Robinson15

Thats a top tip, Fredbear. The one thing that helped me was taking photos of everything that they are 'repairing' as its visual proof they can't dispute, both before and after shots. It's the only thing that has saved me with a few of the repairs they listed. That and witnesses. Re the 'surveys' they aren't real surveys. I spoke to an insider off the record. It's a man standing on the ground saying that your house exists. Then they send out that S20 with everything on there, assuming it all needs doing. Its a total show survey as they missed alleged subsidence and a giant hole to the rear of the property on my surveys. They then put the onus back on you to dispute at the S20 stage. They also make you pay the estimate, not an actual charge. For some reason, they are very cagey about the actual charges. Can't think why? fredbear Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Try and get before and after photographs and make > sure you ask for a complete breakdown of the bill > listing all the work done and charged for.

I hope not!! I searched for him and he seemed to be posting in April this year, but nothing after then. I'm going to try to PM him and see what happens!

Hi Richard Errol is a good find. I just did a search after you mentioned him ? so thanks for that bit of info. I just had a read of Errol's posts. He does know all the insider info. I didn't realise, the council can actually charge on the basis of an estimate and you have to challenge the estimate at the initial / consultation stage, which presumably is the S20. I did this, but that doesn't seem to work at getting any closer to the real truth of actual costs. The estimate racket the council have going on is basically a license to print money.

I'm a leaseholder in Nunhead and I've been dealing with Southwark's shady service charges for a number of years with very little joy. I discovered after getting a breakdown of costs for the 5 years I have lived in my flat, that the majority of the 'repairs' haven't even been undertaken at my address (even though 'Estate' is defined as just the house split into two flats, where I live). So I've been charged for over 5 years for broken windows that are God knows where. Then the major works happened last year. I have no problem paying money for work done. I have a problem with only ever being given an estimate. The council don't seem to be very forthcoming with actual charges. After trying to get actual charges out of the council and Saltash, I ended up getting a solicitor. Mainly as the estimate outline of work doesn't actually match what has been done to my flat. Syed Abib, who is supposedly the fount of all knowledge, is insistent no work has actually been carried out at my address ? so presumably I completely imagined the scaffolding surrounding my flat for 3 months. Syed doesn't want to check as 'he has a lot of folders to go through'. Poor love. There was also another guy, Carlton Austrie, from Saltash, who is apparently a project manager, yet, he also cannot seem to locate the final cost / breakdown of work. He also couldn't seem to find the council reps' address who came to my flat to discuss the poor work, who does actually know the final breakdown. Funny that. My solicitor advised me to not pay anything as they are in breach of my lease (long story), so I haven't and now the council are sending me bullying letters, threatening to speak to my mortgage company unless I pay up in 10 days. I think there is strength in numbers, so I would be very happy to meet up with people to discuss this further and take action. There's been loads of instances (if you google) of Southwark over charging people and taking backhanders from contractors. Its our right to see actual costs and pay what is fair. I would even suggest this is actually very newsworthy, could it be worth speaking to the media about this to apply further pressure?! I'm intending on going to Nunhead library on 4th June at 6.30 to raise the issues of Major Works with the councillors there. If any one would like to join me, PM me here.