All Topics / Opinionated! / Whittles Strata Managers – MGA Group of Companies

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 26 total)
  • Profile photo of Johnny1Johnny1
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    @johnny1
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 58

    Has anyone had any dealings with Whittles Strata Managers? Interested in hearing from you. [}:)]

    Profile photo of stargazerstargazer
    Participant
    @stargazer
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 344

    hi johnny

    yes i have how can i help

    regards
    alf

    Profile photo of Johnny1Johnny1
    Member
    @johnny1
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 58

    Hi Alf

    I’ve experienced nothing but problems with this company. They seem to be really disorganised and continually attempt to put bandaids over their own internal problems. I’ve also heard that other strata owners have had similar experiences. [}:)]

    Have you had any problems with this company?

    Profile photo of DramDram
    Member
    @dram
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 82

    Hi,

    They manage the Body Corp for my IP here in Darwin. Can’t say I’ve had any serious problems with them, but my Tennant has had a few things to say. For example, the combination to the Security gate was supposed to be changed (the whole street knew it), well it took them weeks to get it done.

    They seem happy to take the money, but I don’t see much of it being spent to keep the place in order.

    Cheers

    Profile photo of HousesOnlyHousesOnly
    Participant
    @housesonly
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 167

    Hi Johnny
    My IP is managed by another Strata Manager but have also found them to be less than interested in keeping fees and costs down. They seem to encourage interaction as it obviously generates a fee everytime. On top of this they also seem to be less than helpful or experienced with regards to the intricacies of owners rights and responsibilities in a strata block. I suppose one should not expect more from them as they often have no limit to which they can run up these fees especially with regard to letters and taking phone calls etc. I don’t think that you would kind many good managers who were not out to increase revenue but please help change my mind anyone!

    Profile photo of Johnny1Johnny1
    Member
    @johnny1
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 58

    Hi Dram and HousesOnly [:)]
    I agree with everything that you’ve both said. Luckily enough, the SA Government is looking into many of the current problems associated with strata ownership in this State, particularly in regard to strata assistants (I don’t want to use the word “managers” because that would only help to strengthen the false impression that they were actually capable of performing that task) and is looking for public comment. Hopefully, our Government can tighten up our laws in this State because a good dose of epsom salts is long overdue.
    I’m sorry that I can’t provide any details of the Government department or person who’s compiling the submissions, as I only found out about the Government’s plans whilst watching the tail end of the ABC News and couldn’t write down the details. I have contacted the ABC, in this regard and will keep anyone who is interested posted.

    Would also like to hear from any other people who have had similar experiences with Whittles, and strata assistants generally. [:)]

    Profile photo of stargazerstargazer
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    @stargazer
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 344

    hi johnny

    i can’t say that i have had problems with whittles myself.

    kind regards
    alf

    Profile photo of Johnny1Johnny1
    Member
    @johnny1
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 58

    Hi Alf

    Do you work for Whittles or are you a strata owner?

    If you’re a strata owner then how long have you had them assisting your corporation?

    Profile photo of stargazerstargazer
    Participant
    @stargazer
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 344

    hi johnny

    no i dont work for whittles and i am a strata owner.

    like anything do your own research and ask a few different ones.

    I apersonally found whittles helpful on a couple of matters that needed to be fixed.

    Have you had a bad experience?

    what is your reason for asking?

    regards
    alf

    Profile photo of Johnny1Johnny1
    Member
    @johnny1
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 58

    Further to my original posting dated 16/08/2003.

    The South Australian Government is presently looking for responses to their “Discussion Paper on Body Corporate Managers” with the view toward “Possible Regulation of Body Corporate Managers”. [:)]

    According to the “Discussion Paper” – from 1997 to 30 June 2003, the Magistrates Court has heard 219 cases regarding the Strata Titles and Community Titles Acts. [}:)]

    If you’re interested in getting a copy of the “Possible Regulation of Body Corporate Managers, Discussion Paper”, then please download it from http://www.justice.sa.gov.au/ (follow the link to “News”) and either (1) post your responses to the South Australian Attorney-Generals Department, Policy and Legislation Section, G.P.O. Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001. or (2) fax your responses to (08) 8204 1337 or (3) email your responses to the [email protected]. [:)]

    All inquiries should be directed to Shane Sody on (08) 8207 1851.

    I hope that some good will come out of these discussions and that something can be done to either curb the shonky practices of some strata “assistants” or better still – to completely drum them out of the business. This review must be welcomed by all South Australian strata owners and is long overdue. [:D]

    Profile photo of Chris50Chris50
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    @chris50
    Join Date: 2004
    Post Count: 1

    Yes I have had problems with Whittles. For example, our manager obtained a quote for termite erradication. We didn’t approve the work to be done but he went ahead anyway. When we complained he wrote back a very patronising and petty letter stating that we shouldn’t expect him to do anything outside of turn up once a year for the AGM. Use another company if you have the choice.

    Profile photo of MyydralMyydral
    Member
    @myydral
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 259

    I have Whittles as Body Corp for my unit in Alice Springs. The main problem we had a few years ago was that someone did some dodgy accounting and used up our sinking fund. We now have an extra $40 to fees to top it up again.

    Other than that, average overall.

    Cheers

    “Looking forward to the day when I can tell the boss where to go”

    Profile photo of shaunwalkershaunwalker
    Member
    @shaunwalker
    Join Date: 2003
    Post Count: 403

    whittle’s are in charge of my property in darwin as well. theres an abondoned car in the car park, which they wont get rid of. we ended up coming to an agreement where they will do all the legwork and i would pay for it separetly. i should have just taken off the number plates and pushed the damn thing onto the street.
    found them nice enough people but not much in the way of actually doing anything.
    cheers
    shaun

    Lead, Follow or get out of the bloody way

    Profile photo of lmorgantelmorgante
    Member
    @lmorgante
    Join Date: 2008
    Post Count: 1

    yes i believe WHITTLES do nothing charge you for water we have no garden
    charge for power the lights dont work
    the path has been damaged by another builder back in june 2007 nothing done
    pay sinking money nothing to sink
    what a joke
    and send bills before anything happen so you are always 3 mths ahead
    i rang them up and nothing has happened sent emails and nothing has happened
    complete joke

    Profile photo of Scott No MatesScott No Mates
    Participant
    @scott-no-mates
    Join Date: 2005
    Post Count: 3,856

    Well, what does your body corporate do for you? They are the ones who instruct your strata managers , seek appropriate advice from 'the experts' and pay their bills.

    Your BC must be useless if it expects that the SM who may visit just before AGM to know what is going on if it isn't kept informed. If contractors who have been engaged by the SM on behalf of the BC (and yourself) aren't performing, have the BC send a rocket up the contractor, they have after all paid for the services (with your funds). The same goes for the SM, have them put on notice by the BC, call tenders prior to the next AGM for SM services.

    As for paying water rates, there must be some common area in the building eg carpark or a car wash bay, foyers etc where someone may use a hose to wash things down. They can't bill you without having had a bill from the water supplier.

    If you aren't happy with the actions of the BC do something about it, be part of the solution don't just complain about it, take on a role within body corporate so that you can have your say and direct how funds are spent (based on the budgets prepared by the SM).

    Profile photo of dkd1959dkd1959
    Member
    @dkd1959
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 1

    I have used whittles for my 2 IP for over 5 years. they are always helpful when i call for assistance, never received any extra charges for that service. the PM arranges the AGM every year without fail and the pro-active owners attend and we always have a positive meeting. To be honest though I could never understand the real reason we have to pay for a PM company other than as a mediator and independent holder of our funds if required. No reflection on Whittles here however. I see a tax benefit with the fees.

    Profile photo of C2C2
    Participant
    @c2
    Join Date: 2002
    Post Count: 518

    Whittles,

    I have crossed paths with them a few times over different issues.  Most of the time they seem okay but every once in a while they do a major stuff up.   When they change staff I always have to explain that I'm O/S and don't attend meetings.  It is there responsibility to send any information to me by email and I will decide my vote.  One smart one decided they would impose a penalty if I didn't attend meetings.  After a quick chat he saw the errors of his ways and now leaves me alone.

    Profile photo of johnntjohnnt
    Member
    @johnnt
    Join Date: 2007
    Post Count: 4

    I have always believed that a  Body Corporate management company is only as good as the chairperson and committee  as elected by the owners at the AGM.  It is this committee that drives the show and instructs the BC Management company on all issues pertaining to the complex.  If this committee is slack and don't care then they only have themselves to blame. In my experience, most people who winge about BC Managers are not members of their BC and are not pro-active in looking after their complex and therefore their investment. 

    Profile photo of zervasdezervasde
    Member
    @zervasde
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 1

    i am also very unhappy with the whittles corp and their skills and feel they are not of high quality.

    i have always had problems in my property in reference to common groud parking.  Rules were assigned for the convenience of all tennants/owners however have never been upheld and there is no accountability.

    My friends are also frustrated with parking in this area and one requested details of the strata manager to email her frustration as it was an ongoing problem.  I provided her the name of my strata manager and corporation, she email him and then i received an email stating if i ever gave out his details to a third party he would charge me extra.

    Felt this was absolutely ridiculous and would argue  that as my strata manager if i can not go to him with any problems then who do i turn to for support.and what do they get paid for?

    D

    Profile photo of new2investmentnew2investment
    Member
    @new2investment
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 1

    Whittles… my oh my, where do I begin… I have been and still am extremely unhappy with Whittles (in particular Alice Springs) and while I complain about it we have no choice in Alice Springs… there is no other body corporate manager in town so everyone who owns a unit here is stuck with the unprofessional, inadequate and over priced "non-service". 
    Believe me, if there was another body corp manager in town and they actually conduct a service and look after the body corporate members then they will achieve a great deal of business in a short amount of time.

Viewing 20 posts - 1 through 20 (of 26 total)

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