoice was due to be paid on 1st January 2014. Residents then have 28 days to arrange payment for this, and since we had still not received any payment to this account and we did not hear from you to advise that you would be late in making the payment the reminder was sent on 3rd February 2014.

Unfortunately, as the account holder, it is you responsibility to ensure that the Service Charge is paid on time. There are a couple of ways that you could have checked that your account is clear, you could have called in or you have the option to log on to RMG Living and check your account yourself.

Based on the reasons listed above the reminder will remain on the account. We are sorry this is not the response you are seeking, however we have followed the terms of the Lease for collecting the funds on behalf of Queen Eleanors Heights, Dunstable. We would therefore confirm that this is the final position of RMG in relation to this matter."

Given that these clowns don't do anything for me as far as I can tell (apart from change the odd street lightbulb 6 months after it's gone out), this has really !!!!ed me off.

Can they legally enforce this extra £21 for sending a reminder letter out?? They've threatened an extra £240 charge if it goes to their debt collection people, so as far as I can see it's just horrible bullying tactics.

If anyone's got any advice on this, I'd love to hear it. I know it's just £21, but the whole situation has got me so angry. What's worse is that I have some friends who live on the estate who haven't even heard of RMG (they moved in when it first got built), and therefore have never paid a penny!!!

Sorry for the rant, but I hope you can understand my annoyance!

Many thanks
Simon

propertyman

I do agree in that its daft to not diarise bills that are due and check of they haven't arrived to avoid this sort of situation.

However their letter indicates that they may be taking a standard approach in referring to "the lease".

If you have a freehold house, or for that matter a leasehold one, the reply is to ask " can you please identify the clause in the title deeds or related documentation ( eg a deed of covenant) or ( if leasehold) lease that allows the collection of a late payment fee?

In most cases they don't

If leasehold then you add " as you are aware unless the invoice is sent with the summary of rights for administration charges ( I bet its just the standard one for service charges) then it is not due.
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?55587-Late-payment-charges-SC-and-GR

Add that you have offered payment of the initial sum and that they have declined, and if leasehold, add that if they do not respond within 7 days you will ask the first tier tribunal to determine the matter and ask, as you now can, for your costs for them being !!!!!!.:rotfl:
.

SimonR49

Many thanks for the advice. It's Freehold, so I just emailed them as you suggested asking for clarification. I very much hope they don't take their time replying so that I then get bumped to their dodgy debt management company. It really does feel like I'm being bullied (and as someone with ginger hair, I'm not a big fan of that!!).

ACG

Not receiving a bill does not mean it is not due.

If you do not receive a credit card statement it does not mean they are not due payment.

Likewise if you dont receive a savings statement it does not mean your savings have vanished.

Not agreeing with the fee is a completely different argument and that is one you need to take up separately.

princeofpounds

Can they legally enforce this extra £21 for sending a reminder letter out??

Depends on the terms of the lease, and how they have billed you. I would suspect they can't make it stick, but it's not impossible.

Contact LEASE (govt funded advice service) or visit lease-advice.org to get more info on your rights and responsibilities.

bakers_dozen_3

I have a property freehold and RMG are the agents is your house in Ipswich ? they have a General annual meeting which you should attend and make your complaint and stop there bully boy tactics or change your management company which is within your rights but you must attend the AGM and vote the Directors off,good luck M:j

propertyman

princeofpounds wrote: »

Depends on the terms of the lease, and how they have billed you. I would suspect they can't make it stick, but it's not impossible.

Contact LEASE (govt funded advice service) or visit lease-advice.org to get more info on your rights and responsibilities.

If you read the post they have a freehold house not a lease.:o