Rogue Factors
Picking up where I left off on 20 August 2010 - the best way to deal with a rogue factor is to get organised.
Educate, Agitate, Organise - as they used to say in the trade union movement.
Like most people moving into a new building - initially you will have much more on your mind than factoring charges - so it takes a while before the penny drops - before you can see the wood through the trees.
But after some weeks or months - you will start to notice that some jobs you're paying top dollar for aren't actually being done.
Or maybe the job is being done - but that it takes a tiny amount of time and effort - compared to the charges being levied by the factor.
So, the thing to do is to ask to see the records and receipts - and if that causes 'Haw Maw' or if the records are full of gobbledegook - you should definitely smell a rat.
The problem is that rogue factors fight dirty - they don't play by the Marquis of Queensbury's rules - they hide the truth and try to play people off against each other - divide and rule is the name of their game.
So what you need is a list of the owners and residents - because if you're isolated and alone, you will be fobbed off - but with the support of others you can get the whip hand.
And the whip hand means making communications as easy as possible - preferably through e-mail addresses and phone numbers - which might mean knocking on a few doors to get things moving.
But with a little bit of effort it's possible to get the majority to understand how much they're being ripped off and taken for a ride.
More importantly - that that they can do something about it - by all pulling together.
Next time: The Rogue factor's Nightmare - A Residents Charter!
Educate, Agitate, Organise - as they used to say in the trade union movement.
Like most people moving into a new building - initially you will have much more on your mind than factoring charges - so it takes a while before the penny drops - before you can see the wood through the trees.
But after some weeks or months - you will start to notice that some jobs you're paying top dollar for aren't actually being done.
Or maybe the job is being done - but that it takes a tiny amount of time and effort - compared to the charges being levied by the factor.
So, the thing to do is to ask to see the records and receipts - and if that causes 'Haw Maw' or if the records are full of gobbledegook - you should definitely smell a rat.
The problem is that rogue factors fight dirty - they don't play by the Marquis of Queensbury's rules - they hide the truth and try to play people off against each other - divide and rule is the name of their game.
So what you need is a list of the owners and residents - because if you're isolated and alone, you will be fobbed off - but with the support of others you can get the whip hand.
And the whip hand means making communications as easy as possible - preferably through e-mail addresses and phone numbers - which might mean knocking on a few doors to get things moving.
But with a little bit of effort it's possible to get the majority to understand how much they're being ripped off and taken for a ride.
More importantly - that that they can do something about it - by all pulling together.
Next time: The Rogue factor's Nightmare - A Residents Charter!
