How do you know when a letting agent is rupping you off!!!!!!!!! HELP

supergirl02

Afternoon

I need some help or advice concerning Letting Agents. We payed a letting agent £200 in order to view a house. He said we will hear if we have been successful within 7 to 10 days.

We are on the 14th day, we phone them only to be told that they are still waiting for paperwork from our banks regarding our accounts and work references.

Work and my existing landlord have sent off references to these Letting agents 7 days ago.

Have we been ripped off or are they just being really professional.

Please help!!!!

Fire_Fox

Welcome to MSE! You really paid simply to view a property?? Don't forget the post is only just catching up from Christmas, and there have been additional delays in some areas due to the weather conditions. Have a little patience.

G_M

What was the £200 for? Surely not for the right to view? To cover credit vetting? To register? as a deposit to hold the property? Refundable or not? What does the paperwork say.
as to whether they are ripping your off, hard to say.
Are they members of ARLA or similar?
As FF says, post could be delaying things - go in and see them and ask again - daily. Ask when they expect to respond.

adg1

Sounds like the £200 was a holding deposit to start the referencing process rather than a 'right to view' fee.

Can you go into your bank and ask for them to provide you with the reference they sent off to the letting agent, then go to HR at work and get the hard copy from them, then take them to the agent? At least you'd know they got there alright!

Its probably post delaying things rather than the agent ripping you off. Try phoning the agent and pretending to be someone else and ask to view the house as your just seen the Board up or it on rightmove. If they say its under offer they are acting well, if they jump at the viewing then keep nagging them chasing them every day.