We always report messages that we receive from residents with Peverel / Solitaire problems, who have contacted us by e-mail, but we thought we’d also post a few comments that we receive via our Facebook page – that non ‘facebookers’ may not have read.

Here are a few messages:-

Hi – Solitaire are driving me crazy. I wrote a formal letter of compliant to them on 17th June about the disgusting state of this development here in Mountsorrel, Leics. To dtae I have had no written response. I had a site visit with a nice young lady who promised me she would get things sorted but its now August 18th and still no action. Surely there must be something we can do to stop this company taking money from us for services they are repeatedly failing to deliver? Its daylight robbery.

I’m paying trading standards a visit later today. I was advised by somebody the other day that if enough residents say they want to have another management company they we could actually “out” them.

When we moved into a brand new David Wilson built flat in 05 we had to pay 6 monthly exorbitant service charges to Solitaire which went up with every bill we had. A couple of years ago we had another company take over after the majority agreed. We get far better value for money now, the bills are half what they were and dont noticibly rise every time. We chose how we needed their services with things done ad hoc if necessary. So thats great except Solitaire wont leave us alone and keep billing us every 6 months for ‘Estate Service Charges’ which, so far we have refused to pay. I have no idea what they are providing for this. The management company we are with now takes care of everything within the flats and externally and after notifying them about this, have commented how unreasonble this is of Solitaire. I spoke to the council who look after the estate we live on (with new builds they take over after a year) and told them Solitaire are charging us for their work and they werent impressed by this. I have also been to citizens advice who also cant understand what theyre charging us for but I dont know how to get them off our backs. How can they expect us to pay council tax, managment service charges and them? Its just ridiculous.

I stumbled across your website when I googled Solitaire.  Scary!
 
The problem I have with them is that they are trying to charge me service fees for the period 1 Jan 08 to 31 Dec 08 – but I only took ownership at the end of November (and the month I did own it has already been paid!).  I have until now refused to pay it on those grounds – never mind the fact that up until the week before I moved it it was still under construction!  In fact, the first time I came to view the property I couldn’t because it was just a shell – that was in November.
 
I have repeatedly told Solitaire I will not pay it, but they continue to push and it is just not worth ruining my credit rating over.  Maybe you are aware of someone who has had the same problem.  Can you offer me any advice?

Here’s what people are also saying on our Facebook ‘Wall’:-

Right- what are we going to do about this dreadful company ? They are taking the wee wee out of us all big time. There must be some way we can get them into court.

ANYONE SUCCESSFULLY GOT LET OFF ADMIN CHARGES?

I had some financial problems and paid on time via cheque instead of direct debit and got charged two lots of £53 admin!! A joke!! We pay £1600 per year, and they hardly do anything!!

Don’t forget, if you are a Facebook user, feel free to join our Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Thetruthabout-Solitaire/100000265876399

You can get in contact with us via Facebook or E-Mail – we’ll also shortly be joining Twitter for even quicker updates!!