Thread: Ask MHS!

I've already started this thread off on ARRSE so now you can have a turn

I'm either very brave or very foolish but......

I'm a helpdesk manager working for MHS in Liverpool and the only ex squaddie there

Hopefully the mods will make this a sticky but rather than you lot ranting off and calling MHS b******s all the time, I will answer any queries I can on line.

Yes you can rant and rave and swear as much as you like but I'll ignore it, pop open a yellow handbag and have another beer. However, if you have something constructive to say, I will try and help you.

I'm ex RE and was a pad over 13 years (some good and some really way down in the standard stakes - flats in Guillimont Fields in Farnborough (damp concrete walls) come to mind) and way way back in time I was a pads brat in Plymouth so will also be posting this on Rum Ration in time but lets start here. (Does the RAF have a similar site?)

I'm not going to get into any slanging matches with you lot, wives or contractors but will pass constructive comments on and hopefully play a part in making the service better. I'll even answer some queries when I can.

I won't be here everyday and will do this in my own time (I have a life outside of work, a degree in psychology to finish and we don't have web access in work) so be patient with me

Welcome and hopfully you will be a resource here and dispel a few myths about the MHS.

Hoping you can answer a few thoughts of mine on our upcoming move.

When we moved in, there was a two week gap between us and previous family, and no prep had been done for us other than cleaning. The previous family was here for 6 years, so technically carpets and redec was due, but due to a shortage of MQ allocation, there was no tme to do it and we were told like it or lump it, or have it done after move in, or have no MQ at all...

There were non-standard paint on several walls, a border and pink walls etc in the loo, all of which we put right ourselves. We have since also painted the kitchen and living room in a non-standard colour.

Question is, with there now being 11 years since last redec/recarpet, can I reasonably assume that carpets will be removed anyway and walls done as standard? Do I have to kill myself over the marchout standards when so much is due?

I know I wil have to speak to the local housing bods, but what do you think?

Originally Posted by PinkBarleyWater

Welcome and hopfully you will be a resource here and dispel a few myths about the MHS.

Hoping you can answer a few thoughts of mine on our upcoming move.

When we moved in, there was a two week gap between us and previous family, and no prep had been done for us other than cleaning. The previous family was here for 6 years, so technically carpets and redec was due, but due to a shortage of MQ allocation, there was no tme to do it and we were told like it or lump it, or have it done after move in, or have no MQ at all...

There were non-standard paint on several walls, a border and pink walls etc in the loo, all of which we put right ourselves. We have since also painted the kitchen and living room in a non-standard colour.

Question is, with there now being 11 years since last redec/recarpet, can I reasonably assume that carpets will be removed anyway and walls done as standard? Do I have to kill myself over the marchout standards when so much is due?

I know I wil have to speak to the local housing bods, but what do you think?

Ring the helpdesk and we can put a cleaning request in for the carpets. They may replace them but as I'm not local I couldn't say. Or you can ask DE to put a change request in through the local MHS zone office.

The problem with the standard of the quarter is that MHS must have 15 working days (3 weeks) to prep the quarter and there are cases where DE are not planning for this

So can I reasonably think that carpets & paint is nothing to worry about, given their age at marchout?

Originally Posted by PinkBarleyWater

So can I reasonably think that carpets & paint is nothing to worry about, given their age at marchout?

Would be best to speak to the DE 1st as it's been a long time since last redec and carpet change

They may insist on return to standard colour but if it's noted on yot march in I can't see it being an issue but I wouldn't swear on it. DE HD are your landlords so direct your query to them first and I bet they say call MHS

I'm either very brave or very foolish but......

very brave in my eyes!! :lol: :lol:

Had many many problems with MHS since they were introduced,

had no heating for over 8 weeks and after being fobbed off countless times I eventually took it to Rosie at AFF she was a complete star and got me a new boiler fitted within a week of her putting the pressure on. Must admit the MHS staff I spoke to were more than helpful and the hold up for my case was the "zone office" in Larkhill. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Originally Posted by bootifull

I'm either very brave or very foolish but......

very brave in my eyes!! :lol: :lol:

Had many many problems with MHS since they were introduced,

had no heating for over 8 weeks and after being fobbed off countless times I eventually took it to Rosie at AFF she was a complete star and got me a new boiler fitted within a week of her putting the pressure on. Must admit the MHS staff I spoke to were more than helpful and the hold up for my case was the "zone office" in Larkhill. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Hopefully the improvements we are putting in will filter down to you guys soon

Originally Posted by PinkBarleyWater

So can I reasonably think that carpets & paint is nothing to worry about, given their age at marchout?

Record your concerns about the carpets and decor on your 14 day move in form. If this is too late, write to local DE HD office and ask for a reply. This should then all be recorded on your house file. Therefore at move out there should not be any problems.

However your local DE HD person holds the ace card here and you need some agreement ASAP.

New carpets can still be ordered, however the wait is currently around 5 months and will of course have to be done around yourselves.

two quarters beside me have been abandoned one of them has an overflow pipe which has been pouring out water for weeks and the other has every light on! is this DE or MHS domain?
or am I just being a nosey parker??

Originally Posted by bootifull

two quarters beside me have been abandoned one of them has an overflow pipe which has been pouring out water for weeks and the other has every light on! is this DE or MHS domain?
or am I just being a nosey parker??

It's ours. Give us a call and we'll pass the info on to the Zone Office. They should send out some cheeky chappy with a set of keys from the void team to sort it out for you. The lights may just be down to a lazy contractor :thumbright:

:angel13: will do chickee

Onceasapper can you advise me? Since we moved in last february we have had nothing but problems with our electrics. We have had electricians around three times now and they insist that there is nothing wrong despite the problems I am having (listed below). I am worried that the entire electrical system in the house is faulty yet am getting no real action from MHS and have the feeling I am being dismissed as a hysteric. I have spoken with the normal phone guys and the customer care team and the manager of the customer care team for my area (aldershot) to no avail what do I now do?

Problems;

Power cuts affecting my house (not those over the road) at least once or twice a month.
Light bulbs in the hallways lasting a maximum of 3 weeks before blowing.
Power to various areas in the house going off and having to reset the fuses once or twice a month.
Lights in the living room flickering so much I think I am living through a german bombing run in WW2 London.
A particular socket switching itself off and on constantly (almost a daily occurance) despite all other electrical outlets in the house remaining on.
The hot water and heating are also switched on and off intermitantly independantly of how I have them set on the electrical timer.

Any help gratefully received

Originally Posted by Dirty_Martini

Onceasapper can you advise me? Since we moved in last february we have had nothing but problems with our electrics. We have had electricians around three times now and they insist that there is nothing wrong despite the problems I am having (listed below). I am worried that the entire electrical system in the house is faulty yet am getting no real action from MHS and have the feeling I am being dismissed as a hysteric. I have spoken with the normal phone guys and the customer care team and the manager of the customer care team for my area (aldershot) to no avail what do I now do?

Problems;

Power cuts affecting my house (not those over the road) at least once or twice a month.
Light bulbs in the hallways lasting a maximum of 3 weeks before blowing.
Power to various areas in the house going off and having to reset the fuses once or twice a month.
Lights in the living room flickering so much I think I am living through a german bombing run in WW2 London.
A particular socket switching itself off and on constantly (almost a daily occurance) despite all other electrical outlets in the house remaining on.
The hot water and heating are also switched on and off intermitantly independantly of how I have them set on the electrical timer.

Any help gratefully received

This one needs the help of one of our tech officers on the ground. Call the helpdesk and choose option 3 and ask for me (Steve) please ensure you let the person who answers that you are calling in relation to a post on Rear Party

Regards

Hi

Ive already placed this on ARRSE but here it is again...Our quarter has subsidence as does next door. How come it has taken MHS 8 MONTHS to decide whether our house is safe to live in?? Only this week after months of phonecalls is a meeting happening with the bigwigs to decide!! And if they move us around the corner will they pay the moving expenses?

fed up new wife

Originally Posted by dobo2b

Hi

Ive already placed this on ARRSE but here it is again...Our quarter has subsidence as does next door. How come it has taken MHS 8 MONTHS to decide whether our house is safe to live in?? Only this week after months of phonecalls is a meeting happening with the bigwigs to decide!! And if they move us around the corner will they pay the moving expenses?

fed up new wife

If you posted on ARRSE as mrsd2b then both postings here and on ARRSE were on within 20 min and I was out all weekend. Please remember I do this in my own time and I do not get paid for this, I'm just trying to give you guys that little bit of extra help.

Read request to call on ARSSE. Disturbance allowances are nothing to do with MHS thats a DE/Military decision as we're not the landlords

Edited due to clumsy cheap russian typing fingers bought off ebay :sign4:

Originally Posted by onceasapper

Originally Posted by Dirty_Martini

Onceasapper can you advise me? Since we moved in last february we have had nothing but problems with our electrics. We have had electricians around three times now and they insist that there is nothing wrong despite the problems I am having (listed below). I am worried that the entire electrical system in the house is faulty yet am getting no real action from MHS and have the feeling I am being dismissed as a hysteric. I have spoken with the normal phone guys and the customer care team and the manager of the customer care team for my area (aldershot) to no avail what do I now do?

Problems;

Power cuts affecting my house (not those over the road) at least once or twice a month.
Light bulbs in the hallways lasting a maximum of 3 weeks before blowing.
Power to various areas in the house going off and having to reset the fuses once or twice a month.
Lights in the living room flickering so much I think I am living through a german bombing run in WW2 London.
A particular socket switching itself off and on constantly (almost a daily occurance) despite all other electrical outlets in the house remaining on.
The hot water and heating are also switched on and off intermitantly independantly of how I have them set on the electrical timer.

Any help gratefully received

This one needs the help of one of our tech officers on the ground. Call the helpdesk and choose option 3 and ask for me (Steve) please ensure you let the person who answers that you are calling in relation to a post on Rear Party

Regards

Still awaiting that call

thankyou for your reply, i wasnt implying that you took to long too respond!!

Originally Posted by onceasapper

Still awaiting that call

Still waiting for DH to get back as I refuse to have any MHS electrician in the house without him here I have been insulted quite enough by them for one year. Not your fault obviously and I appreciate your offer to help it will be around 10th Feb that he gets back.

Originally Posted by Dirty_Martini

Originally Posted by onceasapper

Still awaiting that call

Still waiting for DH to get back as I refuse to have any MHS electrician in the house without him here I have been insulted quite enough by them for one year. Not your fault obviously and I appreciate your offer to help it will be around 10th Feb that he gets back.

Not a problem call me when you're ready

Just in case you couldn't get through to the Helpdesk this afternoon from 15:50 we had a telephony fault where we lost all our lines Still down at 17:30 when I went home

Apologies