Posted by StefanN on July 25, 2007, 8:50 pm, in reply to "Response to Stefan"
Message modified by board administrator July 27, 2007, 1:33 pm

Charles, thank you for taking the time and replying in detail. From what I read I get the feeling that BWFL is fully aware of the fact that we have extraordinary costs this year and the plan is to get back to normal in 2008. This is really good news to me and eliminates my concerns. You asked for my opinion so here we go: 2a. The gym: *** Content removed by Board Administrator as violating the BWFL rules of use of the Message Board *** 2b. Increased operating costs: true, electricity costs are rising but people mainly get hit by this on their personal bill. Electricity for common areas shouldn't make a huge portion out of the service charges. And the winter was very mild so heating costs shouldn't been an issue. 2c replace or not: I can't help you on that. This is wear and tear and you can always win or loose on that. 2d Wheelhouse roof: you name it. It was going on and on for years. Everyone had an opinion but noone was acting. Maybe we would have gained a lot if we had reacted on this immediately when it occured and maybe we pay so much because we had not reacted on this earlier. But I wouldn't blame BWFL for it since i could imagine doing it the same (being unexperienced with roof work). 2e. Estate leaks: This one you got completely wrong and I am sure that you already learned a lesson there. Paying planet plumbing upfront and open the door wide to give them the money was a terrible thing to do. If you throw more money on nonintrusive plumbing checks and hope to get money back on premiums is definately the wrong way. Not to mention that they didn't have to do all checks and BW became a money printing machine to them. I would have advised all landlords to carefully check their premises. But I wouldn't have given a single pound to planet plumbing especially when the costs exceed the premium benefits (if there were or are any) 2f low inflation area: yes you are right we do live in a low inflation area. 3%, yes I totally agree. But I still wonder about the 76% (in words seventysix) rise from 2006 to 2007. 2g unplanable forecasts. Hm, I would not sign this. We had stable SCs until end of 2006. In January this year BWFL already increased the SC by 40% because you saw that you would not be able to cover the period. Mid this year you rose it to 76% because you lost it completely with the costs. So you weren't proactive in any way it was more of an disaster recovery action AFTER the disaster happened. (And i still don't understand why reserve funds were not in place to be available as an "reserve") My statement was that SC went up by 76% from 2006 to 2007. Yes, this was regardless the context and it happened in less then one year. Someone reading this would get the impression it was terrible and unexpected, but Charles.... it WAS! One last remark: I also pay SCs for other premises. My secrete hint would be to increase the reserve funds. If you put those buffers up, then you won't get hit directly by nasty lifts, inpolite landlords and sound proofing and you would have the following years to get the reserves back to normal again without firefighting. Stefan PS: I bet my grammar is five times worse then yours, Charles.

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