McCarthy and Stone over 55 sheltered accommodation

coachman12

theartfullodger said:

Don't ever remember seeing ethics used in connection with that company before

Oh how true, dodger. The same goes for their biggest management company ( FirstPort/Peverel) which is also dreadful.
To answer eddddy's posting, I think he may have missed my comments about ethics, especially about multi-million £ companies, and how they should come first in the present climate particularly when the elderly and most vulnerable are concerned. It's time the fat-cats started acted with humanity, instead of continuing to worship Mammon. I think my comments were directly providing my opinions to the original posting , and agreeing with Walshy. I also posted a link about a previous MSE Forum discussion about the problem of selling a McCarthy and Stone flat, similar to Walshy's question. Below are a few other links which are more general in nature 
https://www.betterretirementhousing.com/meets-mccarthy-and-stone-but-wont-join-in-chat-over-a-consumer-charter/
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2223970/Financial-prisoners-unable-sell-retirement-home.html

walshy21

Very interesting reading the comments to my original thread, thank you to those of you who got what I was saying but sadly it looks like some of you out there are so quick to jump up and have a go! At no point in my original thread did I say I wasn't going to pay and I am quite aware of the contract etc, maybe I should have added that since the government is doing all that it can to help people during these difficult times, maybe  McCarthy and Stone could consider a reduction in service charges given that we cannot have viewings! We are currently, not living in what we would call 'normal' times otherwise I wouldn't have posted the thread, everyone is having to make changes. Take a look at the financial statements for McCarthy and Stone, they are very interesting to read, not really a company who is  struggling or one that will be greatly affected by COVID 19 as you say they will still get their money. All I was saying was don't think they should be screwing over those people who are selling apartments when you can't have viewers, during these times of social distancing and isolation.

edgex

Have you written to your MP, or the one that covers where the flat is?

BillTrac

walshy21, it won't be any concern of Mccarthy and Stone, as they 'wash' their hands once built. It will be Peveral/FirstPort. When things were normal they sent out demands for ground rent, not reminders but 'demands'. So you can guess what their response will be to you trying to reduce their income. I'm quite lucky in that my mum's place sold late last year for a small profit (she owned it for 12 years). I wouldn't want to be encumbered with trying to sell it now. Probably suit Firstport for some of their residents to move out to care homes as that reduces the building running costs. Communal washing machines and dryers, etc. I wish I knew then what I know now as I would have steered her well away.  

theartfullodger

coachman12 said:

theartfullodger said:

Don't ever remember seeing ethics used in connection with that company before

Oh how true, dodger. ....

Lodger not dodger: I don't dodge. 

eddddy

walshy21 said:

Very interesting reading the comments to my original thread, thank you to those of you who got what I was saying but sadly it looks like some of you out there are so quick to jump up and have a go! At no point in my original thread did I say I wasn't going to pay and I am quite aware of the contract etc, maybe I should have added that since the government is doing all that it can to help people during these difficult times, maybe  McCarthy and Stone could consider a reduction in service charges given that we cannot have viewings! We are currently, not living in what we would call 'normal' times otherwise I wouldn't have posted the thread, everyone is having to make changes. Take a look at the financial statements for McCarthy and Stone, they are very interesting to read, not really a company who is  struggling or one that will be greatly affected by COVID 19 as you say they will still get their money. All I was saying was don't think they should be screwing over those people who are selling apartments when you can't have viewers, during these times of social distancing and isolation.

Re-reading your posts, I think that perhaps you just wanted to have a rant about the way the leasehold property works.

People here thought that the problem was that you didn't understand how leasehold property worked, and/or you wanted some advice, so they were trying to help you with explanations and advice. That's how threads usually work.

If you just want to have a rant, you might get more of the type of interaction you're looking for in board called 'Praise, Vent and Warnings' :  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/praise-vent-warnings

walshy21

Actually no I didn’t want a rant about leasehold! I am very aware of the unscrupulous way that the leasehold industry works. Was just a genuine question / point! Please don’t pretend to know what I wanted. Don’t usually go on forums - now I know why I don’t bother! 

coachman12

walshy21 said:

Actually no I didn’t want a rant about leasehold! I am very aware of the unscrupulous way that the leasehold industry works. Was just a genuine question / point! Please don’t pretend to know what I wanted. Don’t usually go on forums - now I know why I don’t bother! 

I am sorry, walshy, that you have been disillusioned by this Forum, due to several posters misinterpreting your original post which was IMHO wholly valid and worthy of this Forum rather than on Praise, Rants and Warnings Forum. Many new posters with legitimate questions or opinions sadly face the same sort of thing ; and having a thick skin and giving MSE another chance is my advice. 
My posting on this thread and the posting of lodger ( what the Dickens    was I thinking of calling you dodger ? --apologies ) seem to have shared your opinions and feelings instead of moving onto contractual and legalistic matters. I think the whole question of ethics is an important one, especially when multi-million £ companies could take account of the sort of consideration you refer to, but never give them a second thought. 
https://www.leaseholdknowledge.com/devastating-expose-of-mccarthy-stone-on-tv/
BTW, I fully support BillTrac's perceptive comment that the company that you should highlight is FirstPort ( formerly Peverel until they changed their name to try and escape the backlash of the most awful publicity and scandalous behaviour). 
http://www.spanglefish.com/aboutpeverel/news.asp
https://www.facebook.com/groups/186999621645061/
From the above links you will see why I can fully sympathise with the valid points you make in your opening post, there is little that companies such as mentioned care about ethics according to the online criticisms that are massive in number.
All the best with your problem, walshy. You can always appeal to any company's conscience if they have one-----and you never know, you might be lucky.
And please do not be put off MSE Forums just on the basis of some of the posters who have not grasped your point in coming here and have not responded sympathetically.