Pushy estate agent - should we complain?

Little_Pickle

We are first time buyers.
We viewed a property 10 weeks ago, placed an offer which was accepted.
So started the process.

No chain either end and we are buying from a Freehold company (it's one of their ex rentals).

The estate agent started out really nice.

Over the past 3 or 4 weeks, however, she has harrassed us and threatened us including:

'I've spoken to their solicitors and if you don't complete in 24 hours, it will go back on the market'.

'You promised to exchange on Friday (we didn't promise anything) so I suggest you both get in a taxi from your workplaces, head to your solicitors and sign the contract today'

'I will be instructing my client to place the property back on the market as it is now worth £15k more than your agreed price'

then yesterday, she really outdid herself.
She emailed us to tell us that she had contacted out Mortgage Lender's serveyor directly to ask if our mortgage would still be approved (there was a part of the lease which could have affected mortgage).

Of course we will be making a formal complaint once this is all over, but I just wondered if anyone else has had this experience.

She calls non stop (both my husband and I, plus our solicitor) emails constantly pressurising us (when we can't go any faster) and threatening to take the property away.

to say this has been stressful, is speaking mildly.

We have a young son, full time high pressured jobs and I feel that she has been far too heavy handed.

None of her claims are true (all solicitors are happy with progress) and I think she has WAY overstepped the mark by contacting our Mortgage Lender directly. that is our private information!!!

This looks like it turned into a rant! Apologies.. I guess I just needed to get it off my chest!

Thanks xoxo
LP

DRP

Little_Pickle wrote: »

... and I think she has WAY overstepped the mark by contacting our Mortgage Lender directly. that is our private information!!!

Presumably your mortgage company told her nothing? They would be at fault if they did.

Assuming the vendor and both solicitors are happy, just ignore the ranting bint (I mean the EA, not you )

nomoneytoday

I'd call her bluff, as she's probably just chasing her commission

(but then I don't like pushy sales people)

ognum

I suggest you don't get wound up with her, don't answer the calls, don't read the emails, just get on with the proccess of buying.

I have dealt with EAs like this and the only answer is to ignore them.

Little_Pickle

Thank you all so much for your replies.
We have been ignoring her as best we can (as advised by our solicitor - family member).
Sadly, our mortgage lender's surveyor DID tell her the decision on the mortgage.. how bad is that? very angry!

oh well... here's hoping we exchange this week!
Thanks again all... really appriciate it!
LP
xox

Guest101

Simple: Tell her not to contact you again. IF she has anything to say, tell her to contact your solicitor.

If she does again, report her for harassment. Sorted.

Ivana_Tinkle

You need to be a bit careful about telling her to ring your solicitor - it will probably work, as she's unlikely to try and pull this kind of nonsense with them, but if she does ring them and waste their time you might end up getting a bill for it!

Just don't answer the phone to her. It's enormously liberating!

rrtt

To be honest, once you (I hope) have successfully completed in due course, I'd complain anyway, although I'm not sure where to - is there an ombudsman or regulator for EAs? I suspect not as I had a similar experience to yours, tho not as bad, and seem to recall not being able to easily find a professional body. So if it's a large agency you'd then have to address it to the CEO or a the most senior partner.

Some of her threats are outrageous - "if you don't complete within 24 hours" etc when this no doubt was physically impossible and she would have known that. If she's junior within the firm, the more senior partner/s may well be unaware of what amounts in effect to her bullying and harassment, and be grateful to you for pointing it out. But I'd leave it till afterwards because you don't want anything more to get in the way when you're so close to completion.