How to cheat public and make money. Review on ICI Dulux Paints

In the year 2010, our residential complex(72 apts) got painted by ICI Dulux weather shield Max at a cost of Rs 23.00 lakhs plus. On the first day of delivery of paints I noticed 13 barrels of of the above paint manufactured in February 2007 being delivered to the Estate Manager. I objected to it and the Secretary of the association instructed the Manager to accept the paint. I continued to watch the supply of material and preparation of the surface. As a member I had already contributed Rs.10, 800 and issued two cheques(as directed by the Association) valued a total of Rs. 15809.00 making a total of Rs.26609.00 which is my contribution as per the Association's decision. After watching the supply of old expired paint and poor preparation of the surface, I decided not to allow this contractor to paint my apartment. I told the association that I shall buy the same paint from an authorized dealer of ICI Dulux and employ my contractor and abide all rules of color, decor, and aesthetics of the exterior. The association did not agree to my suggestion, but even stopped my contractors labor(20 of them) at the main gate and send them away. Then I had to seek Police protection, and seek Elders Helpline, Bangalore's  help. Finally the Association gave in and I completed the work in 15 days.

Come June, 2011, the paint started peeling away along with the putty that was used by the builder on 2001, and the walls looks like it caught leprosy. But the Association did not call ICI Dulux who has given a 7 year warranty and 7 years plus life for the paint work. I was curious and filing an RTI application as per our bye-law inspected all documents that revealed so many secrets.

1. In 2008 the Managing Committee engaged a civil engineer who measured the total surface area to be painted as 1, 87, 186 sq:m. But when ICI estimated it became 2, 04, 385 sq:m, and the quotation was for 2, 69, 55 sq;m. The building shrunk by 85%. I raised this question in the AGM but no one from the Managing Committee answered.

2.The Secretary went on "official tour" with family left for Singapore during the paint work was in progress.

3.In the AGM it was promised that an "architect"(who is also a member) will supervise the whole painting work as and when time permits. He confessed to me he was not even informed. Another MC member who was to assist the architect member got his interior of his apartment painted by the ICI Dulux even before the preparation work started, and left for USA to babysit his grand child and returned after 9 months.

4.All the empty barrels 443 nos which were stored properly on the terrace of the club house disappeared one morning, The security informed me that the labour contractor came at 3.00AM and he had an out pass signed by the estate manager.

When I took up the matter with AkzoNobel, Bangalore, Gurgaon, and Amsterdam, the local officer got an e-mail from their HQ saying " The person who has sent this email is a very senior retired person, who is constantly creating trouble in the complex. I understand he has filed multiple police cases against the Assn for various issues he comes up with from time to time. We were informed by the Association to ignore him. He did photograph some old stock of Satin Finish supplied by us and we took back this stock and did a CI. Material was billed through Hope Ent and the CI can be dug out if required.'

As an afterthought he also said "You can inform Mr.Nair to get an official mail sent in from their Association office for us to take action, as we have only dealt with the Association and not individual owners. In case one of our SO’s are passing by, they can stop and check the issue"

When I brought out the issue of this "corruption" to other members I started getting several hate mails including some in the native language, which a friend of mine refused to translate as it is much below the standard even to insane people. Our Residential Complex boast that this is a habitat for  CEO's, CFOs, MD's, Retired Director of Education, Retired Chief Managers of PSU Banks, and many high profile people.

The most glaring part is some people wrote their comments in filthy language and put my circular in my mail box  with out realizing that I have marked their apartment numbers with an invisible ink.