Angry residents axe under-fire factor firm
A second major flats development has axed the firm supposed to be looking after their building.
Donald Ross Residential Factoring has been removed from the Inkerman Court complex in Ayr amid allegations of lousy service and not accounting for their funds.
We have already revealed the firm was dropped from the Dalblair Court retirement complex in the town.
Now Anthony D’Arcy, Chairman of the Inkerman Court Committee, says they are also ditching DRF on the maintenance of their building.
He said: “I can confirm the Inkerman Court Committee and owners issued a formal Notice of Contract Termination to Donald
Ross Residential Factoring Limited at our AGM on Thursday July 2. Their contract ends with us on July 31.”
The basement car park at Inkerman Court on Ayr Esplanade had been the bizarre setting for a showdown meeting with Donald Ross Factoring boss Steven Miller earlier in the year after fury at the lack of service.
Promises for transparency made at that meeting still not being met was the catalyst for their contract being ripped-up.
One source among the 44 seafront flat complex said: “When bank statements were requested for instance, there were excuses, saying new directors can’t access accounts.
“You just wonder how many other residents are being impacted by what is going on at this company.”
The firm, now based in Irvine after switching from Ayr following Steven’s split from his wife Jacqueline, claims to look after 90 developments in Ayrshire and Glasgow.
We have already told how the Dalblair Court development dismissed the company, claiming more than £20,000 was due back to them on advance payments made.
And one flat owner at the Carrick Quay development in Ayr said: “It is a complete shambles, I am owed money for services not provided. There have been issues with people not being paid for carrying out work.”
Ex-car dealer Steven quit as a director of the Donald Ross estate agency in Beresford Terrace, Ayr, last January.
Residents at Inkerman Court made their decision unanimously to turf the factors out.
A formal notice of termination was given to them, stating ten breaches of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011.
They include a failure to “respond to multiple emails from multiple owners” and emails and calls from external agencies and contractors.
Inkerman owners say there has been no evidence of a floating cash fund being held in a separate account from company funds despite asking for it two months ago.
The severance notice says: “Verification of the value of the contingency sinking funds and verification of the value of floats held for the 44 properties, along with proof the funds exist has never been delivered. This was personally guaranteed by John Miller, Steven Miller (Director) and Stephen MacVean on Thursday May 7.”
The residents also say the factors failed to appoint contractors for repair and maintenance.
The committee is now asking for invoices and final statements of any cash owed to them.
We asked for comment from Donald Ross Residential Factoring but instead they sent it to a lawyer John Carruthers to respond.
Mr Carruthers works from the same building in Clarkston where the factoring company is now officially registered.
You just wonder how many other residents are being impacted by what is going on at this company