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Monitoring company
Any recommendations for a monitoring company you have in place and find them 100% reliable for pull cords and pendants and door entry system?
Posted by the holy mole on 17 December 2024
There are many companies offering such services and at reasonable rates. Avoid any Firstport connected company and Openview who have dealings with Firstport.
Posted by Michael Epstein on 17 December 2024
We employ Carelink who are part of Derby City Council. They provide a good service.
Posted by Stephen Burns on 17 December 2024
We are now with PPP TAKING CARE, they are very good and charge far less than APPELO who were not satisfactory and owned by FirstPort
Posted by RUTH on 19 December 2024
holy mole,
I forgot to mention that we can purchase new key fobs and pendants for between £5.00 and £15.00 each respectively from a reliable firm called AGS Tech Limited, 7 Capricorn Park, Blakewater Road, Blackburn, BB1 5QR. The phone number is 01254 699905 or email service@ags-tech.co.uk
They also service and maintain door entry, fire alarm and the emergency lights at a competitive price.
I have no connection with that firm other than being an end user.
I forgot to mention that we can purchase new key fobs and pendants for between £5.00 and £15.00 each respectively from a reliable firm called AGS Tech Limited, 7 Capricorn Park, Blakewater Road, Blackburn, BB1 5QR. The phone number is 01254 699905 or email service@ags-tech.co.uk
They also service and maintain door entry, fire alarm and the emergency lights at a competitive price.
I have no connection with that firm other than being an end user.
Posted by Stephen Burns on 19 December 2024
It’s more Bleak House than Christmas Carol at our shared freehold block!
Dear Mr Editor,
You will recall I informed this august site that WESTBURY RESIDENTIAL LTD was due to be sacked but resigned when It got wind of the EGM..Tge directors also resigned…
Anyway, trebles all round 🍸🍸🍸that WR is no more at ours and the directors are gone!
Now, I also informed this august site that at the October 2024 EGM , I put myself forward as a director, simply because I ran the block for 20 yrs, before stepping down in that fateful year 2014 when WESTBURY RESIDENTIAL was appointed….Any Road up, there was radio silence when I put myself forward even from 2 shareholders who “ promised” to vote for me….Who can ya trust,huh? 2 blokes were voted onto the board, one of whom had labelled be “ obstructive and Toxic… The other said I was the “ most terrible woman he had ever met”…I sweetly replied that my husband tells me that every day..Ba dum tish 🥁 Anyway, these two Inexperienced chaps who admitted not knowing what an S20 process was appointed a new MA ( high profile, good reviews, local ) on 1st December….Yesterday on the 14 th December the Managing director sent a very excoriating email giving notice ……Oh dear!
I won’t go into the details as to why but it’s nowt to do with me…..It is a disaster which would never have happened had I been on the board. That’s just a fact!
We have a serious breach of the lease.The eaves have been stolen. The 2023 accounts are very questionable ( so are the other years). Westbury Residential Ltd Taking the interest earned on our service charge….What the hell???
Anyway, there will be some squeaky bums bums at the block and elsewhere .It will be impossible for any of the leaseholders to refinance or sell their flats!! 14 years legacy of Westbury Residential Ltd….FIRSTPORT is not the only shonky management agency out there.
Well guess what happened?
You will recall I informed this august site that WESTBURY RESIDENTIAL LTD was due to be sacked but resigned when It got wind of the EGM..Tge directors also resigned…
Anyway, trebles all round 🍸🍸🍸that WR is no more at ours and the directors are gone!
Now, I also informed this august site that at the October 2024 EGM , I put myself forward as a director, simply because I ran the block for 20 yrs, before stepping down in that fateful year 2014 when WESTBURY RESIDENTIAL was appointed….Any Road up, there was radio silence when I put myself forward even from 2 shareholders who “ promised” to vote for me….Who can ya trust,huh? 2 blokes were voted onto the board, one of whom had labelled be “ obstructive and Toxic… The other said I was the “ most terrible woman he had ever met”…I sweetly replied that my husband tells me that every day..Ba dum tish 🥁 Anyway, these two Inexperienced chaps who admitted not knowing what an S20 process was appointed a new MA ( high profile, good reviews, local ) on 1st December….Yesterday on the 14 th December the Managing director sent a very excoriating email giving notice ……Oh dear!
I won’t go into the details as to why but it’s nowt to do with me…..It is a disaster which would never have happened had I been on the board. That’s just a fact!
We have a serious breach of the lease.The eaves have been stolen. The 2023 accounts are very questionable ( so are the other years). Westbury Residential Ltd Taking the interest earned on our service charge….What the hell???
Anyway, there will be some squeaky bums bums at the block and elsewhere .It will be impossible for any of the leaseholders to refinance or sell their flats!! 14 years legacy of Westbury Residential Ltd….FIRSTPORT is not the only shonky management agency out there.
Well guess what happened?
Posted by Kim on 14 December 2024
I think its a good idea that directors have at least some computer knowledge, and maybe some skills like building maintenance so can at least know what problems are going on and how to respond to company's when getting quotations for work to be carried out,
Posted by the holy mole on 17 December 2024
Agreed Holy Mole. However, it even more important that directors are not dishonest!
Posted by Kim on 17 December 2024
Firstport CEO on the Naughty Stool!
Martin King CEO Firstport had his meeting with several MP's, all of whom roundly condemned the conduct of Firstport.
Issues raised by the MP's included a £175 charge to change lightbulbs, a reference to Firstport's heavy handed tactics, unacceptable management of properties, aggressive increases in service charges that are well above inflation, repeated failures to answer emails, provide information, above market rates for contractors and their resistance to leaseholders trying to rid themselves of Firstport
Mr King's defence of Firstport was met with scorn from the MP's especially the assertion that only 1 in 2000 customers complained. That was met with "That is because customers complaints are not answered and people give up"
The attempt by Mr King to acknowledge that "There may have been some individual failings" was responded to by one MP "That the breadth of issues was evidence that the company required a significant change of culture" He also referred to Firstport being particularly opaque, unavailable and even threatening in their manner.
Another MP cited Firstport for not only routinely ignoring leaseholder emails but that there was a pattern of unclear or even threatening communications to their customers, many of whom were vulnerable people.
Yet another MP said that she had heard a host of shocking stories from residents about appalling treatment by Firstport.
If that were not bad enough for Mr King, Charles Maynard MP for Witney said he was staggered how many similar complaints went right across the country.
Charles Maynard may like to know that the previous Witney constituency MP none other than former Prime Minister David Cameron ordered Firstport to quit managing a development in Witney.
Mr King expressed his pleasure at having a chance to speak to MP's and promised change.
Unfortunately similar change had already been promised by Nigel Bannister, Janet Entwistle, Nigel Howell, Sahdra Kully and now Martin King.
As a matter of course anyone communicating with Firstport should also copy in their MP and Martin King.
If it can be of any help, all are welcome to take a screenshot of this post and show it to their MP.
Issues raised by the MP's included a £175 charge to change lightbulbs, a reference to Firstport's heavy handed tactics, unacceptable management of properties, aggressive increases in service charges that are well above inflation, repeated failures to answer emails, provide information, above market rates for contractors and their resistance to leaseholders trying to rid themselves of Firstport
Mr King's defence of Firstport was met with scorn from the MP's especially the assertion that only 1 in 2000 customers complained. That was met with "That is because customers complaints are not answered and people give up"
The attempt by Mr King to acknowledge that "There may have been some individual failings" was responded to by one MP "That the breadth of issues was evidence that the company required a significant change of culture" He also referred to Firstport being particularly opaque, unavailable and even threatening in their manner.
Another MP cited Firstport for not only routinely ignoring leaseholder emails but that there was a pattern of unclear or even threatening communications to their customers, many of whom were vulnerable people.
Yet another MP said that she had heard a host of shocking stories from residents about appalling treatment by Firstport.
If that were not bad enough for Mr King, Charles Maynard MP for Witney said he was staggered how many similar complaints went right across the country.
Charles Maynard may like to know that the previous Witney constituency MP none other than former Prime Minister David Cameron ordered Firstport to quit managing a development in Witney.
Mr King expressed his pleasure at having a chance to speak to MP's and promised change.
Unfortunately similar change had already been promised by Nigel Bannister, Janet Entwistle, Nigel Howell, Sahdra Kully and now Martin King.
As a matter of course anyone communicating with Firstport should also copy in their MP and Martin King.
If it can be of any help, all are welcome to take a screenshot of this post and show it to their MP.
Posted by The Editor on 12 December 2024
Editor,
I could not agree more with your usual sound advice and guidance.
It is imperative that this industry sector is regulated by Law and held to the highest standard of conduct and nothing less.
We went RTM almost three years ago and now a majority of shareholders have agreed that we need to test the water and potentialy find a better MA.
A letter was addressed to the current board of directors to call a general meeting the reply can only be described as an assault on my personal integrity, and no reply to the request for a meeting was made.
I can only conclude that the current board of directors of this RTM Company are in "the pocket of the current managing agent"
The regulation of this Industry must include a basic minimum level of competence for directors. Those who are near illiterate must not qualify as a director in my belief.
I now believe, to my astonishment, that there are managing agents out there who are worse than Firstport.
They tend to be "a part time fly by night one horse out fit" who masquerade as a reputable firm but in reality are far worse than Firstport.
I could not agree more with your usual sound advice and guidance.
It is imperative that this industry sector is regulated by Law and held to the highest standard of conduct and nothing less.
We went RTM almost three years ago and now a majority of shareholders have agreed that we need to test the water and potentialy find a better MA.
A letter was addressed to the current board of directors to call a general meeting the reply can only be described as an assault on my personal integrity, and no reply to the request for a meeting was made.
I can only conclude that the current board of directors of this RTM Company are in "the pocket of the current managing agent"
The regulation of this Industry must include a basic minimum level of competence for directors. Those who are near illiterate must not qualify as a director in my belief.
I now believe, to my astonishment, that there are managing agents out there who are worse than Firstport.
They tend to be "a part time fly by night one horse out fit" who masquerade as a reputable firm but in reality are far worse than Firstport.
Posted by Posted on 12 December 2024
A major issue is that in recent years DM's have had far too much office work piled on to them. Hours are spent in front of a computer doing the work which was in the past, done by the PM etc. The IT system is always changing and for DM's who are not computer savvy, but good at looking after the interests of residents, are under unacceptable pressure. Gone are the days when customer care was at the top of the agenda.
For FirstPort it is all about making as much money as fast as possible at the expense and well-being of their residents.
For FirstPort it is all about making as much money as fast as possible at the expense and well-being of their residents.
Posted by Jane on 13 December 2024
Dear Posted.
As the editor of this site knows , I am a strong campaigner for the STRICT REGULATION OF MANAGING AGENTS.
There are many disreputable managing agents operating out there. It is safe to assume that the many and not the few are dishonest. The truth is that some MA’s modus operandi is to get the directors of thecRTM/ Shared Freehold onside to basically rip off the tenants. The directors are usually given favours, allowed to breach the lease , and pay lesser service charge…I have seen it all ..The directors in your block seem to have fallen under thecMA’ s spell. I would not be surprised if the MA told the directors how to respond…Time for you and your fellow shareholders to boot them off the board. Btw, is your current agent RICS assoc ?
As the editor of this site knows , I am a strong campaigner for the STRICT REGULATION OF MANAGING AGENTS.
There are many disreputable managing agents operating out there. It is safe to assume that the many and not the few are dishonest. The truth is that some MA’s modus operandi is to get the directors of thecRTM/ Shared Freehold onside to basically rip off the tenants. The directors are usually given favours, allowed to breach the lease , and pay lesser service charge…I have seen it all ..The directors in your block seem to have fallen under thecMA’ s spell. I would not be surprised if the MA told the directors how to respond…Time for you and your fellow shareholders to boot them off the board. Btw, is your current agent RICS assoc ?
Posted by Kim on 13 December 2024
All the changes that maybe forthcoming concerning leasehold, even a conversion to commonhold will be meaningless whilst rogue managing agents are allowed to operate.
It is a very common tactic of managing agents to befriend a director. Even in cases where the director is not taking any liberties they often fail to understand the responsibility they have to protect fellow leaseholders and can be swayed by manipulative managing agents.
Fellow leaseholders are then led to believe the director who may appear to be a very nice person (after all they agreed to be a director)and that anyone reporting wrong doing is a troublemaker.
It should also be noted that a few directors become directors simply because they like the title of "Director" It makes them feel important.
It is a very common tactic of managing agents to befriend a director. Even in cases where the director is not taking any liberties they often fail to understand the responsibility they have to protect fellow leaseholders and can be swayed by manipulative managing agents.
Fellow leaseholders are then led to believe the director who may appear to be a very nice person (after all they agreed to be a director)and that anyone reporting wrong doing is a troublemaker.
It should also be noted that a few directors become directors simply because they like the title of "Director" It makes them feel important.
Posted by Michael Epstein on 13 December 2024
Michael,E,
29/12/ 2024 Seb o Kelly of LKP wrote
“ LKP’s view is that regulation would be welcome but altogether secondary to direct employment of property managers by leaseholders “….”
“ Welcome” ? Regulation is imperative!
LKP seems very much out of step with the real plight of leaseholders. It accredits PM’s that have excoriating reviews on Trust Pilot…Whose side is LKP on because i believe it just rides the APPG show pony choo choo train for self aggrandisement. It has achieved!
29/12/ 2024 Seb o Kelly of LKP wrote
“ LKP’s view is that regulation would be welcome but altogether secondary to direct employment of property managers by leaseholders “….”
“ Welcome” ? Regulation is imperative!
LKP seems very much out of step with the real plight of leaseholders. It accredits PM’s that have excoriating reviews on Trust Pilot…Whose side is LKP on because i believe it just rides the APPG show pony choo choo train for self aggrandisement. It has achieved!
Posted by Kim on 13 December 2024
Firstport Admin Fees
It's happened to many of us. The story goes like this?
You don't receive your service charge demand and you don't receive a reminder to pay letter either?
The first you know of any problem is when you get a threatening letter with added administration costs from Firstport.
Your entirely reasonable argument that you never received a demand for payment and that until you do receive such a demand accompanied by your summary of rights you have no obligation to pay is then ignored by Firstport who continue to excerpt pressure on you.
Good news folks!
In their annual accounts Firstport have written off £15m on the basis that their IT systems were not working.
So you can see your argument supported by Firstport's own admission in their accounts that their IT systems were not working will mean that you, the resident will win every day.
You don't receive your service charge demand and you don't receive a reminder to pay letter either?
The first you know of any problem is when you get a threatening letter with added administration costs from Firstport.
Your entirely reasonable argument that you never received a demand for payment and that until you do receive such a demand accompanied by your summary of rights you have no obligation to pay is then ignored by Firstport who continue to excerpt pressure on you.
Good news folks!
In their annual accounts Firstport have written off £15m on the basis that their IT systems were not working.
So you can see your argument supported by Firstport's own admission in their accounts that their IT systems were not working will mean that you, the resident will win every day.
Posted by The Editor on 09 December 2024
We received a demand for payment, before we received our Service Charge demands!
You can always rely on FirstPort to cock up the simplist of tasks.
Why would we trust them to manage our homes?
You can always rely on FirstPort to cock up the simplist of tasks.
Why would we trust them to manage our homes?
Posted by Greg Summers on 09 December 2024
There have been some 16279 posts and replies on this page. To view older ones search here.
This only searches posts, not replies.
However Firstport have stepped in to make any withdrawal of the heating allowance meaningless. At the Havenside Retirement development in Brighton the residents have been without a gas supply for nigh on 7 weeks. Residents cannot use their heating and have difficulty obtaining hot water for washing. So it matters not a jot that their winter fuel allowance has been withdrawn, they simply do not have any winter fuel even if they had the money to pay for it!
Local MP Chris Ward took up the residents case with Firstport, pointing out that many of the residents are vulnerable and that it is unacceptable for them to be left without gas for such a prolonged period.
So concerned was Martin King CEO Firstport who so recently pledged himself that he would make sure that any Firstport issues would be remedied that after 7 weeks he has not even been bothered to reply to Mr Ward.