So, I get my annual bill from the letting agency, nicely broken down, and the result is I have to pay a small amount in. No big deal, it's a relief I suppose to not be hit with a big bill...

However, I have been charged for 'Underground carpark maintenance' but do not have, and have been refused a parking spot underground.

Our building, is also joined to another building by an underground coridoor that houses the cellars and shared washing facilities.
Building A , where I live , has a seperate postal address to the adjoined building B. Bullding B has a lift to all floors , my building A has no lift and I could not possibly benefit from the lift in the 'other' building.

Yet I have been charged a proportional amount for the lift maintenance , which is in the other building.

Are these charges worth fighting ? Anyone with relevant or similiar experience ? It would make the difference between a small amount to pay in and getting a small refund. Again no big deal. I just feel that I should not be paying for what I cannot use or have been refused the usage of.

I think you should complain, in a nice manner, tht you are not going to pay for a service you do not use or even can use...I have come to the conclusion that some renting agencies here (as probably anywhere) will see how much they can get away with...good luck hatters...

Well there are always things you pay for that you don't use.

I pay for Cablecom basic service and maintenance, for example, even though I don't have a tv.

I got my annual bill yesterday and it was thankfully only CHF30.

Although I am still annoyed for being charged for sending a maintenance guy to do fixes around the building, specifically to deal with water leakage in bathrooms. Seems even broken things are charged back to me! I received a bill for CHF200 for this. So in reality, my extra costs for this year were CHF230.

But you could if you chose to... I do not have a choice to use what I am being billed for.

I am going to let it go, or maybe talk to the neighbours who have had their bills...

Yes you should complain, go round and ask to see the calculation or gently complain in writing.

This seems to be a sloppy bit of accounting. You would have to pay for using the lights in the cellar to access to the washing maschine and the lift in your building, but not anything else.

Maybe the agency lumps all the maintenance in all the buildings in one pot, and then divides the costs by all the tenants in all the buildings.
This means it is financialy about right, but in fact it is morally wrong.

hence the problem with socialism

I would agree that you shouldn't pay for the underground parking. That cost should be divided amongst those who use it. A valid complaint.

Don't let it go. That is the Swiss way and the reason why this sort of BS continues in this country and why the telcoms have terrible customer service, etc. Having said that, my policy after way too much stress dealing with the sh*t is to let it go.

Definitely! They have to be taking the p**s shirley. As you rightly say - it`s not as if you have a choice to use them. It might be a small amount but it`s the principle.

I will simply call up the agency to clarify these charges once and for alll. Play the dumb card and ask why you are being charged for the lifts when there arent any in your building. If they reply that they are adjoining buildings, simply say that you didnt know that you had to pay for another address's maintanence. It is a small amount but best to get it cleared once and for all - in writing if possible.

Cant do much for the underground carpark maintenance even though you dont use it. Its part of the building's communal property. I think employing a gardener to make the grass patch in front of our building look pretty is a waste of time (I mean, just plant grass FFS, why do we need 10 different types of other shrubs!???) and money but who am I to argue with that?