It is a common enough story. About Peverel has many examples of a particularly unpleasant Firstport tactic deployed if they believe a development management contract is under threat.
With the best will in the world, both Firstport and About Peverel know that most residents will "Put up and shut up" when it comes to their managing agent.
From time to time, a resident will have concerns which are increased when any cursory investigation reveals scandal afer scandal. Be it price fixing, missing service charge funds, funds wrongly paid out, fake tender processes, excessive undisclosed insurance commissions,dismissing legitimate claims to enhance rebates, wrong rate of VAT for energy supplies, expense files being thrown in a skip, failure to disclose a financial interest when wanting to sell house manager's flats,etc. The list is endless!
Even the most basic of searches also reveals that Peverel/Firstport have had to repay record amounts of overpaid service charges and have featured in the largest Right To Manage actions ever in the history of leasehold property management.
Not for no reason did McCarthy & Stone sack them from all the developments they could? Not for no reason did Berkley Homes and Barratts sack them either?
What is common to virtually every case, is that as soon as a resident raises "awkward" questions, Firstport development/area managers seek to isolate the individual resident, by befriending other residents, telling them that "Mr xx is being an utter nuisance and making it difficult to manage the development, that he doesn't know what he is talking about, he is a trouble maker." And it is all too easy for residents to be taken in by a "friendly" development manager. After all, most people move for a "peaceful" life and don't want that peace disturbed by said troublemaker!
However, it should be noted that time after time after time, it has been the troublemaker that has been proved to be telling the truth and that Firstport have been thoroughly dishonest, and have been serially ripping off leaseholders. We wonder for example how many people know, that if a development is perceived to be under threat of leaving, the Regional Manager has the authority to decrease management charges and crucially also has the authority to increase charges at another development to recoup any losses by offering any discount in fees?
So if you find yourself in the position of being branded a troublemaker, please show this site (and make use of it) to all your fellow residents . Show them the Leasehold Knowledge Website. Show them the All Agents(Firstport) website as well.
Show them it is not just you. There are serious problems with Peverel/Firstport in every part of the country!
