• Creator
    Topic
  • #69467
    Jimmy-T
    Keymaster

      COMMENT: With the announcement of the appointment of Rentals Commissioner Trina Jones, we await the anointing of the proposed new Strata Commissioner,
      [See the full post at: Sacked SM given total power over new scheme]

      The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
    Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
    • Author
      Replies
    • #69507
      Quirky
      Flatchatter

        As the secretary of a strata committee, I attended a mediation session at Fair Trading a number of years ago, in relation to an owner who had not paid their levies for a considerable period. During the mediation the owner made a number of promises and undertaking to pay their levies. But that did not happen, and the owner’s continued not paying their levies.
        So I contacted Fair Trading to request copy of the mediation determination; I assumed a transcript of the mediation meeting had been kept, or at least a summary of the outcome. It was shocking to be told that Fair Trading did not keep any record at all of the mediation session, or its outcome. They could not even tell me the mediator involved to get his recollection of the outcome. So what was the purpose? Keeping no records means we had to rely on memory, which has no legal validity. So mediation is actually worthless, or less that worthless, since it wastes everyone’s time and money, and any result evaporates into the ether the moment the session finishes.

        #69518
        Jimmy-T
        Keymaster
        Chat-starter

          UPDATE:

          I have just been informed that “Toxic” strata managers were appointed because the strata scheme seeking to get rid of their previous strata managers requested their appointment.  As alluded to in our podcast this week, that’s standard practice; when you want a statutory appointment, you have to go along with a strata manager who is prepared to take on the job.

          Why did the scheme choose Toxic? That’s a whole other question – obviously somebody loves them.

          As for the apparent lack of communication within NCAT, it seems it is even crazier than we thought.  The Member who removed Toxic from their previous contract was the same one who appointed them to the new building.

          Yeah … I know (sigh).

          The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
          • This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by .
          #69627
          StrataChair
          Flatchatter
          (from NSW)

            My guess is that ‘Toxic’ has a really effective business development unit. They probably also lowball the price, planning to make their actual profit from lots of hours, insurance ‘commissions’ and other kickbacks from suppliers.

            The worst strata manager I’ve dealt with worked for a big, supposedly reputable firm – who’d given us a good tapdance at one point. What made him ‘worst’? Literally no communication with the committee – didn’t reply to emails or respond to phone messages; sacked our cleaners to appoint his mate; didn’t pay any of our bills (we found out when we got the ‘notice to disconnect’ from the electricity supplier).

            Talking to ‘management’ got nowhere until I phoned the CEO’s office and made it clear this had to be sorted out. But even then, they wouldn’t own the screwups, offered pathetic compensation (waiving their fee for a month…after months of frustration and inaction).

            Sadly, that’s the business model: sign ’em up and give ’em rubbish.

          Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)
          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.