Dhe - Hit Back Here!

[PITRAT]

If you are having, or have had, a problem with DHE could you please post the rough details here. Alternatively, if you have had an excellent service from them could you also reveal all here. Looks like I may be heading to court with them, so any extra ammo would be helpful.

[1st Threshold]

PITRAT

Sorry I cant be of any help, but until now all my experiences with DHE at Ice Station Kilo have been good. Went in, asked for a nice shiney new Q and actually got what I was after. Dont actually live in it yet - that happens next week, so come a week Friday my perceptions may have changed.

I do know of a few people who have less than nice things to say so I will direct them here to try and build up your ammon box.


1st Threshold sends




Edited to remove all correct spelling at sauce

[Dan Winterland]

Very good service from Brize DHE who generally have a hard job managing crumbling MQs with little cash and minimal interest from the service, who seem to have washed their hands of the housing requirements of their personnel.

PITRAT, feel free to mail me for some advice.

[Green Bottle]

Methinks looks like a journo fishing expedition to me. Although I could be wrong.

I would be interested to know more if I were going to reply with something juicy.

[Big Green Arrow]

Got some info on having had an awful time with them...email me through here for more.

[PITRAT]

Thanks to all above, and no I am not a journo but would happily let any journalist have everything I have to tell about DHE. It seems a carefully worded solicitors letter to DHE can have the desired effect without heading to court! To those of you who are having problems, put everything in writing, log all your phone calls and if all else fails, get a solicitor. (no I'm not a solicitor either!)

[Pub User]

This is all a bit sketchy for a 'rumour network'. If you're after any specific info, then tell us. On the other hand, if you're a whinger, complaining about some trivial admin matter, then sod off.

People who read this can help, if you're honest.

PU

[kippermate]

My other half is the stn Airwaves rep. She enjoys taking up complaints about DHE, amongst other things, to the RAF. She can't guarantee that her solution would be any more likely to succeed than a visit to a lawyer, but it is an other avenue of complaint. ;)

[Broken Wings]

PITRAT

I retired from the RAF in 2000 and squatted in an OMQ for over a year. DHE were very good and made no attempts to evict us, mind you I am suing the MOD on a different matter so they probably left us in peace.

Prior to this lived in quarters for 15 years without any problems. Have to agree with DW about Brize DHE - very good service. Drop me your email address if you want any more assistance.

[madasacow]

From the posts here it sounds like PITRAT is only one living in DHE Area 14!

We are having a wonderful time here in sunny Bucks. NOT.

I’ve heard good things about many other DHE areas but never about Area 14. We are in the middle of a refurbishment program where they have conspired to refurbish the Officers Mess, the Officers’ family accommodation (on all sites) and the Airmans’ family accommodation at the same time. This has meant that there is a critical shortage of family accommodation for all ranks and officers in particular.

The saving grace is that I only have 12 short month left before I get my life back and say goodbye to DHE forever. After 20 years service it is such a shame to leave a wonderful career with a sour taste in your mouth caused by DHE.

I know the grass is not greener on the other side. But at least it will be the grass I chose/can afford! NOT the grass that I am entitled to.

Nill Bastidio Carbarundum

Edited for speoling!!

[Tigger_Too]

I have to say that I was very impressed with my vast DHE experience (1 x takeover, 1 x handover!). Minor problems with the house were sorted out very quickly; regular contact from the local rep to keep us informed and check things were OK. And it was in Bucks!

Handover was the best. Early agreement that the entire house needed a paint job and new carpets. Pre March-Out (sorry, handover) inspection resulted in instruction (in writing) to clean only the cooker. Even told - "don't worry about the limescale, we will look after that".

However, I suspect the incomomg tenant may have a different story. I visited the house a couple of weeks after handover to pick up something I had left behind. Lo and behold the painters were hard at work. Wait a minute! One chap and one chappess, each with a paintbrush, and no white van? Apparently the incoming tenants were told that if they wanted a quarter inside 4 months they could have this one if they painted it themselves.

I assume they got some money, but did the carpets get changed, and did all the other cleaning jobs get done??

I bet they think I'm a mate of Chinook!

[Follow Me Through]

Have been in Area 14 for the last 5 years at 2 different locations. I have also experience of other areas and consider Area 14 to be easily the worst of them.

They pay low wages and consequently get poorly motivated staff. In the part of the country covered by Area 14 the average civilian wage is higher than that across the rest of UK so you get what you pay for. On occasions they do recruit a gem but after starting well they become disillusioned and invariably leave.

However, the biggest problem is the lack of a tracking system for works. It is like a game of frustration! It relies on a circa Word Perfect 5.1(remember that) system to enter jobs. Then the resident must make frequent requests to DHE asking what is happening. DHE say 'I don't know - my machine says its done!' Resident says 'No it isn't'. DHE say 'we will re-enter the job'. Resident returns after another 2 months and so on. The loser is the one who gets bored first!;)