Warning about StreetsAhead Agents, Croydon

abhigreen

Hi,
Just had a really terrible experience dealing with Streetsahead estate agents of Croydon. These guys are quite big around Southeast London, especially, Croydon, Norwood, etc.

We approached them for our search for a property for rent. After showing me a couple of houses (for one of them, the agent failed to turn up for a viewing), I put an offer for the first property I had seen. The agent I was dealing with(lets call her Ms Pain) said that the landlord has accepted the offer.

At this time, I was told to pay exhorbitant agency fees (agreement fees, checkin fees, reference check, and inventory check). I refused and said I don't want to go ahead with the deal. Finally Ms Pain settled for a reasonable £180 and promptly took a holding desposit of £350 from my account. This was Dec 12 last year.

Meanwhile, it seems, the landlord was having his own set of problems with the agent, and had withdrawn his instruction with the agency altogether.

Instead of informing us straightaway about this, Ms Pain chose to keep us in the dark. Ultimately, around 19th Jan (10 days before we were to move in), we learnt of this development through a common friend. I called the agent repeatedly, and left messages to confirm this. There were no replies from the agent. Once, when I did catch the elusive lady, she said, "As far as I know, the landlord has not withdrawn the instruction". She was lying. Just to be sure, we also sent them an email and a recorded delivery of a letter stating the conversation and our concerns. They received the letter and email, but didn't reply.

Finally today, after giving them 4 days to respond, we went to their office. Instead of trying to resolve the matter quickly (which was either connect us to the landlord or provide some written document stating that the deal was still on or return our money back), they accused us of shouting, and making things difficult for THEM. We were made to sit and discuss our issue with a guy from surveying department, who kept chanting,"I am from surveying, I can't deal with your compliant, I can just give you an appointment with Ms Pain". I told them I didn't ask to be surveyed, get me someone from Ms Pain's department, He said he couldn't do that, he could only make an appointment (surveyor becomes the secretary). I refused, and said we wouldn't leave the premises unless the matter was resolved. He threatened to call the police. That was fine by us, we said.

That did the trick. He by some weird coincidence just got a call from the manager. Colour drained from Mr Surveyor's face as the manager explained to him the true story. The landlord was indeed no longer dealing with them (who would?). We finally got a written confirmation from them that our money will be refunded to us. Meanwhile, there was lot of argument about how we learnt that the landlord had withdrawn the instruction.

Ultimately that was just smoke and mirrors, which seems to be the de facto ploy used by StreetAhead. Ultimately, THEY should have let me know that the landlord was no longer with them, and returned my holding deposit back immediately.

Not after we pay them a 'friendly' visit, and certainly not 6 days before we are supposed to vacate our current property.

For a real taste of hell, get in touch with StreetsAheads.

Numberlock

I'm glad to hear that you stood your corner and, hopefully, get your money back pronto. I wonder how many other people are conned like this and don't get any redress because they are too easily fobbed off or are too timid to stand up to these unscrupulous types??

abhigreen

Unfortunately guys, Streets Ahead have still not refunded my holding deposit. This in spite of they have given it in writing that the money will be returned. You wont believe it, the written commitment has been given to me by co-founder, and they won't even honour that commitment!

We have left endless messages, emails, and letters, but the guys are shameless frausters. I'd rather stay homeless rather that use Streets Ahead in the future!

princeofpounds

Send a letter of intent to take them to the small claims court. With the written admission of liability I suspect you will get yout money, because they will lose in court and have to pay costs as well. But if not, you can follow through anyway. £350 is not a small amount of money.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

The worst place I ever rented was through Streets Ahead in Croydon. They were also the worst agents I've ever dealt with in terms of guff, smarm and patronising attitude.

Glad to hear you're keeping written records and doing everything by the book. I also once lost a place because the LL disagreed with the agent about fees and pulled out in a strop. I also changed my mind after putting a holding deposit down, and the agents refunded half of it, which I thought was very reasonable considering it was entirely my whim.

abhigreen

Thanks a lot guys for your help.

I think my raising a hue and cry through online forums (especially moneysavingexpert, I think :-), letters, phone calls etc paid off.

I did get an apology from the co-owner (not from the guys who screwed up, though!), and all my holding deposit £350 HAND-DELIVERED to me.

Weird that you mention the patronizing attitude. There was so much of talking down to us, I felt like a schoolkid. I think, they rather treat their customers like dirt, than own-up to the fact that they have made a mistake.

thequant

I used these last year, never again, they caused so much stressed and nearly fcuked my life.

Basically I paid them the deposit and fees, they constantly fobbed me off for a few weeks, things came to ahead when I went into their offices in croydon on the day I was moving with a van full off my stuff outside.

They contacted and the landlady, and guess what ? she didn't know we were moving in!

cut a long story short, the landlady let us move in that day, but if she hadnt, we would have been out on the streets with all of our furniture over 200 miles away from friends and family.

Avoid these people like the plague, they are full of smarm and attentive but as soon as those fees are paid, forget it

thequant

If you want to read my story it's here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/34197737#Comment_34197737