Thursday, February 9, 2012

Service charges at OMR Mantri's: Who would fix it ?

Prompted by our earlier post on hike in milk/newspaper delivery charge Mr D Venkatesan(A-209) sent us the following info. that we wish to share with you.
I believe association should find ways & means to fix & control all these rates.I feel all service providers increase the rates unilaterally since there is no control.
When I installed lights / fans in my flat, the electrician charged Rs.50/Rs.75 per fixture. Later I came to know that two weeks later the same electrician started charging 125/fixture, since that was the rate prevailing at Synergy.
Similarly I came to know that maids charge around Rs.2000-3000, whereas the rates are lesser even at areas like Nungambakkam, where we presently live.
When we lived in Delhi, our apartment association had arranged for common facilities like ironing etc at cheaper rates compared to market prevailing rates.

7 comments:

  1. Usually the RWAs in the apartment complexes fix the rates, even I have experienced this. Since we already have representatives from respective blocks, I think they can have a discussion with the Propcare people and fix the rates for milk/water/newspaper/car-wash (since all these are provided by Mr Linganathan's company) and also for other services like the house maids and ironing. The service providers are taking undue advantage and charging exorbitant rates. Whoever isn't able to negotiate properly (I fall into that category since my Tamil knowledge is limited to 3-4 words) is facing difficulties.

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    1. It would help the likes of Madhumita negotiate with service-walahs, if we share info. on what we pay. Speaking for my household (D-901), we pay our maid Rs.2,000 a month, plus incentives for promptness in timing and regular daily attendance.
      The iron man bills Rs.15 per sari,Rs.4-5 for cotton shirt, and a marginally lower rate for terry-cot shirt.

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  2. Thanks Gvk uncle and Madhumita for the info ! the Association is on its way to be formed by this week. Once its registered i will take up this issue with my members and will fix rates accordingly that doesnt affect the owners as well the workers in our Facility. we will do a Fair treatment for both sides and make it go in a smooth way.

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  3. I am still looking for a punctual maid..2K is really too much .. I paid our maid 1300 in previous society .. and that too was the highest in that society .i am paying 2/- extra for milk packets everyday.
    Newspaper comes around at 8:30 AM.. I do not want it at that time.. But before i catch delivey boy to say that .. everyday he throws the paper n run away... Anyone knows early morning newshawker

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    1. Try Mr Duraibabu at Abhirami News Mart, Padur. Cell: 9789933772.

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    2. @Neeraj: You may ask the security guys(at the main gate and at our ground floor as well) to send you a maid-I found mine that way. As about their salary-pay according to the work you are getting done-they'll ask 2K first but we need to bargain a bit! I'm paying her 1500/- though I feel it is still over-priced.Punctuality is an issue that remains even after 1 and half months :)

      About the milk pricing-after reading your comment I checked and found we are paying Rs1.50 extra per packet everyday and on top of that 40/- extra service charge.It is nearly impossible to catch hold of them over phone (like Don ko pakadna ..etc etc...)-I plan to ask them next month when they come for the bill an explanation for the service charge.

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  4. I was charged 300 Rs to exactly drill and screw 6 nails after their work hours- I was also told that it is 50 rs for each nail-- highway robbery at best. I asked for ratecard and there is none. I think it would be best to share numbers and names when we use repairmen that are good and reasonable and entirely eliminate use of Propcare folks in their after hours as they may soon realize that there is big money to be made by offering their services for personalized needs and soon we will end up suffering the consequences of a neglected apartment complex as they become busy attending to personalized services and demanding such exhorbitant rates

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