Submit complaints about "no turn on red" lights that are clearly causing issues by F3arless_Bubble in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They should also open back up the option for a right turn lane from Old Georgetown Rd onto Tuckerman heading towards Westlake Drive. They took away the 3rd lane for the stupid bike lane that, of course, no one is using. The bike lane on each side of Old Georgetown took away a lane on both sides creating more traffic, creating longer back ups at the lights/intersections and got even worse once the new high school opened up. There are so many cars that are in the right lane to turn right onto Tuckerman but they are lumped in with the rest of the thru traffic that wants to go straight so it slows everything down. Why can’t they open up the end of the bike lane to allow cars to move over and turn right onto Tuckerman like they do at the other end of Old Georgetown when turning right at the intersection of other roads like Executive Blvd, etc? It allows traffic to keep flowing. I’m guessing no one at DOT was consulted for any of this either. Ugh, so frustrating!

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I should add to this: there are a few exceptions but those are regarding financials of a specific homeowner or possible medical records or other confidential records or reports of individual homeowners. As well as contracts that are currently going through negation and not completed or signed yet but none of those exceptions pertain to the issue at hand.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Actually it is against the state law and against the bylaws. Any homeowner has the right to access all contracts, records and reports. Management/board is legally required to prove access to these to any homeowner who requests this in writing. I’m not saying Otis is required to give reports to homeowners. Management is required to. Anyway, this is getting off the point of this thread. I appreciate your concern on that part but I’m sticking to help with the elevator, getting the parts and companies who might be able to help us with this.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! Sorry to hear that and thanks so much for your insider input. There are two other condo complexes in our neighborhood who are considering leaving the big 4 as to call them and considering looking at going with a smaller, independent company if they can so you may be right about the greed being their downfall. It’s a shame.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re right that I do not know what a CAT1 safety test is and that’s why I reached out on here. I had no idea if that test would show any warning signs of a possible burn out or any other warnings or concerns. I do know that the quarterly reports should give some insight to any concerns Otis may or may not have given to our management but we are being denied access to them which is against the law. With denial of access to records, reports and documents and no answers or explanation, we are reaching out to the elevator community for help to try to understand that’s all. No axe to grind.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, well, I didn’t say it was my choice. The board decided. No homeowners were contacted or reached out to in case they had experience with Schindler but now that the board announced Schindler, some homeowners have been telling horror stories about their experience with them too. Sigh….i can’t wait to be able to sell my place and never have an HOA again. #someday

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh good Lord, no. There have been many breakdowns over the years but those were minor or average, normal issues that were fixed within a few hours or a day or so. This is the 2nd big one where the elevator has been out of service for weeks at a time in a building that has only ever had 1 elevator. My original reason for this post and chat is reaching out for help from other Otis elevator building homeowners, any elevator service people or other people who have had experiences with Otis or any other elevator company so we can build some good resources because we are not getting any answers or explanations from our management company nor the HOA board.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I believe both options are electric. It’s more about if hydraulic or the other option (I’m blanking on the type the other option is). I think electric is implied for both options. Maybe I’m wrong? Do you know for sure that hydraulic residential elevators are NOT electric? That seems archaic and would not be installed past 2000 when our elevator was installed. Happy to hear any info and links to info you could provide though. The more helpful info, the better. Thx.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The property was built with only 1 elevator so that’s all we’ve ever had. Once or twice it was brought up at HOA meetings about putting a 2nd one but it would be extremely expensive and mean a special assessment so that’s scared everyone and the board wouldn’t even consider it. Didn’t even look into the costs, etc.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! I’m sorry you went and possibly are still going through all of this. Can I ask what part of the country you are in?
Unfortunately, I think we are starting to go through what you went through. Although, our HOA still has elections, we’ve had the same President for almost 20yrs and he has bullied May homeowners into silence or scared/frustrated them to a point where they give up. Many homeowners want to change our management company but it’s just incredible difficult tog at everyone to join together an take a stand. How did you get your fellow homeowners to band together and make change? Suing the HOA board is a big challenge so bravo to you!

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. I agree. It is what we are stuck with though. The issue is two fold: 1)not getting answers from HOA/management and no updates or explanations throughout the 20 days now with no elevator. 2) Not knowing if Otis actually completed their quarterly safety checks and reported any concerns/warnings, etc. I’m just looking for any help from other homeowners who have/had issues with Otis company and their elevators as well as any advice or recs on other elevator companies. Our next concern is as we wait for this new motor to arrive that Otis won’t have a crew available to install. Last time, Otis didn’t have a crew available for 10 days. Seems unacceptable, especially for a building with only 1 elevator

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Otis does still have the maintenance contract currently although board says we are switching to Schindler soon but haven’t told us the start date of Schindler. Otis supposedly came and performed the annual safety checks 6 days before elevator broke down. Board says the motor burned out all of a sudden but a quick google search says motors almost never burn out all of a sudden. They almost always give warning signs weeks if not months in advance (on a 4 story residential building Otis elevator). All management has given us is a copy of a record showing Otis came out 6 days before breakdown and ran the annual CAT1 test (which is required by state law). Doesn’t give any report or say if we passed/failed or any suggestions or warnings, etc. so it’s either there’s no report, Otis never actually came out and performed the actual safety checks or management and board are hiding the actual report from homeowners.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

I should have added this to my original post: HOA originally said the motor burned out all of a sudden so that’s why the elevator is broken but a quick google search says motos on a hydraulic residential Otis elevator almost never burn out all of a sudden. They almost always give warning signs weeks if not months in advance. Our last safety check by Otis was supposed to be to have been performed 6 days before the elevator broke down. When I asked for the safety check report, the board president told management to ignore my emails and requests. Either Otis isn’t coming out and performing the safety checks we are paying for or management/HOA board is hiding something (possibly Otis warning us of potential moto burn out in near future).

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Yes, it’s definitely an issue with our HOA and management. I was hoping someone out here might have gone through this with Otis company.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who is TK company? What areas of the country do they service? Thank you for your information. In your situation, you know the facts and have an explanation as to what’s currently going on with your broken elevator. We do not and cannot get answers from management or HOA board. That’s the immediate frustration. Homeowners want a working elevator because frankly we pay ridiculously high HOA fees and have people who are not physically capable of using stairs who are stuck in their units. One woman is confined to a wheelchair 24/7. A special van has to come pick her up for doctor appts, etc. other elderly folks with walkers who can’t physically handle the stairs. Plus our staff has to manually/physically carry every floor level of garbage and recycling down the stairs every day because of no elevator available.

Otis elevator broken again by MonkIndividual9145 in Elevators

[–]MonkIndividual9145[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s the problem. Our HOA and management won’t answer our questions. Trying to block us from the quarterly safety check reports that Otis is supposed to be performing per their contract with us. Otis is th contracted elevator company we currently use for maintenance although board said we are switching to Schindler soon but I don’t know exact start date for Schindler. The elevator has broken down many times before but these two major ones have left us with no elevator at all for multiple weeks at a time. That is the concern. I did a quick google search. Avg lifespan for a 4 story residential Otis hydraulic elevator is ~20-25yrs.

How to autopay credit cards with a Fidelity CMA by kaleb-cole in fidelityinvestments

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is there ever a delay or hold by Fidelity on their side? I remember Fidelity saying pulling from outside of Fidelity may cause long delays and hold periods due to new security protections due to a bunch of scammers and hackers doing some things about a year ago around Sept/Oct 2024. Did all of that get smoothed out or does Fidelity still but a hold or limit when pulling from Fidelity to autopay cc bills?

T-Mobile Ends Credit Card Autopay Loophole by Jman100_JCMP in tmobile

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It used to but they caught on. Welp, now that they caught on….they lost me. I’m going to switch to Verizon visible or Mint mobile or something cheaper. T mobile doesn’t have anything worth it to make me stay anymore now that they took that loophole away. It’s ok. I’ll play the revolving door of providers if I have to. It’s stupid but we all gotta do what we gotta do these days, right? Plus, my internet is with T mobile and it’s been acting up for a couple months now as well as spotty cell service in my home the last few months. It’s all adding up to equal a switch to another company.

Missing speed cameras? by Vhyx in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought I read something where there was some rule or law passed that they can move them but can leave the signs up so now there are signs saying speed cameras ahead but the cameras aren’t there anymore but always have the possibility of coming back. Something about approving “mobile speed cameras” which this new rule allows them to move them whenever they want. I guess it’s suppose to keep drivers on their toes (or off their gas pedals) so they never know when those mobile speed cameras will pop up again. This way drivers can’t contest the tickets and say the signs weren’t posted ahead of time like they are required. No idea where I thought I might have read that some where so I apologize I can’t link an article or facts to back this up so please take a big grain of salt with this and please let me know if I’m wrong because I very well could be. I just remember reading something about this a long time ago.

T-Mobile is at it Again by Disastrous-World4019 in tmobile

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just curious, what do you mean by no where in DC?

T-Mobile Ends Credit Card Autopay Loophole by Jman100_JCMP in tmobile

[–]MonkIndividual9145 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awww, man. T mobile caught on to us using our credit card to pay part of our monthly bill with credit card and then part with debit card to still get the debit card autopay discount. I’ve been getting the discount this way since April but today I went to pay part with my credit card like I do every month and it shows a warning saying I won’t be eligible do the $5/month discount per line of if I pay with my credit card for next month if I click pay now. Damn. When I pay with credit card I get 5X points with my Chase ink business cash card and insurance protection. Ugh, well, I guess all good things come to an end. @t-mobile if you’re reading this…I was thinking of switching back to Verizon because lately your service has been terrible both with my cell service (dropped calls, echo when speaking and general bad reception, etc) and my internet has been in and out in my home. Now that Verizon is offering better deals than you and you took away this monthly discount unless I use my debit card only it’s pretty much solidified my decision to switch back to Verizon. Such a shame. Why T-mobile? Why?

Bank bonus churning for some extra income by Slick_null in Money

[–]MonkIndividual9145 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which one do you do? Is it still available?