Service Charge/Receipt. Usual practice???

janthemum

I have recently moved in to a flat (which I love) but the management company drive me potty and are very rude.


I pay a large service charge a year (£1,500) but knew this when I bought the flat. I pay it in one lump sum yearly.


I paid at the end of last year and received no receipt. I want one for my records as this is a large chunk of money and I keep comprehensive up to date records on everything and like it all to be in order.


They have just got back to me 3 months on and said they dont issue receipts as it is too time consuming and costly!!!


Now, if I buy a pair of shoes I expect a receipt or a tin of beans so have I got this wrong???


I was issued one as a 'one off' on this occasion! But just wanted to see if other people got receipts for their service charge ground rent etc to confirm I am not being fussy.


Thanks!

bouicca21

I get one if I ask for one. Though I now pay by bacs and think that's receipt enough.

comeandgo

If we want a receipt we have to ask and supply stamped addressed envelope. Surely you have an amount going out of your bank which matches the invoice they sent you? Keep a copy of both together for your records.

PlutoinCapricorn

No, I do not request one as my bank statement shows the payments, which match the bills issued to me.

Mattygroves2

No don't request one but pay by bank transfer so have proof of payment if required.

Soundgirlrocks

Any decent managing agent should be able to provide a receipt, statement of account etc. This would set alarm bells ringing for me having deal with poor agents in the past, if they can't provide basics what else are they missing? How many flats are there in your block? We sacked our agents last year and use a web based company to do the record keeping, legal stuff and keep us on track and we manage the building ourselves. We saved over £1k a year on management fees and another £400 on bookkeeping.

deejaybee

I always enclose a sae so that management company can send me receipt, when I send cheque for service charge.

janthemum

Thanks everyone.
I have been told its too time consuming and costly to issue me one.
I pay by cheque.
I shall send an SAE next time and request one though.

ManuelG

janthemum wrote: »

I have been told its too time consuming and costly to issue me one.

"Payment received with thanks" on headed paper with a signature.

Not the most time consuming or costly practice!

davidmcn

janthemum wrote: »

Now, if I buy a pair of shoes I expect a receipt or a tin of beans

You can expect all you like, but you're not legally entitled to one (unless you're VAT registered and buying from another VAT registered trader).

If this is just for your personal records then I would have thought your cheque stub would be enough.