Director of Odesa-based management company explains reasons for double payments

Recently, many Odesa residents faced a conflict when they received two utility bills - one from the Service Plus Management Company and the other from the Fontansky Housing and Utility Service.

The Economic Court of Odesa Oblast sided with the housing office.

What will be the outcome of this dispute, why are municipal utilities taking over more and more houses and what should those who do not want to choose them do, Intent. Insight discussed this with Gennadiy Ivanytsky, director of the Service Plus company.

The story of Odesa residents receiving bills from housing and communal services and management companies at once began in 2023. At the time, the mayor's office explained that from January 1 to December 1, 2023, a massive transfer of residential building management to private management companies took place from the management of communal enterprises of the housing and communal services of the Odesa City Council. But after complaints that this transition took place without the knowledge of the residents, an inspection was conducted and even criminal proceedings were initiated.

Back then, Intent recommended that if you received more than one bill for the same utility services, you should not rush to pay any of them. This did not mean that the publication called for not paying for the services received. Experts suggested pausing until the recipient of the payments examines the situation and receives confirmation of the legal validity of a particular bill. Arrears for one or two months did not lead to financial losses. But if, in the opinion of experts, the company that had no right to provide services was paid, it would be difficult for the subscriber to get their money back, and the debt to the company that had the right to carry out this activity would grow.

Dumska linked the situation to the conflict between the mayor, Hennadiy Trukhanov, and his former deputy, Dmytro Zheman.

Every week, the studio looks at one of the issues that concern Ukrainians and raises topical issues and tries to solve specific problems. For example, the episode on September 16 was devoted to the reform of Public Broadcasting, challenges for the media, and opportunities for civil society organizations to join the reform. Public Broadcasting is the largest independent media company in Ukraine.

In Odesa, a decision was made to hold a competition for the best design proposal for the monument to Lesia Ukrainka, so the September 9 edition of the show was dedicated to this topic.

Кирило Бойко