STELLAR IS NOW CREDITING US FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS for APPLIANCE OVERCHARGES !!
If you have already filed a Submetering Appliance Overcharge Complaint, read below to verify the amount of the credit.
If you paid an appliance surcharge under Mitchell-Lama and are not yet part of the lawsuit, skip down to read about how you can join in and save money.
YOUR dues and legal contributions paid for our lawyer’s hard work and this terrific savings! Let’s keep those contributions coming. You know that contributing $100 toward our legal fund now can be worth thousands of dollars in savings.
HOW TO READ YOUR RENT BILL IF YOU ARE ALREADY PARTICIPATING IN THE SUIT
I. If your rent shows a minus sign ( - ) in front of the "Amount due," that is a credit and you don't owe anything this month (and your rent may be much less next month). Circle the minus sign and keep the rent bill safe. If it would make you feel safer, you can make a copy of the bill and send the original with the circled minus sign to Stellar.
II. If you want to make sure that Stellar gave you the proper credit next to the words "Pursuant to the DHCR order" on your rent bill:
1. Look at the "Subtotal" on the top right of the DHCR Calculations Chart you received with the DHCR letter granting your complaint. That chart includes the overcharge amount, interest, and any excess security, up to a specific date. You have to find out what that date is. So read on!
1. Look at the "Subtotal" on the top right of the DHCR Calculations Chart you received with the DHCR letter granting your complaint. That chart includes the overcharge amount, interest, and any excess security, up to a specific date. You have to find out what that date is. So read on!
EXAMPLE:
Tenant Green's lease began 12/01/08, and they gave Tenant Green credit for 13 months. That is one month in 2008 and 12 months in 2009.
3. Subtract the number of months in 2009 and 2010 that DHCR gave you credit for (in the example above it is 12 months) from 22 (the number of months in 2009 and 2010 for which Stellar has charged the tenant).
4. Multiply the answer by the amount of the appliance surcharge.
5. Add that total to the "Subtotal" at the top right of the page.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE FROM START TO FINISH:
1. The "subtotal" amount on the top right says $800.
2. The monthly surcharge Stellar has been billing the tenant is $25. During 2009 and 2010, Stellar billed for 22 months so far (through October 2010).
DHCR credited the tenant for 10 months - through October 2009.
From October 2009 to October 2010 is 12 months for which the tenant did not get DHCR credit on the Calculations Chart:
=> November and December 2009 (2 months)
plus=> the 10 months so far in 2010.
Multiply those 12 months times the amount of the surcharge:
12 X $25. That comes to $300.
Add $800 (the "subtotal" amount) and $300. That comes to $ 1100.
That (or something a little larger to include interest) should be the amount WITH A "MINUS" SIGN on your rent bill next to the words "Pursuant to the DHCR order." That is your credit.
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IF YOU NEVER FILED AN OVERCHARGE COMPLAINT, NOW IS THE TIME.
If your Mitchell-Lama appliance surcharge became part of your first rent stabilized rent, pull together all your old leases and lease renewals (going back to December 2004) and get a tenant ledger from Stellar Management at 70 West 93rd Street. Then call or e-mail Sue to make an appointment (about an hour) to fill out the paperwork. (Note: If you are on SCRIE or DRIE or are applying to those programs, contact Sue about whether you should file.)
DON'T PAY STELLAR MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO !
and contribute to our legal fund, which made this possible!
