Fake Money in my deposit !!Update pg5!!

regularsaver1

To be honest i don't think they can prove a thing

prudryden

If you have a friend or a friend of a friend who has any legal knowledge e.g. knows the jargon, have them write a letter stating that the £500 fake notes in question was not yours and that you consider that the funds you paid were legitimate and represent full payment of deposit etc.. It doesn't even matter whether your friend or whatever is practicing as long as he knows how to word the letter. You sign the letter however, not your friend, unless he is officially representing you.

chris123

Hi Des, what a complete nightmare. I read your original post and have flicked through some of the replies, so apologies if someone else has already said what I am about to say. The hole thing stinks of some sort of estate agent !!!! up. I would definitely get a solicitor and do it quick, tell them what you know and let them fight your corner. Ask around and get a good one, there are some real poor briefs out there. The cost will not be as bad as you might think, and it could save you a load of hassle in later life because it might affect your credit rating. As someone else as already said they cannot kick you out without going through the proper channels.

You stand your ground and show them you will not be walked over, I wish you the best of luck.

Regards Chris

olly300

Des I'm confused as you by the police attitude however I googled and found this:
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=151272007

So if the notes are sent to Scotland as the bank says then they may be on their way back to England, to the bank of England to see how they were forged. So it would be hard for the normal police to keep up.

I would do as Chris123 suggests - get a solicitor to write letters to the EA refusing to accept the money as yours.

Meatballs

You have a receipt saying you paid them £500.

If they wanted to get out of it they should have to take you to court to prove you handed them it, as the police are no longer involved?

But more likely you will have to take them to court because they just wont give it you back £500 which they accepted off you when you want your deposit back.

I'm just suprised the banks and police dont co-operate more on this!

Can you request information about the incident that the police have collected? Or is that restricted information?

EvilDes

Hi all, and once again, thanks for your input into the situation.

I do indeed have the receipt showing we paid the money. There was actually £1455, all together, as the deposit (£795) and the first months rent (£595), and a setting up fee of about £65, so the £500 doesn't quite cover either the deposit, nor the rent. But they claim it was in with the money that we gave them.

As I updated in one of my posts, we found out form the police the fake money was Scottish. The good thing is, there were no Scottish notes in our money, as we watched the woman representing the estate agents count and check it all. There were definately no Scottish notes. She had to phone the office to see if they could accept a cheque, so why wouldn't she phone to see if they could accept Scottish notes, or at least make a comment to us whilst she was counting, that the money was Scottish.

Anyway, I do believe my best course of action is to seek legal advice. However, until I receive anything from the estate agents asking for more money or threatening legal action, is it worth it? I mean, I'll tell my story and everything I know, the solicitor will tell me what might happen, but then if nothing comes from the estate agents, what then? Is it best to make the first move, or wait until they try and do something in regards to the money?

Thanks all, you've really helped!

Des

irnbru_2

Tiger_greeneyes wrote:

Can you get a crime reference no from the police?

OP: that's all you need at present.

If it comes to a deposit dispute and the EA sites the fake money then the onus is on them to present proof that you provided it. You have ample evidence to counter that accusation.

Further, most solicitor's offer a free session so approach one if you're concerend about the current outcome.

My guess is the LA will refund in full and be glad to be rid of you at the end of your tenancy

snarffie

irnbru wrote: »

OP: that's all you need at present.

If it comes to a deposit dispute and the EA sites the fake money then the onus is on them to present proof that you provided it. You have ample evidence to counter that accusation.

This is the crux of the situation IMO.

You have paid the deposit in full, and have received a receipt from the EA.

They may well have made allegations that you have handed over fake notes, but they have not provided any proof in a court of law. Until they do, you have acted correctly, and they are holding your deposit.

Just make sure that when they return your deposit, it's paid in Bank of England notes!

irnbru_2

snarffie wrote:

Just make sure that when they return your deposit, it's paid in Bank of England notes!

... or a BACS transfer to your account.

Meatballs

EvilDes wrote: »

The good thing is, there were no Scottish notes in our money, as we watched the woman representing the estate agents count and check it all. There were definately no Scottish notes. She had to phone the office to see if they could accept a cheque, so why wouldn't she phone to see if they could accept Scottish notes, or at least make a comment to us whilst she was counting, that the money was Scottish.

Cheques are a different form of payment. Scottish notes are still just sterling, basically the same as any other note but with a different print on them. I wouldn't question them because they are equally as acceptable as English notes (unless I was aware of the counterfeit problems), so you can't assume the lady didn't see any.

But don't let that distract you from the fact you have a receipt!