Aps Estate Agents... Bust???

single_lonely

just a quick question.

ive paid APS upfront £528 to market and sell my house, but since 2 weeks theres no answer to phone or email.

have they gone bust?(used to be owned by ASDA)
if so can i get my money back?
i also payed for the HIP, how long does it last?
thanks

Jazzypap

Our next door neighbour's house was up with APS Estate Agents, Ashton under Lyne, until Monday, 11 August when their sign disappeared, along with lots of others in the local area.

The neighbour seemed quite shocked, as she wasn't aware of any problems with APS but they have also disappeared from Rightmove and their own website has just vanished.

I contacted Halifax Estate Agents who informed me that they have gone bust and their are lots of people, such as yourself, who have paid upfront and weren't aware they were having problems as long as two weeks ago.

I'm not sure how you would go about trying to get your money back, it may be worth checking at the APS office in Ashton under Lyne or wherever your local office is/should be - there may be some sort of notice in the window? Or failing that, your local CAB?

I'm really surprised this hasn't been picked up by the local press, as there's no mention of it in this weeks Tameside Advertiser/Recorder.

Are there any details about how long the HIP will last in the paperwork you should hold relating to this being raised? Possibly 12 months but I'm sure someone can confirm this for you on this site.

Good luck!

SquatNow

How did you pay the £528? Please say it was on a credit card?

Any EA that wants cash up front should ring alarm bells. Either they are about to go bust or they think your property is so over priced that it wont shift. (And if an EA thinks it's overpriced then it must be WAY overpriced.)

lovethymini

single_lonely wrote: »

i also payed for the HIP, how long does it last?

HIPS are valid for 6 months, which is why some EA wont prepare one until there is a sale well under way, now that many houses are taking longer to sell.

lincroft1710

If APS have go into receivership and you have paid money for services not yet rendered you need to inform official receiver that you are a creditor. HOWEVER, you will be well down the list of people due any money, HMRC are always 1st (Tax and VAT) and chances are you'll get only a small percentage of any money you paid out.

SquatNow

lincroft1710 wrote: »

If APS have go into receivership and you have paid money for services not yet rendered you need to inform official receiver that you are a creditor. HOWEVER, you will be well down the list of people due any money, HMRC are always 1st (Tax and VAT) and chances are you'll get only a small percentage of any money you paid out.

Unbless you paid by credit card in which case you can claim it off the credit card company.

(Which is why I asked!)

lincroft1710

Good point, Squatnow

coljacks

I used to work for APS in Ashton, years ago. They have had financial problems for years. They reason they were kicked out of Asda was for not paying there rent. Just before I left they stopped paying wages on time, and some staff members were going months and just getting bits through- this is when the market was rocketing. So it comes of no suprise now the market is strugling. I feel sorry for the staff members there, because knowing the company they would have turned up to be sent home again.

single_lonely

Luckly (?) i paid on credit card.
have sent a letter off today with receipt attached so refund hopefully on its way.

Interested in a 2 bed terraced 2 minutes walk from Ashton town centre?

SquatNow

single_lonely wrote: »

Luckly (?) i paid on credit card.
have sent a letter off today with receipt attached so refund hopefully on its way.

Interested in a 2 bed terraced 2 minutes walk from Ashton town centre?

Will you take £50?

coljacks

If you are looking for a new EA, I would recomend a local one- don't know if I can mention any names, it is just near the market hall, on the corner. And its initals are T & W. I have always found them really helpful when I was selling my property. If you ask for Carol, she is lovely and used to work with me at APS.