THE Evening Times today calls on all factors to sign up to our charter and offer a fairer deal to thousands ofGlasgow residents.

THE Evening Times today calls on all factors to sign up to our charter and offer a fairer deal to thousands ofGlasgow residents.

We want every factor - from big property management operations and housing associations to small, family-owned firms - to back our pledge to give homeowners a better deal.

And we want every homeowner with a factor to urge them to adopt the charter for change.

Since we launched our campaign against shoddy factors earlier this week, we've been inundated with support from readers.

Sick of paying for poor service? Then fire your factor

THE law says that in most circumstances you can sack your factor and replace them with someone better.

But few residents know how to go about it or have the time for a protracted battle with a factor facing losing valuable business.

So how do you sack your factor? Here are some tips:

  • Ask around to identify a good factor or contact other factors to give you a quote and services summary before making the choice.
  • Ask them to give you a clear and concise contract containing the services they will provide.
  • Check the title deeds to your home which may contain rules on how to appoint and replace your factor. One thing to check is whether a straight majority of, for example, people in your tenement, is required or whether all home owners need to be signed up.
  • Check to see whether your terms and conditions require you to give a particular period of notice.
  • After discovering the numbers required, call a meeting of owners and put together a letter along the following lines: "We, the owners of the property known as X, met on X date and resolved to terminate your appointment as property factor in terms of our title deeds. We hereby give you X months notice."

Make sure the required number of owners sign, make a photocopy and send the original to your factor by recorded delivery post.

  • If your title deeds don't make provision for replacing your factor don't worry.

Section 4 of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004 provides a way out. Simply word your letter along the following lines: "We, the owners of the property known as X, met on X date and resolved to terminate your appointment as property factor in terms of the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004.

This decision is effective forthwith."

Make sure a majority of owners consent to this course of action and sign the letter - make a photocopy and send the original to your factor by recorded delivery post. Remember - either your title deeds or the 2004 Act will give you the legal right to terminate your factor's appointment.

However, some home owners factored by GHA and other housing associations may not be able to sack their factor. If you are unsure of your position check your deeds and with your factor.

And today we reveal cross-party political support for our bid to get customers a better deal from their factor.

It's clear from the hundreds of phone calls, letters and e-mails we've received that bad factoring is a massive issue.

We've featured just a few horrendous examples of poor service and high charges - some so exorbitant they could lead to people losing their home.

It's obvious homeowners want change - and they want a fair deal from their factor.

We think our charter - and the measures being proposed in a parliamentary Bill by Maryhill MSP Patricia Ferguson - will change the way factors operate for the better.

It represents a clear, concise agreement that no good factor will refuse to sign.

If your factor refuses to sign up to this fair, comprehensive charter, ask them why - and let us know who they are so we can ask them, too.

We are also supporting Ms Ferguson's Bill, which would lay down factors' obligations in law.

It would require all factors to be registered and is now out for public consultation.

In order to be registered, factors would have to meet fair basic standards laid down by the public, politicians and housing experts.

If they didn't meet the standards, they'd lose their registration and could be stopped from operating.

The Bill also proposes an accessible form of mediation that would stop our courts being clogged up with factors suing their customers in a bid to get cash out of them, or in many cases trying to make them bankrupt.

Independent adjudication would be a key part of this.

Ms Ferguson fully supports our campaign - and wants to hear from Evening Times readers.

She said: "The Evening Times is providing an important public service in highlighting this issue and the information it has revealed will help to shape the legislation I am proposing.

"I would encourage anyone who has had problems with a factor to take part in the Bill consultation and I'm very grateful to the Evening Times for its important contribution to the campaign.

"I would also like to hear the views of Evening Times readers as part of my consultation."

Glasgow lawyer Mike Dailly, who campaigns against rogue factor practices, said the Evening Times' campaign was already making a difference.

He said: "I congratulate the Evening Times for lifting the lid on an industry which has got away with daylight robbery.

"The days of Dick Turpin factors riding roughshod over Glaswegians are coming to an end - thanks to the Evening Times' campaign and Patricia Ferguson's Bill.

"The Evening Times' investigation has revealed some shocking stories of shoddy practice, financial rip-offs, and the bully-boy exploitation of vulnerable families.

"The huge public response to this campaign has confirmed these problems are pandemic in Glasgow.

"The Evening Times' charter represents best practice and is necessary to provide the public with a fairer deal.

"I believe the charter will cause no problems for good factors but will represent a shock to the system for those businesses who are scamming the public.

"Change is needed and the charter will separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to a fair service for a fair price.

"Which companies will sign up to the charter? That's the challenge the Evening Times has presented.

"For those that do sign up there will surely be the opportunity of new business as the charter will help people identify Glasgow's best factors."

There is also cross-party support at the highest level for our campaign - and our charter.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has been involved in many of her constituents' battles with factors in Govan, has added her full support.

She said: "This is a very important and legitimate issue for the Evening Times to raise.

"I have a number of cases in my constituency where the practices of some factors are clearly unacceptable.

"We need more regulation and accountability and we are looking at various options on how that can be delivered."

Glasgow MSPs Bill Butler and Pauline McNeill also voiced their support.

And Springburn Labour MSP Paul Martin said: "This is a fantastic campaign and I want every factor in the city to sign up to the Evening Times Charter.

"What I've read in the paper this week reflects the frustration felt by so many people in our city.

"We need to go as far as possible and bring an end to cowboy factors forever."



View our Charter here