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Back in May I was notified of a service charge deficit that resulted in a request from the Managing Agent for an additional payment of GBP1,672. At the time, they provided a statement of accounts detailing that the deficit which related to a ‘waking watch’ that had been required last year (amounting to a total of GBP94k for 3 x blocks of flats) following recent fire regulation changes. However, at the time i raised 2 queries:
1) what matrix had they used to determine the split of this deficit amongst the various apartments? particularly as;
2) why had they applied the waking watch cost to 3 different apartment blocks when only one block (not mine) had an issue?
For months i have been chasing the managing agent for adequate responses to the above, which they failed to provide. I continually reminded them over this period that i would be withholding payment of the deficit until i received satisfactory answers. Finally, this week, they provided a response (which was incredibly flakey but it is at least something), and i have settled the amount. However they have now applied admin charges to my account for ‘late payment’.
what rights do i have to contend this? it seems grossly unfair that i am being penalised for a late payment when they failed to provide an adequate explanation to my queries in a timely manner. As i have argued, i think it is unreasonable for them to simply expect me to settle such a large (and unbudgeted) amount with no right or recourse to raise queries relating to it, particularly given the disputable nature of how they apportioned this deficit amount.
Is there any type of body i can report them to? (financial ombudsman?) or legal rights i can highlight to back my argument?
many thanks
1) what matrix had they used to determine the split of this deficit amongst the various apartments? particularly as;
2) why had they applied the waking watch cost to 3 different apartment blocks when only one block (not mine) had an issue?
For months i have been chasing the managing agent for adequate responses to the above, which they failed to provide. I continually reminded them over this period that i would be withholding payment of the deficit until i received satisfactory answers. Finally, this week, they provided a response (which was incredibly flakey but it is at least something), and i have settled the amount. However they have now applied admin charges to my account for ‘late payment’.
what rights do i have to contend this? it seems grossly unfair that i am being penalised for a late payment when they failed to provide an adequate explanation to my queries in a timely manner. As i have argued, i think it is unreasonable for them to simply expect me to settle such a large (and unbudgeted) amount with no right or recourse to raise queries relating to it, particularly given the disputable nature of how they apportioned this deficit amount.
Is there any type of body i can report them to? (financial ombudsman?) or legal rights i can highlight to back my argument?
many thanks
