This can't be true, can it? A Dishonest Estate Agent!!!

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

From Mortgage Strategy website.

The OFT has issued a prohibition order against an East Yorkshire estate agent banning him from engaging in estate agency work.

Mark Frederick Howe, of Beech and Howe Estate Agency, in Driffield, East Yorkshire, has been banned after convictions for offences involving fraud and dishonesty.

Howe, 43, was sentenced to ten years imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court on 31 October 2008 on 13 counts of theft, procuring execution of a valuable security by deception, obtaining property by deception, and three counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception. Mike Haley, director of consumer protection at the OFT, says: "The seriousness of the offences in this case demonstrates a clear unfitness to engage in estate agency work. We will take action to ban estate agents in any case where they have committed serious offences including fraud or other dishonesty."

VfM4meplse

The guy from the Apprentice was starting to change my mind about EAs but this post has reversed that!

PD1

.....and there was I thinking what an honest lot they were, lol.

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax

There are many good Estate Agents but as in all industries, there are some bad apples.

chickmug

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax wrote: »

There are many good Estate Agents but as in all industries, there are some bad apples.

Here we go with an honest admission from a retired agent.
I knew some really good ones but knew far more blo*dy awful ones.
So can understand the anger the bad ones generate.
Perhaps the programme Rogue Traders ought to do a special on EA's?

PD1

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax wrote: »

There are many good Estate Agents but as in all industries, there are some bad apples.

Its quite simple. As long as any Tom, !!!!!! or Harriet can set up as an estate agent without any form of qualification, they'll carry on behaving like second hand car salesmen. Plus, as I've said before, if there's room for corruption, theres no reason for them to behave otherwise. I trained and have qualifications for my profession, plus I have morals, they seem to have neither.

The cases we read about are the tip of a very large iceberg. Most people don't bother complaining about estate agents because they feel so worn out after a stressful house sale, so figures for complaints should be a lot higher. Personally if someone wrongs me I always get even, and I'm not the only one, as proven by the almost daily complaints about estate agents just on this site alone.

Robert_Sterling_3

Ian_Griffiths_Halifax wrote: »

There are many good Estate Agents but as in all industries, there are some bad apples.

Most of whom are in the cider production industry.

Robert_Sterling_3

PD1 wrote: »

Its quite simple. As long as any Tom, !!!!!! or Harriet can set up as an estate agent without any form of qualification, they'll carry on behaving like second hand car salesmen.

Out of order ... Signed Arfur Daley

PD1

Robert_Sterling wrote: »

Out of order ... Signed Arfur Daley

Sorry Arfur, I didn't mean to imply you are without morals

googler

"The cases we read about are the tip of a very large iceberg."

...and the proof of this is... what, exactly?

"Most people don't bother complaining about estate agents ... figures for complaints should be a lot higher."

Merely your opinion, with no facts quoted in support of either statement. Have you spoken to 'most' of the people who deal with EAs?

"Personally if someone wrongs me I always get even, and I'm not the only one, as proven by the almost daily complaints about estate agents just on this site alone."

What proportion of the total transactions countrywide form the complaints on this site, and can this be proven to be a significant proportion?

IMHO, most of the complaints I read on this site are, in the same manner as above, unsupported by any evidence other than the opinion of the writer.

2c.

chickmug

googler wrote: »

"The cases we read about are the tip of a very large iceberg."

...and the proof of this is... what, exactly?

"Most people don't bother complaining about estate agents ... figures for complaints should be a lot higher."

Merely your opinion, with no facts quoted in support of either statement. Have you spoken to 'most' of the people who deal with EAs?

"Personally if someone wrongs me I always get even, and I'm not the only one, as proven by the almost daily complaints about estate agents just on this site alone."

What proportion of the total transactions countrywide form the complaints on this site, and can this be proven to be a significant proportion?

IMHO, most of the complaints I read on this site are, in the same manner as above, unsupported by any evidence other than the opinion of the writer.

2c.

Good balanced post.

I have said time and time again that the views expressed on this forum do not match the reality of day to day activity in an agents office so no one should take this forum as representative of the whole.

When sales complete it is normal for most of the buyers to say they will never use the same solicitor again in the future. Probably nothing wrong with their solicitors legal capabilities except most solicitors do NOT take a proactive stance as they do not see that as their role. I hear many say it can take 24 hours for their solicitor to get back to them when they have queries. I have only ever known a handful where clients have made an official complaint. And won. Most think "can't be bothered".

I also heard many complain about brokers, lenders and their being really ripped off but again do not know any that made a complaint after the event.

I have known those who were really p****ed off with their EA but again never known anyone make a complaint.

I have a handful who felt we treated them unfairly and made a complaint to the NAEA (who came down on my firm like a ton of bricks assuming guilt before I was able to prove not guilty).

So my longwinded way of saying most do NOT complain and they should to weed out the 'bad uns' to perhaps allow the 'good uns' to have a little more respect for what they do.