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Unscrupulous Estate Agent Using my House To Market His Company
Beverley75
Posts: 44 Forumite
Please help me! I've called the Citizens Advice Bureau (numerous times!!) and Trading Standards STILL haven't called me back.
I was with an agent last year (up until January) in order to sell my house as I have to move closer to Mother to help her cope with a new diagnoses of Alzheimers (and approaching GCSE year needed to get my son in a new school asap); this estate agent and I parted on abrupt terms as soon as the contract ended as his habit of lying to both myself and the potential vendors lost me two sales as the buyers simply couldn't trust him. I took my house off the market and asked him to take it off of Right Move and come and take down his board in my front garden. Two weeks later the board was down but I noticed my house was still being marketed online; I called his agency again and asked him to take down the advert on RightMove immediately - 24hours later it was taken down.
Imagine my surprise when I went to research house prices in order to put my property back on with a new agent at the end of April, and found he was marketing my house again! I got a friend who had sold her property and was looking to buy a new house to call and insist that she wanted to view my property - the agent insisted that I was in no position to sell my house quickly and kept trying to direct her to other houses on his books; she insisted that she liked the look of mine and asked him to call the 'Seller' and he insisted that I was not able to be contacted and would drag out the sale so she should view a different property!!
I'm furious - there seems to be no recourse for unscrupulous estate agents. Trading Standards won't call me back and on calling the legal team of my Home Insurance I was advised that I can't prove punitive damages (i.e there's no way to prove he has lost me a sale from an independent buyer) so I have no recourse for legal action.
I'm desperate for any ideas or suggestions, this despicable creature KNOWS how urgent my move is, I can't get a new agent on the case without paying extortionate 'multi-agency' fees (because it's already being advertised without my permission) - what do I do?
Please Help - any advice or suggestions from you all would be welcome!
Many thanks,
Bev
I was with an agent last year (up until January) in order to sell my house as I have to move closer to Mother to help her cope with a new diagnoses of Alzheimers (and approaching GCSE year needed to get my son in a new school asap); this estate agent and I parted on abrupt terms as soon as the contract ended as his habit of lying to both myself and the potential vendors lost me two sales as the buyers simply couldn't trust him. I took my house off the market and asked him to take it off of Right Move and come and take down his board in my front garden. Two weeks later the board was down but I noticed my house was still being marketed online; I called his agency again and asked him to take down the advert on RightMove immediately - 24hours later it was taken down.
Imagine my surprise when I went to research house prices in order to put my property back on with a new agent at the end of April, and found he was marketing my house again! I got a friend who had sold her property and was looking to buy a new house to call and insist that she wanted to view my property - the agent insisted that I was in no position to sell my house quickly and kept trying to direct her to other houses on his books; she insisted that she liked the look of mine and asked him to call the 'Seller' and he insisted that I was not able to be contacted and would drag out the sale so she should view a different property!!
I'm furious - there seems to be no recourse for unscrupulous estate agents. Trading Standards won't call me back and on calling the legal team of my Home Insurance I was advised that I can't prove punitive damages (i.e there's no way to prove he has lost me a sale from an independent buyer) so I have no recourse for legal action.
I'm desperate for any ideas or suggestions, this despicable creature KNOWS how urgent my move is, I can't get a new agent on the case without paying extortionate 'multi-agency' fees (because it's already being advertised without my permission) - what do I do?
Please Help - any advice or suggestions from you all would be welcome!
Many thanks,
Bev
0
Comments
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1) WRITE to the company concerned, addressed to either the Senior Partner, or whoever manages their complaints procedure (check their website).
2) Check if they are members of a proffessional body eg NAEA etc. Then contact them
3) If they are part of a chain, contact their Head Office0 -
The very first thing to do is to check your contract with this agent and be sure that it is well and truly terminated. And make sure that you have a copy of the letter you sent to terminate the contract. You did send one didn't you?Hi, we’ve had to remove your signature. If you’re not sure why please read the forum rules or email the forum team if you’re still unsure - MSE ForumTeam0
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Can you name the estate agent, you may not be the only victim of this.:exclamatiScams - Shared Equity, Shared Ownership, Newbuy, Firstbuy and Help to Buy.
Save our Savers
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Beverley75 wrote: »Please help me! I've called the Citizens Advice Bureau (numerous times!!) and Trading Standards STILL haven't called me back.
Trading Standards are the ones who should help you.
I got a friend who had sold her property.....
Have you challenged the EA since your friend phoned them? Maybe a short sharp shock from hearing you catching them out might do the trick
Trading Standards won't call me back...
..or can't...
I can't get a new agent on the case without paying extortionate 'multi-agency' fees (because it's already being advertised without my permission) - what do I do?
If you genuinely have terminated your contract with the agent, then you're not liable for a multi-agency fee. If you sign a contract with a new agent, you'll only have one valid contract.0 -
Contact the local press - they love a story like this."You were only supposed to blow the bl**dy doors off!!"0
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March in to there premises and have a full blown hissy fit. If your going to do that I will organise the sale of tickets...0
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Welcome as a newbie poster Bev
AS DVS says, you first need to check that you did actually terminate your contract with this EA and can show that you did.
Your next step is a "cease and desist" letter - see G_M's post.
If EA is not signed up to NAEA etc you can always trawl through the Estate Agents Act 1979 ( guide on OFT website)0
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