Aaron
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
User status: Offline
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Background:
I live in a small block of 6 flats. In the surrounding area, there another 3 or 4 blocks like mine, each with 6 flats in each. Each of these said buildings are all managed by the same company, who look after the gardens, clean and decorate the hallways etc. Each flat pays a fee of £50 per month to the management company for this privilege.
A letter landed in my letterbox from them the other day telling me that I had two choices for the "digital switch over", which is due to happen in my area sometime around August this year. I (as does each other tenant) have the option of voting to have a communal Sky dish to be installed, at a price of £222 per flat, and then each flat will get its digital TV feed from this, or, I have the option of voting for a cheaper freeview ariel to be installed for roughly £120 per flat, and once again, we'd all be routed through this ariel.
Problem:
Now, here's the interesting bit. I, like at least 70% of the people living in these flats already have my own Sky dish, and a +HD box, with a subscription to Sky of course....so, why would I want to pay for another one to be put in?
I called the company and explained all of this, and I got the impression that the lady on the other end of the phone was trying to insinuate (like women do) that they might force me to remove my personal Sky dish, and then try and force me to pay for the communal option. Her rehearsed "line" was to say that I obviously didn’t seek permission to have my personal dish installed....at which point I explained that it was there when I moved in 4 years ago (which is true). Anyway, she asked me to put all of this in writing to the company, which I did (in the form of an e mail).
After looking at the surrounding flats, it’s obvious to me that I won’t be the only one in this situation, and I fail to see how they can force us (me) to pay for something I don’t want or need. She mentioned the word "invoice" too, which makes me think they're going to try and be forceful with it.
Has anyone ever been in a situation like this with a management company?
Essay 
[Edited on 26-02-2011 by Aaron]
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Ian
Site Administrator
Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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I'm in a similar position with mine as I'm paying for an aerial and don't own a television.
The subject of upgrading the dish came up and how much everyone would chip in.
The best they could come up with was that the flat would be worth more if I has a better TV capability, which I also told them wasn't important to me.
If they try to force payments on me, I'm not paying. There's a gate in one of the car parks and not mine and they pay more than I do for that. So I'm quite sure they can differentiate based on who needs TV services.
Not sure on the legal position. I think they might vote for it. In which case you need to canvas your neighbours who are in a similar position as you are.
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Jules S
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 03
User status: Offline
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We had the same when 5 out of the 6 flats were on cable 
We just told the management company we didn't want/need Sky and (I believe) the problem went away (I moved out)
I know for a fact there was commission involved for the management co aswell 
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Aaron
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 04
Location: Cottingham, East Riding
User status: Offline
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Yeah, i think i'll write something and slot it in the letterbox of the other flats. I can see this getting quite nasty to be honest.
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Jules S
Premium Member
Registered: 24th Dec 03
User status: Offline
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It really shouldn't.... And it's what majorly pisses me off with management companies.
You are their client, they should do what YOU want not what they want. I'm 1000% sure my man co were on commission for the sale. And if you read the sky bumf they admit to bribing/ commissions to get their gear into flats when things go digital.
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lisac
Member
Registered: 10th Apr 08
Location: Lincolnshire
User status: Offline
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to be honest i think it is no where near that amount. i live in block of flats and have so many bits of paper saying sky for free if yo get so many flats involved i know bit of messing about but i would personally ring sky and find out the price and have a word with other tennants d
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