Being chased for service charges.

[elpaulo]

Hi all

I was so relieved to stumble across this forum recently. I am currently being aggressively chased by Dobern for service charges that do not relate to me. I’ve sought legal advice and been told I am not obliged to pay but Dobern keep sending more and more letters with increasingly higher charges.

I am currently looking to take them to a leaseholder valuation tribunal to clear this matter up. If any of you have any advice or information you could share to help me with this that would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

[gjhuk]

Dont' be intimidated by Dobern an their aggressive tactics.

 

I wouldn't bother dragging them to a tribunal. Wait for them to take action against you.

 

If they do issue proceedings against you, just defend the claim. It'll be transferred to your local court if you defend it and you can let a judge decide. At Dobern's expense. You won't incur any costs if you're not in the wrong.

 

Cheers,

 

GJH

[elpaulo]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Honestly, when I started getting letters from Dobern I was staggered to see how agressive they were. it is hugely reassuring to see that people have come up against them, not backed down and won.

[elpaulo]

Thanks for the advice as well.

[MARTIN3030]

Thread moved here and re-titled.

[MARTIN3030]

I take it this is Dobern Property Services in Finchley ?

I dont think we have had any users on here with issues with them before-but will check in our archive.

[MARTIN3030]

Can you just give some more info;

 

1.Why are they chasing you ?

 

2.What are the charges (where do they originate from )

 

3.How are you disputing it ?

 

4.What proof do you have to dispute it ?

 

5.How long has this been going on ?

 

6.What steps have they taken in contacting you ? phone/letter ? Any Solicitor threats ?

 

7.How have you been responding to them -ie has it been in writing or phone/email etc ?

[gjhuk]

Dobern Properties Ltd/Dobern Property Management (a trading name of Goldmine Associates Ltd...) operate out of a PO Box in Ilford.

 

Their PO Box redirects to their office in Ilford. In the past, less that 2 in 5 items of post made it through to their PO Box!.

 

Dobern Properties Ltd/Goldmine Associates Ltd registered office address is their solicitors' address in Barnet (Howard Schneider Spiro Steele). I had dealings with HSSS during my dealings with Dobern.

 

Dobern used to operate from an address in Finchley.

 

Dobern Properties Ltd/Goldmine Associates Ltd is run by two brothers: Leslie and Robert Kingston.

 

The Kingston brothers' 'empire' includes a firm of accountants and other companies that deal with accounting matters.

 

Cheers,

 

GJH

[gjhuk]

I dont think we have had any users on here with issues with them before-but will check in our archive.

 

Other users have had issues with Dobern on this forum. Just search 'Dobern' for a thread titled: Help being chased DCA for monies already paid

 

Regards,

 

GJH

[MARTIN3030]

I saw that you have previously posted on this thread

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?126503-Help-being-chased-DCA-for-monies-already-paid&p=2531643

 

These issues were back in 2008/2009.

I also note that we saw another couple of posters appearing with their stories,yet we do not seem to have had any updates or further info from anyone which is strange.

 

It is noted that there was mention there of little scope indofar as regulatory bodies are concerned,and yet as I understand things some of the actions are tantamount to harassment.

They also engaged or instructed third parties to act on their behalf in recovery.

Such agents need to be licenced by the OFT.

There is also a case that makes them potentially liable for the actions of any third parties they instruct to deal on their behalf.