Is this too good to be true?

shasbat

I have put our holiday appartment on the internet as a private sale. Just over a week ago a company called 'First Direct Investments (International) Ltd' phoned to say they may be interested in buying my property to sell to one of their investors. I didn't take them seriously, however after listening to them the only outlay was £99 for them to come out and do a valuatoin.

A man came to see me last Saturday morning at the appartment and went around with a clip board writing lots of t hings down and asked a lot of questions... seem ok. He said I would probably get an offer before the end of the week.

Yesterday they phoned me to say they would be offer a figure, which was much higher than we had anticipated. This offer is on the table for 7 days.

If we go ahead we can complete in approx 6 weeks and at the exchange stage we pay them £800.

I left before the post this morning, when I got to work the company phoned me to ask if I had received the offer... they are going to phone me back at 5 pm today.

What is the catch.... there is definately something not right. I have googled the company and they don't appear to have any website.

Has anyone heard of them, or know of someone who has had dealings with them.???

mrcow

If they are buying your property.....why are you paying them?

I would think that's the catch right there!

keith969

This is almost certainly a scam, they will collect the £800 from you and then that's the last you'll hear of them.

Catblue

I suspect that "at the exchange stage" you hand over £800 before exchange. Of course there will be no exchange (because there is no buyer) so they will waltz off with your £800 plus the £99 valuation fee.

You are left £900 down and two months wasted when you should have been marketing your flat.

That would be my take on it.

maninthestreet

Why is this 'investor' using an agent to buy a property? Has the 'investor' visited the property? I suspect there is no 'investor'. They have made what you describe as a very generous offer - how much were you asking for it, and how much have they offered? If you accept their offer, don't be surprised if they reduce the offer just before exchange - and if someone buys your property from you, they pay you money, not the other way around.

jenny2009

http://www.housepricecrash.co.uk/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t118365.html

the concensus there is that it is a scam

Jenny

LandyAndy

It's called an advance fee fraud, I believe.

poppysarah

You paid 99. Leave it at that.

docij

From a quick Google search listings show that they were advertising for telesales people some time ago although all the ads seem to have disappeared. The search links state 'We provide a Fast Solution to home owners wishing to sell their property direct'. Contact details are given as

First Direct Investments Ltd. Tel: 01293 611434. Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 1HH

There are 2 companies with the same name listed at Companies House but with London addresses.

I would keep well clear if I were you.

Soot2006

at the exchange stage we pay them £800.

I wish my vendors had given me £800 .... *dreams*

Cannon_Fodder

Tell them to deduct the £800 from the valuation, if they try to hassle you...