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In September 2011 I discovered a crack in the hot water pipe return from the baseboard. Since I do not turn the heating in the apt, it is way too hot anyway, there was no water leak, only loud whistle of air being sucked into the crack by the return water pump. I plugged the crack with some plumber putty to prevent air entering the system and asked the super for his recommendation for a plumber to have the pipe repaired. His response was that the building maintenance people can do the job themselves and I don't need to find anyone and can save money. He said "That's what we are here for". A quote in the amount of $320.80 was given to me for the part needed to do the job. I agreed to have the work done for this amount after the end of the heating season.
In July 2012 I raised this issue with the super and the maintenance company representative since no job has been done by then and it was agreed that my pipe/baseboard should be repaired/replaced before the heating season starts to avoid potential water leaks and damages to the apartment downstairs.
In August 2012 the baseboard was replaced by a plumber hired by the maintenance company without any quotes, notices or my approvals. No Maintenance Requests was ever filed, neither I authorized to enter my apt in my absence. I was billed about three times of the original quote amount - $952.66. I refused to pay the bill sent to me and only paid the amount of the original quote, sent several e-mails to the maintenance company disputing this new charge, but the only response I received was that 'you agreed to have the work done".
For 2 years the difference between the billed amount and the money I paid remained constant in my monthly maintenance bill and the entire issue remained stagnant. Every month I paid my maintenance bill in full and on time indicating that the money I was paying was for the maintenance only and should not be applied towards the charge under dispute. Then in November 2014 my monthly maintenance payment was applied to cover that disputed amount, monthly maintenance was indicated as 'not paid in full' and a late charge was added to the bill. Any new e-mail regarding this issue to the maintenance company or the Board remain unanswered.
Any advice about how to proceed further beyond sending a certified letter?
Thank you!
You might want to check your proprietary lease; normally, any water-related repairs of building systems are the responsibility of the coop, not the individual shareholder. You may not have to pay any of this expense. Good luck to you.
In my coop, the unit owner is responsible for visible piping except for a steam riser, but including radiators, radiator shut off valves and radiator air vents. In this case, it's not clear where the cracked pipe is, or what it's attached to, or the cause of the cracked pipe. Of course, leases do vary and should be checked just to be clear.
You might want to check your proprietary lease; normally, any water-related repairs of building systems are the responsibility of the coop, not the individual shareholder. You may not have to pay any of this expense. Good luck to you.
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do you have any written history of this or was it all verbal?
hopefully you have written history to back all up - request meeting with board via certified letter and bring copies of all history with you. ask them to present your written approval to move forward with the cost of $952.66.
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