To think our neighbours are ridiculous for paying this and refuse to pay my "share"

[Hiphopapotamus4]

A house on our road came up for sale recently (its empty at the moment, was rented) and as you do, I had a nosey at the particulars on Right Move. In the description in says that there is a service charge of £500 per year. I thought this was odd as we pay no such charge and it's not a flat or leasehold or anything like that so I couldn't figure out what the charge was for.

I ran into another neighbour who made a comment about the price it was for sale for so I commented that I noticed it had a service charge and how odd that was. Neighbour gave me a funny look and said "yes, well we all pay the service charge" I said that we don't and have never been told anything about it or asked for payment. I asked her what it was for exactly and she didn't really know but kept saying "we all have to pay it".

Now, she has obviously been and spoken to some of the other neighbours about this and they are now annoyed that we don't pay when everyone else does. They want us to start paying it so that their share becomes less. However NOBODY knows what it is for, they all just pay it without questioning it. I said I wouldn't be paying anything unless they can tell me what it is for and what "service" I am receiving.

AIBU to think they have all been a bit foolish to pay so much money without questioning it and that they should stop paying it/find out what it's for rather than ask me to contribute!

To be clear, this is a fairly normal road with no communal areas and no "services" (other than the usual bin collections etc). Apparently the invoice just says "service charge" and does not specify exactly what service it is.

(I am currently the "bad neighbour" and need to make amends - may have to bribe the neighbourhood with homemade chocolate brownies then convince them to stage a mass refusal of payment and demand for refunds!)

[SoupDragon]

Bookmarking is not possible if you are using "MN Classic" by the way.

[LittleShirtDeanTattooDream]

Where abouts are you OP? Your village sounds lovely. I'm interested in the house for sale!

[noenemee]

First thing I'd check is if the bank details on the invoice are a genuine Council account, but if people pay by cheque then they must post it to the Council and not a bogus third party. Someone at the Council is generating these demands and responsible for allocating the funds they collect.

[CherryMintVanilla]

OP - come on. Land registry. Estate agent. Let's get this done.

I really doubt it's a scam. People who bought their houses will have asked what the payment was for. Maybe in the case of your neighbour her husband dealt with it, or she just doesn't remember anymore.

But you need to find out now what it is and whether you're supposed to be paying it. Find out how you are fixed before someone knocks on your door and tells you!

[BarbaraofSeville]

Are the cheques really going to the council though?

I think you can set up a bank account in any name you want so if the cheques were payable to OPs Road Service Charge and sent to OPs Council, PO Box 28, OPs Town etc, on the surface, it would appear to be all legit, but it wouldn't be difficult to determine whether it is something to do with the council or someone else if you were the bank/police/council.

[FoxTeaParty]

"roger can't help today because his new lawn mower is being delivered and he needa to test it...." classic roger


I am totally over invested....

[Stabbitha]

Our Roger is called Colin.

[MerlinEmrys]

OP can you start a new thread for part 2 and link it here before there's no room?

[Poppypooch]

I have just rtft in one go, that's how invested I am, its like a good book you can't put down.
We have a Rodger as well (he has a hot tub)
Come on council get off yer backsides!!!

[welovepancakes]

I think you can set up a bank account in any name you want

Not true. Money Laundering Regulations require the bank to see ID before allowing you to set up a bank account

[welovepancakes]

Thanks to whoever posted a link to this earlier thread, to amuse us while we wait for an update. It's hiliarious !

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1237046-In-thinking-he-should-call-my-lecturer-and-tell-them-what-he-did?pg=3

[GerdaLovesLili]

Our Roger is called Nigel. (I had no idea he was part of a sub-culture)

[FizzyGreenWater]

We have a Roger and he really is called Roger!!!

He's not a very active Roger though - just looks the part.

In terms of Roger-mantle we have a few of us, mainly women. Between us all the cul-de-sac goes like CLOCKWORK.

[PossumInAPearTree]

Right. I've looked at the rightmove details of every house in the county which was added onto rightmove in May. I can't find a house which says anything about a £500 charge. I'm worried I've missed it by skimming too fast and need to start again.

[MaudLyn]

Is there a new thread? I'm scared I'll miss out!

[Poppypooch]

possum you will earn yourself the mn shiny medal of over investment dedication if you find it

[bambisims]

Oh my goodness I love roger! ❤️ swoon!!

[AStickInTime]

Am loving the testing of the new lawnmower. What a life!

[FinallyHere]

Mad and over invested, well, err, yes, absolutely. However....

Where is the next thread ? Pleeeese post a link in this one to the next, before it gets full.

[MusicToMyEars800]

OP, please start a new thead!! We need to know what this fee is for.... and your DH isn't invested enough Roger and his lawnmower testing that made me chuckle.

[SapphireStrange]

Can Roger have his own thread?

[BarbaraofSeville]

I need a new lawnmower, but am waiting until next week to see if there are any Bank Holiday deals ours broke a couple of weeks ago leaving the front lawn half done - Roger would implode at the thought.

I may come round and seek his advice and shamelessly grill him on the service charge situation at the same time because this is too intriguing. What is the service charge paying for? How long have people being paying it? Why do some people pay and some not?

[BarbaraofSeville]

Our road doesn't have a Roger but we have one at work who is the work Roger and must be his road's Roger. He is called Julian.

[c3pu]

Is there going to be a new thread? :D