Our air conditioning unit, at the office, had finally packed up. The amount of 'maintenance' that had been completed over the years, probably cost far more than a new unit, but try as they might to revive it, the crew just could not get it back up. The unit itself was over twenty years old, which is quite the age for such a feature. In fact, if Hvac systems were measured using a similar method to dog years it would be over half a century old! Our neighbour was adamant management change it, as repairing was like putting a plaster (band aid) on a garroted artery! The installation was all set for Monday.
Admittedly, I had my doubts that it would be finished in a day, as despite home systems are usually done in that time, we were dealing with an industrial model, and the connections are not as simple. I am, of course, not an expert, but I am also not oblivious to the fact that, to quote the scriptures, you cannot put new wine in old wine skins. Surely it could not all be as simple as putting in a new unit?
At nine in the morning, I was sitting in the office of the dentist. Thankfully, I did not have enough time to get thoroughly anxious, and I was appreciative of the cooler air. We had an extra very heavy duty fan from the maintenance crew as well as some others, and the office was bearable, just! The noise was the problem. As the fans whirled, we shouted louder and louder. The dentists' office was quite serene in comparison, despite 80's rock music being played. I wondered if they had taken a note of their clientele for the morning and found the most appropriate entertainment.
The news that the unit had been fitted and all was going well, was somewhat exciting. It was very hot, and was getting hotter. They still insisted it would be finished by the end of the day. I waited. "It's working, ma'am!" said the maintenance man, who brought me the fan. "That's wonderful, thank you!" I responded, and went back to my emails. I had been 'copied' on the email to the adjoining office tenant. He had taken the day off as they would be working directly above his workspace. "Sorry, but they have found some leaks in the system! They will have to come back tomorrow to put in some new parts". New wine? I asked if we could have the second fan, and was assured it would be delivered in the morning. I sent another email indicating that someone had made a 'unsavory' mess in the ladies restroom. "Just to complete your day....", I started, and indicated that I was quite amazed that it was in the 'ladies'! Apparently, it had already been reported, and apparently, more often than not, it is in the 'ladies'!
Tuesday morning brought a new height of drama to our small community offices. A new company had moved in a little over six weeks ago, and everyone was a little suspicious about their activity. Their clientele appeared to arrive before the doors to the building were open, or after they were locked. They did not wait inside the office, but in the corridor. ;The office door appeared to be locked. I was somewhat concerned over the 'contraband' smell that appeared to engulf the corridor when the tenants arrived or left. However, we are in Austin, and I said nothing. I was intending to go and introduce myself to the new tenants, in the guise of a friendly, neighbourly, guesture (nosiness is not a pleasant term) but as the door was locked, and they appeared to keep odd hours, I didn't get a chance! There appeared to be nothing online about their services, but we had ascertained they were providing a service to those who were having difficulty obtaining vehicle registrations and other services to get a car 'legally' road worthy. (Oh the irony!) The crowd arrived at 10 am, some brought chairs, and perched themselves on the front porch, others lined the corridor, standing, sitting or strolling up and down the narrow space. As my door was open, they were coming into my office, most not speaking English, expecting an answer. One kept coming in and I had to send our young Gen Z to 'sort him out;. He explained, I think, that we were nothing to do with that company and he needed to call them. The number was disconnected. More and more people started to flood the corridor. By lunchtime, it became increasingly obvious that no one was going to be opening up.
The promise of air conditioning being 'on' by lunchtime was taken with a pinch of salt. I hoped it would be completed by the end of day. Although I have acclimatised to the heat of a Texas summer, I have also become reliant upon the cool air flow! I received the email to say it may take a little longer, and I responded with, "I think you may have another problem!"
I feel at this point, I should offer some options, like an official form. If you want to read more, continue to read. If the answer the the former question is 'No', then scroll down a few paragraphs!
It was determined, about the same time that cool air started to pump through the vents, that the tenants in the office had done a 'midnight flit'. One of our neighbours suggested that those waiting call the management, as the corridors were now full, and it sounded like an auditorium before the lights went down before a show! Management arrived, and not a moment too soon! A lovely young lady, with a wonderful demeanor suggested, politely, that all those affected should call the fraud squad, as it appears they had been 'scammed'. However, as wonderfully simple as she made it sound, they refused to move, and told her that management must reimburse them before they would depart! The story unfolded! In fact, they were looking at me for answers, and reimbursement, again, and I was just glad the air was now filtering through so I could close my door!
Despite my not finding presence online, there had been a website, for about two weeks To cut a Broadway smash down to a local news tidbit, the requirement was to arrive, pay, (a lot of money,) leave your car 'title', (log book, in English English,) and go away for a couple of weeks whilst they work on whatever they work on! Simple! If you are at rock bottom, clutching at straws, or just want a 'quick fix', this seemed perfect. However, to leave all your documents with a couple who look like they have just come from the set of the Rocky Horror Show, (and I kid you not!) would have made me wonder about the validity. However, I am older, perhaps wiser, and to a younger person, someone dressed in 'gothic' attire, with a vacant look may be the new norm!
I must add at this point that, although it sounds like a Broadway farce, I started to feel the pain of those who had been scammed. Someone mentioned 'a thousand bucks', and although many looked like they could probably afford this, there were a few that did not! However, a farce it could have been! The lock on the door had been changed, which meant that management could not use their pass key, and could not 'break in' because a breach in the lease (e.g. fitting a new lock) had to be reported to the tenant first! Explaining that there was probably nothing in the office, as another neighbour had seen the offenders (or supposed offenders) carrying boxes to a truck the previous evening, was little more than pointless. Three notices had been posted, in English and Spanish, on the front door, the downstairs entry door, and the door to the locked room. After the police had told everyone to move on, as they were now trespassing, they left the building, only to re-emerge from downstairs. They all ran up the stairs, and started to bang on the door. They assumed someone was hiding inside, as the light was on, and there were two chairs still in the office. They took photos of the signs on the doors, and then left, only to come back with what could only be described as the 'heavies' a little later. However, the door was not unlocked, and no amount of wiggling the handle made a difference.
We left with a lovely flow of cool air, and securing all external doors! What a day!
Unfortunately, unlike a Broadway 'farce' there was no happy ending, and it was determined that the (suspected) offenders had made off with nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Not bad for six weeks work, and tax free! I can't see them declaring anything on a 'return' at the end of the year! Our lovely young maintenance guy did break in, on Friday morning. "I have a sweepstakes running". I told him, perhaps a little unkindly. "My money is on trash!" He did come and report to me after the event. (All above and beyond the call of duty, but I think management were now concerned about their current tenants asking questions like, "Didn't you check references", but if they could pull of a scam like this, a fake reference is probably a breeze to produce,) No trash! I lost! However, there was a locked filing cabinet, probably empty, two chairs, a rug, two bottles of water, and two invoices! It had taken him all morning to get in, as when those who reappeared from all angles, saw him attempting to get in, he had to leave the building in order to stop them badgering him!
There was one piece of good news, although irrelevant to those who had been taken advantage of, a young man arrived on Saturday morning with paperwork in his hand. He spoke to my husband, who informed him of the scam. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was thankful he had been spared!
The rest of the week really pales into insignificance. I would not say we are going to have a big get together, or even a 'remember the scam' reunion next June, but the neighbours have been far more talkative to each other this week! "Any news?" has been thrown around like cool air coming from a new air conditioner! Even the construction guys who normally do not crack a smile, have been coming into my office to say that the hoards of Spanish speaking people are nothing to do with them, with a wry grin on their faces!
As for my week, I have realised that my Spanish accent needs work, as "No hablo Espanol", was not understood. Although it could just have been an "I don't believe you", look! I am usually very good with sign language in matters of language barriers, but that did not work either!
I hope, for everyone's sake, that next week does not bring a similar experience! I don't think that there is anyone else in the building with a homemade sign or a changed lock is in the building. Perhaps I will have an 'epic' rather than a 'farce' to report in ............ another story!
No comments:
Post a Comment