PM HANDING OUT BOARD MEMBERS CELL PHONE #S.. WHATS YOUR TAKE?

FrancescaM (Washington)
Posts: 264

Posted:

Curious if this is an issue in other HOA PM's?

It has happend to me once. I got a call from a neighbor who I do not know. He claimed he was directed to speak to me as he wanted someone from the board to supervise work that was being mandated to his unit. ( long story.. he was suppose to provide us access and in case, did not..) He told me our PM gave him my number and that he was asking if I could "sit" in his home while the repair work was done... Of course I told him this is impossible. #1 I wouldn't do this.. as our vendors are licensed and bonded and I am not a paid employee!

I also found out that the PM has handed out several other board members cell #"s to home owners, vendors etc with out checking with the board member first.

is this common practice or is our PM just not thinking about what they are doing?

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Is this the contact number they have for you or must the H/O go through the MC to contact someone on the BOD? Unless the MC has been specifically told not to give the numbers out, I don't see that they've done anything too egregious. If you or the other BOD members don't want the number given out, specify it to the MC; if they then give it out, you have a valid complaint.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

I disagree.

The MC should have called YOU and given you the resident's number.

FrancescaM (Washington)
Posts: 264

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SusanW1 on 10/10/2008 5:09 AM
I disagree.

The MC should have called YOU and given you the resident's number.

I agree thank you Susan. It's no ok in my opinion for the MC to hand out our cell #'s. and yes, in the past they have been told NOT TO DO THIS! It's been an on going issue.

My concern? An example of an aloof homeowner? I got a knock on my door at 1am because they had a toilet back up and wanted me to call the plumbing company. It was a hard thing to say, but I told them I am NOT onsite management, that I have to get up at 6 am for work and that it's thier own responsibility to take care of thier own home's issues. Not mine.......

We donate our time, not our lives!

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

I also agree with Susan,

The P.M. should be given a warning that she does not have the authority to give out cell numbers. I'd have my number changed. Normal procedure IF the P.M. does get the original complaints or requests for an item from a member, she then forwards it to the proper person, NOT to a resident to call a BOD member. Shame on her. Board members then have the ability to handle the situation from their end, the place that it should be generated from.

KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665

Posted:

Not to pick on Glen, but I agree with the others. The PM should only give out contact information that they have been specifically told is OK. This is particularly true of cell phones.

I would also say that BOD members should only give out contact numbers that the PM specifically has told them it is ok to give. For instance, if you have a cell phone number and the residents typically only have an office number, you should hold the cell number as private.

JohnK3 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 967

Posted:

What S, F, D & K said.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

I also do NOT agree with Glen; however, I have a problem with board members who do not want their phone numbers given out to the members. Even though it is standard procedure to go through the property manager with all concerns/complaints (IF there is a prop. mgr!), they are the elected officials of the assn and the members should know how to contact them. The address and phone number of all our board members is shown on our website although that info is not in our quarterly newsletters.

FrancescaM (Washington)
Posts: 264

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MaryA1 on 10/10/2008 9:39 AM
I also do NOT agree with Glen; however, I have a problem with board members who do not want their phone numbers given out to the members. Even though it is standard procedure to go through the property manager with all concerns/complaints (IF there is a prop. mgr!), they are the elected officials of the assn and the members should know how to contact them. The address and phone number of all our board members is shown on our website although that info is not in our quarterly newsletters.

The address and phone number of all our board members is shown on our website.... FOR REALS? I would never ever.. under any circumstances have my number on a public website.. that's just asking for a 1 am call due to a leaky toilet !

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

I guess that my Villa in Florida that is rented out is really a pretty well run association. We have a management company with a 24-7 , 800 number answering service. All units have a large magnet card on our frig's with the number and instructions to call that number. Never would anyone call a Board member with a problem with something not working. The operator fills out a work order and it is dispatched to the proper repair or to a Board member if needed. They call the police, or whoever needs to be contacted. Now some might say that it is the Boards responsibility to take some of these calls. Yes they may but not at 2 in the morning. No call numbers are needed for the genberal membership.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Francesca,

First of all, this is not on the public section, this is on the "members only" section of the website. Secondly, it's voluntary. The only board member who's phone number of address are not shown is a young, single gal. Although I said I think this info should be available to members, it really does depend upon whether or not the assn employs a prop. mgr. If they do, then there is nothing wrong with all communications going through that person. However, assn's that are self managed should give this info to their members. If that means being awakened in the middle of the night with an emergency situation, then so be it!

MicheleD (Kentucky)
Posts: 4,491

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MaryA1 on 10/10/2008 9:39 AM
I also do NOT agree with Glen; however, I have a problem with board members who do not want their phone numbers given out to the members. Even though it is standard procedure to go through the property manager with all concerns/complaints (IF there is a prop. mgr!), they are the elected officials of the assn and the members should know how to contact them. The address and phone number of all our board members is shown on our website although that info is not in our quarterly newsletters.

We don't have a property management company, however, so I have no idea how we would deal with this. Frankly, I think that we would be the ones dealing with the PM and not the membership, but then even if we had one, it would not involve any "maintenance" type issues since we are detached, single family homes all on separate lots.

But we also publish our phone numbers and addresses on the website, and also in the newsletter.

We DID get a board cell phone, and that is the MAIN number we give and post for people to use, but our board is of the opinion that ALL board members should be available in cases of emergencies.

FrancescaM (Washington)
Posts: 264

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MicheleD on 10/11/2008 11:37 AM

Posted By MaryA1 on 10/10/2008 9:39 AM
I also do NOT agree with Glen; however, I have a problem with board members who do not want their phone numbers given out to the members. Even though it is standard procedure to go through the property manager with all concerns/complaints (IF there is a prop. mgr!), they are the elected officials of the assn and the members should know how to contact them. The address and phone number of all our board members is shown on our website although that info is not in our quarterly newsletters.

We don't have a property management company, however, so I have no idea how we would deal with this. Frankly, I think that we would be the ones dealing with the PM and not the membership, but then even if we had one, it would not involve any "maintenance" type issues since we are detached, single family homes all on separate lots.

But we also publish our phone numbers and addresses on the website, and also in the newsletter.

We DID get a board cell phone, and that is the MAIN number we give and post for people to use, but our board is of the opinion that ALL board members should be available in cases of emergencies.

That would definately work for this community.. but it sounds like you have people with common sense vs. my downstair rental neighbor who came to our unit last year and said " you can't shower in your second bathroom, as every time you do it backs up in our sink".
I asked her how long has this been going on?
She said " a few weeks!"
I asked did you call your landlord?
She said "NO"

I swear to god these kind of people really truly exist! I wouldn't of believed it if it didn't happen to me! LOL