at a loss :(
 

folks i am at a loss:(....i don't know what to do......to cut a long story short i moved into my new apartment 01/10/17 - its a brand new building in the Marina...when i viewed the apartment (mid Sep) there was no Du or Gas connection (because both services were still being installed in the entire building) but i was told by the real estate broker that by the time my lease starts both would be completed - and hence why i signed the lease.
Gas was connected 28/11 and Du is still not connected.
So basically i have had to live without Gas for almost 2 months and without internet/tv/wifi for almost 3 months.
If i went to RERA would i have any kind of case - the RERA guy i spoke to over the phone couldn't follow what i was explaining and so i now don't really have a lot of faith if RERA can do anything?

Re: at a loss :(
 

Wasn't there a thread on this at the time....?

I would go in to Rera and talk to them face to face. It's often easier than on the phone.

What is your landlord saying? Have you been chasing then up regularly? Have you got a record of emails, calls or whatever?

What does your contract say? If anything?

Personally I think you maybe able to get some rent back, but thats a long shot.

Re: at a loss :(
 

I'd be going ****ing loopy at everyone - estate agent for lying, landlord too and RERA.

Did you pay one cheque or more?

What have Du said about connecting to the building?

Re: at a loss :(
 

Re: at a loss :(
 

Re: at a loss :(
 

If you're not ringing, emailing and texting several times a day then you're doing this wrong Mission.

Hammer these idiots. If you politely ask and don't follow up in writing and don't chase them for things in writing and go through the RERA process and speak with the landlord and do everything you can then you're going to end up getting shafted at the end of this contract.

Use everything. Throw the kitchen sink at them. Tell them you're changing the locks and will move out on the 15th of X (months after you are meant to leave) when it's sorted.

Get RERA on it. Immediately.
Shout at people, especially the lying estate agents.
Discuss with landlord.
I'm assuming you paid the agent a fee for this 'service' too right?

Re: at a loss :(
 

Re: at a loss :(
 

Ring the landlord yourself, probably speaks English?
They might have no idea that this is happening and might be really helpful to come to an agreement.

To be honest, the problem isn't getting fixed soon by the sounds of it, I'd be asking for every single penny back and moving.

Re: at a loss :(
 

i want to try and resolve this amicably and so i am hoping the landlord will be a lot more helpful. I have spent a fortunate on take away/delivery meals because i had no gas connection for 2 months and hence not been able to cook and i've spent a fortune on a data sim card just so i could have access to the internet for almost 3 months....all i want in return is for the landlord to recognise this and be reasonable and extend my contract my for at least 2-3 months.
I can't just move out...where would i move too? I have frigging paid AED 105k for the entire year....i can't just walk out.

Re: at a loss :(
 

I think you should be on the phone to the LL now, whilst walking to your car and driving to RERA.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Multi-tasking in extremis? :blink:

Tell them you have initiated legal proceedings and opened a case with RERA. Bluffing legal stuff seems to work wonders - you've already seen that with how fast it got you the landlord's details. Make it clear you are angry and serious and have thought this through.

Re: at a loss :(
 

still waiting for my Arabic colleague to get back to the office so that we can ring the landlord.....in the mean time i will start to print off all emails and text messages (to present to RERA)....talking of text messages is there a way to print off whatsapp conversations/messages?

Re: at a loss :(
 

you could probably take screenshots and print those?

Re: at a loss :(
 

As I'm feeling pedantic today: your colleague is Arab; the language he speaks is Arabic; and pretty much everything else Arab-related is correctly described as Arabian rather than Arabic. Except for bread oddly enough.

But anyway, on a more relevant note: screenshot your whatsapp conversations and print the image.

Re: at a loss :(
 

You need to get Emiratis involved, not Egyptians or people from the Subcontinent.

Get your company's Emirati head of housing involved - if he is not Emirati, find out who his boss is, and keep going up the chain until you reach an Emirati. That person then needs to speak to the landlord directly. If there is an Emirati lawyer at your company that might also do the trick.

Seems like a horrible situation. Sorry.

Re: at a loss :(
 

When I had my bad-smell problem, I prepared a whole file for the courts (including a legal opinion). I then walked into my landlord's office with the file at 8.30am explained to him that this was the file and that if it's not resolved immediately I will take it to the courts.

He begged for 24 hours and it was resolved.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Obviously I don't know how things work there but is is worth having a word with the other tenants and getting them all involved? They must be suffering the same issues. If everyone gets arsey things may move quicker??????

Re: at a loss :(
 

there SO many messages...i'll be here all day screen-shotting and then emailing it as an attachment to myself and then printing it off...i was hoping there would be a way to avoid doing it this way

ditto above

we are a 100% owned brit company with our parent company (head office) being the UK...we are based in JAFZA and our GM, along with all senior management are all brits....no one has any contacts with any kind of wasta:(

it's a route that i will now have to take

anyone who lives in the building will be in the same predicament, however from what i have gathered there weren't many that had moved into the building the time that i did and hence have not had this issue for almost 3 months....tenants have increased over the last couple of weeks and so i guess it hasn't been too much of a problem for them so far

Re: at a loss :(
 

Just don't send you Grindr / Blendr / Tindr ones by mistake.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Yeah, but what are you going to do about your bad smell??


Oh come on, it was just sitting right up there...was I really supposed to just ignore it?

Re: at a loss :(
 

Blendr? Is that really a thing. One is intrigued....

Re: at a loss :(
 

If using a Samsung: Go into the chat, in the top right hand corner, there's an icon (3 dots atop each other), press it, a menu drops, the bottom option is 'More', choose that, and then you'll see an option for 'email chat' - email it to yourself (with media attachment or without, choose). It may be a .txt. file for may be zipped.

On an iPhone: Open the chat, then click the contact name at the top of the screen, scroll down the screen, you'll find an option called 'Export Chat' - choose this, choose if you want with media or without - then choose to send to 'Mail' - again you'll either receive a text file or zipped file.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Is next to the Toastr.

Re: at a loss :(
 

I think we should all congratulate mission on the use of colour and multiple quoting.

Re: at a loss :(
 

I agree.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Yeah, a bit much at once I guess. :rofl:

Mission, how did you get on with ringing the landlord yesterday?
Did you go to RERA?
Have you got a file of print outs built?

Re: at a loss :(
 

May I point out Me Lord that I had advised against this move or am I trying to urinate in the wind?

Re: at a loss :(
 

did you offer an alternative suggestion or just a no?

Re: at a loss :(
 

If I remember correctly, I said dont move to any building which hasnt had its Internet / TV connection sorted because despite what 'they' say, it almost always takes 3 times the quoted time. So therefore, a vehement no!

By the by I have taken the RERA route twice, once in real and once in the landlord's imagination and both times I came on top (all puns intended)

Re: at a loss :(
 

yep i have compiled the file - took me almost 2 hrs to screen shot all the various whatsapp messages etc - but file is now ready to be handed over to RERA.
Company has agreed to foot any legal costs with RERA, which actually isn't a huge amount

Re: at a loss :(
 

While we are all slapping ourselves on the back I seem to remember saying to get everything she agreed in writing....

Re: at a loss :(
 

and don't you think i frigging tried that!!:angry_smile::angry_smile:
I have sent numerous emails and whatsapp messages asking them to confirm in writing about the contract extension and they never addressed it in writing...instead they would ring and confirm it over the phone, even though would ask them to send it in writing...not sure what the f u k i could have done!!

Re: at a loss :(
 

and to all you who seem to want to pat yourselves on the back.... frigging sod off!! I signed a lease in which i was told in good faith the utilities would be connected....and they weren't...and so now i am just trying to figure out what course of action i can take...i don't need you all trying to f u k me off even further!

Re: at a loss :(
 

Mission.

Pick up the ****ing phone and ring the landlord.

Sending a shitty, threatening email out of the blue isn't worth the effort. Follow a call up with an email sure, but just ring the landlord and talk to them.

Re: at a loss :(
 

I'm with Scamp on this one Mission. My landlord is also Egyptian (living in the UAE) and he only picks up eMails once a week!!

Re: at a loss :(
 

It's the salesperson in us. Picking up the phone is the only way to get things done.

Re: at a loss :(
 

thanks guys....point taken...will give it till tomorrow and if by the time i get into the office in the morning (sent email from my work email add) he has not responded will ring him.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Good stuff Mission.

May well be worth speaking with RERA to find out what you need to open a case etc so you can be prepared.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Yup, you call them and agree it. I also like a surprise visit to their office at 8am, preferably walking straight past the receptionist who will come scampering quickly behind not knowing what to do.

I did that once and had security called, naturally they won't touch you but you tend to see the CEO/CLO pretty quickly when you do that.

Then follow up with an email setting out exactly what they agreed on the phone. Put it on them to say no or implicitly agree. They generally will reply when it's all set out one way or another.

Re: at a loss :(
 

Thanks SCAMP -
although i spoke to some guy at RERA on Sun who told me what documentation i needed to open a case, i will get my Arabian co worker to ring again and double check what details are needed - Arabian co worker has also said he will accompany me to RERA, and so hopefully that will also help.

The landlord doesn't live in the UAE, he lives in Egypt...otherwise i would have been knocking on his door sooner
The thing is i am not a telephone person and prefer to do things via email, that way it's in writing and gives me the opportunity to read through what i want to say/convery...over the telephone i tend to shoot from the hip, which can just make things worse....but of course on this occasion a telephone call is a must.