Can estimates omit mandatory fees ?

[ellie05]

We have a rental property and we have a property management. We have been using them for 2 years now. They send an estimate of some things that needed to be repair 2 things should have been under $100 per the estimate. Well today I received the bills and they are charging a $65 "service call" per item! Now we have been using this company for 2 years and never been charge a service call before. I am just confuse of how they send and estimate that omits this "mandatory fee". Can they even do that ? Thoughts ?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

No they have to listed all fee's that they charge in writting

 

[tvguy]

I think you need to be asking them and looking at your contract. IMHO an estimate should include all costs, UNLESS your contract specifies there is also a service charge.

 

[ellie05]

I think you need to be asking them and looking at your contract. IMHO an estimate should include all costs, UNLESS your contract specifies there is also a service charge.

We don't have a contract with them. They are a separate company owned by the the same people that do repairs and maintenance.

 

[afan]

I have a contract with my management co and they provide all estimates whether it's with an outside contractor or one of their maintenance people. Unless it's an emergency I'm contacted before hand since it's generally something the tenant has reported. I always have a service fee when they go to take a look unless it ends up being the tenant's responsibility (tenant complained the heat wasn't working, they went it was fine, but the tenant hadn't paid their gas bill, wow, so I wasn't charged). I always know the cost and have ok'd it, unless it's an emergency, before it gets done. I would ask them why it wasn't on the estimate. It may have been an oversite or it's in the contract with the management company. They may work with you, mine has in some cases.

 

[tvguy]

We don't have a contract with them. They are a separate company owned by the the same people that do repairs and maintenance.

You don't have a contract with your property managers?

 

[ellie05]

You don't have a contract with your property managers?

Obviously we do with the PM. The company that does the repairs which gave us the estimate we do not which is the same company charging is the fee. Owned my the same people.

 

[ellie05]

I have a contract with my management co and they provide all estimates whether it's with an outside contractor or one of their maintenance people. Unless it's an emergency I'm contacted before hand since it's generally something the tenant has reported. I always have a service fee when they go to take a look unless it ends up being the tenant's responsibility (tenant complained the heat wasn't working, they went it was fine, but the tenant hadn't paid their gas bill, wow, so I wasn't charged). I always know the cost and have ok'd it, unless it's an emergency, before it gets done. I would ask them why it wasn't on the estimate. It may have been an oversite or it's in the contract with the management company. They may work with you, mine has in some cases.

It has been 2 years we never have been charged service fee.

 

[afan]

It has been 2 years we never have been charged service fee.

Then I would contact them and ask them about it. It could be a new thing or it could have been a mistake or maybe the other things they've done before haven't warranted a service fee and this one did. They are the only one's that can answer the question.

 

[tvguy]

Obviously we do with the PM. The company that does the repairs which gave us the estimate we do not which is the same company charging is the fee. Owned my the same people.

Got it. I guess they could have been clearer on the service charge, but I don't find it excessive. Most places around here charge about $90 for a service call. Given that it costs the typical service company around $50 an hour just to have an employee on the street, in a vehicle and that your total repair you say was less than $100, they would be bankrupt pretty quick if they didn't charge the service call fee. Do they waive the fee if the work they do is above a certain dollar amount? I think your answers are all with the company that bill you.

 

[J.Casto79]

The question really is how much do you value your relationship with this company. They sent you an estimate, and that is what it is. Everyone knows it can be higher if they discover something, but to leave off a base fee like that is not acceptable nor is it right. Honestly, I think you definitely have a case to not pay it. That said, since they manage the property, unless you want to find someone else, I'd just pay it and send a note or call and let them know that you expect that they disclose all fees on their repair estimates.