Housebuyers UK company

rozeepozee

You're welcome! I read the Guardian article and was fuming on behalf of the person conned, so it's good to hear you've had some redress. :T Glad to hear you're pursuing it though, as they will continue to prey on people while they're making money - and not everyone will be as robust as you in getting their cash back. I'm sure they won't stop until they have to. Will you let us know what the outcome of your complaint is?

meanmachine_2

That TV ad will almost certainly have to be re-cut as I find it misleading.

They should be made to point out that they offer a "below market value" price for the property, in exchange for a quick cash deal.

Although I'm amazed anyone would believe they'd actually be offered full market value!!!

pennylane99

There is a disclaimer on the National Homebuyers website:

Disclaimer: National Homebuyers assess every property in most cases externally using a qualified independent valuer. National Homebuyers advise that any offer made will be lower than the current market value. National Homebuyers reserve the right to withdraw any offer at any time. In most cases survey / valuation fees are non refundable prior to completion of purchase.

davec93

Just to clarify, HousebuyersUK and National Homebuyers are 2 different companies. Since I got involved in this, I have found that there are several different companies (as opposed to a couple of companies using many different names) in this 'game'.

In answer to the original question that started this thread, I am relating my personal experiences with HousebuyersUK. National Homebuyers are the company that was featured in the report in November's edition of Which? Magazine and in the Guardian on 2 Nov 05 (as reported by Greenwich). They may have disclaimers tucked away in their web site but HousebuyersUK do not. Everything that HousebuyersUK say is aimed at convincing the potential seller that they will be offered a 'good' price for their property.

Now for the latest development:

I received the cheque for the refund of my survey fee on Saturday, I paid it into the bank on Monday (couldn't get in on Saturday). I had a telephone call from them this morning (Thursday) telling me that they were sorry but the cheque had been written on a dormant account (in other words, it would bounce!!!) but they said that when it was returned by my bank marked "refer to drawer" I could represent it and the money would be in the account to cover it and it wouldn't cost me anything. I may be cynical but it all seems to be a delaying tactic to me.

I still await a response from the Advertising Standards Authority following my complaint to them about HousebuyersUK's misleading advertising. My local commercial radio station no longer carries their ads.

PINGA14

I am soooo glad I read this thread. My father is selling a property and we were going to try Housebuyers.co.uk but after reading this thread I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole. A big thank you MSE. :T

davec93

Just to complete this little saga of my personal experience with HousebuyersUK. I was unexpectedly out of the country, hence the delay.

The cheque that they sent to refund the survey fee (see post #25) bounced not once but twice! They finally paid the refund by direct transfer to my account - so I did get my money back, eventually.

I have heard nothing from the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) following my complaint to them about HousebuyersUK's advertising.

The company has made minor changes to its current website (6 Dec 05), the significant (and contradictory) statements from various pages within the website are:

• Charity begins at home, but not when it comes to your house. So why pay £'000's on estate agents fees, when we could buy your home in 4 weeks for the full market price?

• HOUSEBUYERSUK will then make a cash offer on your property though our conveyancing solicitors for the full market price.

• We know the market value and we will make a reasonable and fair offer based on that.

• In most cases House Buyers UK will offer the market value as instructed by an independent valuer.

There are no 'hidden' statements about their offer actually being far less than the 'market value but the survey that their 'independant' surveyor carried out on the property was thorough - both inside and out.

rozeepozee

Just back from the pub so I may be way off mark, but I wonder if there's anyway to get some info from them regarding how many sales/offers are for the full market value?

davec93

Hi Rozeepozee,

A good question. I'm not sure if the Freedom of Information Act covers companies or just government information. If companies are subject to this Act then it should be a sure way of finding out how many offers HousbuyersUK have made for the 'full market' value of a property. No doubt there is a fee for making an application. I'll see if I can find out how much and if there are any restrictions.

Yellowbelly4

I have been in the unfortunate position of dealing with Housebuyersuk.com
I paid a survey fee and the surveyor came,from Essex.An offer was made on the 10th day after the survey.It was a reasonable offer,which was acceptable.I notified them in writing of the acceptance,then as I heard nothing,I telephoned them and they said they had not received it.I then sent another letter by next day recorded.I heard nothing again.Alarm bells were already ringing,then I had a letter saying they had been in the process of changing solicitors and I had to re-send my acceptance.This was done,then I had another letter saying there had been a massive internal financial meltdown.Surprise,surprise.I have demanded a refund of the survey fee and have contacted BBC Watchdog,but to date have heard nothing from either.Any suggestions as to what the next move is will be gratefully accepted

rozeepozee

A bit of a guess but I wonder if the Trading Standards might be able to help you in some way? Businesses have to supply goods and services to a reasonable standard and it would seem Housebuyers have fallen way short of this, but the problem I suspect will be that you haven't paid them anything and the survey which you have paid for was done to a reasonable standard. This is consumer law which I have never practiced and am dredging up what I can remember from law school in 1990 so may be off the mark now. Also, I wonder about breach of contract. The 'contract' you may have with this company doesn't have to be in writing contracts can be verbal, the problem is proving that and then implying what the terms will be. What literature do you have from them? What does theie website say or what did it say that you relied upon when you instructed the surveyor? Sadly, given that this company seems to be slippery at best any legal rights you may have may well be worth little in practice.