Fake Money in my deposit !!Update pg5!!

EvilDes

First of all, hi there to everyone!

I was linked to this site for information on how to reclaim my bank charges, so started having a look around, and thought I would see if anybody could offer me any advice on a situation I currently have.

It's a bit of a complex issue, but I'll try and keep the information short and sweet, so as not to bore everyone with the nitty gritty details. But please bear with this post.....



Basically, myself and my girlfriend found a property to rent which we thought was ideal for ourselves, and decided to go for it. We viewed the house and everything was exactly what we needed and wanted, plus extra, so it was ideal. We put in all the paperwork for the credit checks and all the usual things that need to be checked prior to moving in.

Everything to do with that was fine and we went to the property to go through the inventory and sign the paperwork aswell as hand over the deposit and first months rent. This is of course after a LOT of messing about by the estate agents, no communication to us, and general ignorance on their behalf. The date of moving in was put back for various reasons, and we nearly never got in there last Wednesday because of a piece of paperwork (which I ferried to the landlady so she could sign it).

Anyway, we get to the property, and as we are about to hand over the cheque, we were informed they do not accept cheques. Great, we thought, another thing to stop us moving in. But no problem, we ask if it was possible to meet an hour and half later with the money. The woman agree's, and off we go. My dad (also the guarantor, and is lending me the full amount until I get my deposit back from my previous rented property) goes to the bank, the lady from the estate agents goes to her other appointment. We all return, with the money this time which was taken straight out the bank, in a sealed envelope, to the new property.

We hand this over, the woman opens it, checks the money, and the contract is signed, aswell as all the other accompanying paperwork. We get given the keys, and everybody is happy. Until an hour and a half later, when I receive a phone call from the manager of the estate agents, saying that £500 of the deposit money was fake.

At this point, I'm absolutely gobsmacked. You can imagine the feeling I get as my heart sinks as low as it has ever been. First of all he demands I go up there, alone, to sort this out. He said "we haven't phoned the police yet, for obvious reasons". Quite what the obvious reason were is beyond me. Anyways, I call my dad and explain this to him, and he then phones the manager up. Now, the manager told me he took the money to the bank and the bank found it was fake, and with-held the money. He then told my dad that himself and his colleagues found it was fake. And later when he phoned the police, he told them his accountant found it was fake. Strange.

We were actually the first to phone the police to inform them of the situation, as the manager was demanding we go there and pay up the £500. Once we told him we had phoned the police, he basically !!!!!! himself and done the same.

Bear with me....

So, we visit our bank once again, and explain what happened. After they checked the rest of their money, they assured us there's no way it came from them. Ok...

We KNOW it never came from us, as the envelope was still sealed from the bank, all the way back to the new property, where the representative of the estate agents opened it, and checked the money. Nothing was found to be wrong with the money here.

All of a sudden, £500 of it is fake, according to the estate agent manager, who I have to say, was quite threatening in his phonecalls, and sounded very panicky.

Now the whole situation is in the hands of the police (however, it's been one week now, and not one officer has come to take any statements). But the other day I received a letter from the estate agents, stating that we are in arrears because of the £500.

Im at an absolute loss at what to do. I dont have the £500 to give to them. I dont want to give it to them because I know we have done no wrong. I dont want to lose the property as it's ideal for us. I have been so stressed out over this whole ordeal, as has my girlfriend. Im at a complete loss.

Is there anybody who can give me some advice as to where to go from here? Im sorry for the long winded post, but I had to explain the situation. I've took pictures of times of phonecalls, and have documented everything that was said to me, and everything that happened that day, and the subsequent days where we had contact with the estate agents.

Im just worried that we will get kicked out of the property. Im certain the police will find out where the money came from and we will be ok, but in this limbo state, I can't stop worrying about what's going to happen. So please, thoughts, views, and advice will be greatly welcomed!

Thanks to those who have read the whole post, and I look forward to someones advice.

Many thanks,

Des

lynzpower

You need to pressure the police into sorting this one out and pronto.

I cant see any other way around it, why havent the police been to the EA or to the bank, why havent they taken statement from you?

papermoney

Blimey I'm at a loss what to say. I have no helpful advice i'm afriad other than do not pay them anything until the police have conducted their investigations. If I were you i'd ring the police and ask for an update.

Hope it turns out ok for you. Keep us updated.

lynzpower

And dont worry about being kicked out as yet, surely the letting agent has to go through the correct eviction processes if it comes to that, and that can take months. Incidentally I dont think a judge will allow you to be made homeless whilst theres a police investgation going on.

EvilDes

Cheers people!

I cant understand why the police haven't been out to us either. For all they know, we could've been burning £200million worth of fake notes!

I'm just so stressed at the minute, I really cant enjoy our new house.

We have phoned the police, and to be honest, their attitude was crap, without saying it in as many words, they told us not to call back until they contact us again. Useless.

I am leaving work now, and have no internet access at home, so I will check on any advice in the morning. Thanks for reading!

Des

Tiger_greeneyes

Gosh, what a nightmare for you.

I think you did the right thing in calling the police. You've also got your bank backing up your side of things - which is brilliant, it doesn't get any better than that for witnesses!

As the EA's bank withheld the 'fake' money, they should be getting the police in as a matter of course. I used to work in a bank Speaking from experience, when you work in a bank, you're looking for counterfeit money as a matter of course. You're trained to spot fakes a mile off. There must have been an awful lot of notes to make up £500 - no cashier could have made a mistake with that little lot!

This is a police matter - but I wouldn't let it worry you unduly because you haven't had any fake money in your possession - the bank has confirmed this. Maybe you should be asking the police officers you've contacted to speak with the EA's bank. If there is something underhand going on here then it will come to light. If the EA's are telling the truth then their bank will confirm their story.

I have never ever heard of EA's not accepting cheques!

Do keep us informed and I hope it all sorts itself out.

prudryden

Very unusual for a reputable estate agency to request cash only. Do they have a money laundering business on the side? Might be interesting to casually mention that.

skintmostofthetime

If it was fake why didn't they just call the Police straight away - if they were honest it's what anyone would have done. Hope it all sorts itself but surely with all this technoligy out there someone can check for finger prints and so on ! Also - the bank would know exactly what/how many of which notes were issued to you - can this not be checked - if it helps.

thesaint

I am a private landlord, but I would've thought that the same applies to letting agencies.
I always insist on the 1st payment in cash, because if the cheque bounces after the tenant is in situ, I would have to go through a lengthy process to get the tenant removed.

I could get caught out by forged notes, but I think that this is a rareity.

If I were the OP, I would sit tight.

ashcarrot

Sounds like someones dodgy at the estate agent, is it a chain or a one off?

If its a chain maybe they could phone contact the head office and see if its normal practice to request deposit in cash only. and maybe report the fraud?

jswaminathanuk

You didn't printed the notes did you? then why bother? I think you have an upper hand on this. I think
a) you should chanse police on regular basis.
b) may be on your own give a statement to police and (as suggested by a fellow MSE) tell them they insisted for cash.
3) DO you have a reciept? keep it safe
4) try find out more about the estate agent or the manager from local people
5) visit CAB and discuss this with people there. there are qualified lawyers there who can tell you what you should do to protect your interest.
6) may be you can write to EA and ask them to give you the possassion as the case is with Police. Also tell them that It is obvoius that if you found guilty you would pay the money with interest, otherwise you are considering option of claiming your loss from them if things delayed)
I might sound stupid but visit CAB today