Countrywide - Referencing Fee

PlonkerFish

Hi All,

I was hoping someone could help determine whether this is allowed or not, and how I would go about circumventing their charge.

Basically, I have been a tenant (private) with my Estate Agents for over two and a half years, and have had no problems. However, they were recently bought by CountryWide. My current contract is from before they were part of CW.

I am currently moving cross country, and I have filled in an application with my New Estate Agents. They have used LetSure as a referencing agency, who have been in contact with the CW head office to get a reference on me. I have subsequently been told that I need to pay a 24 pound fee before they will 'write' a reference, which basically constitutes asking 5 questions, which with my renting history will be a 5 minute job (I wish I could make £500 an hour!).

Does anyone have any experience regarding this? I have already been in contact with my current Estate agents, and they are trying to waive the fee with CountryWide - but I am afraid it'll be unsuccessful.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Guest101

Does the tenancy agreement you have say anything about references?

I would explain to your new agent that you can show a bank statemet showing all rent paid on time.

Alternatively, you can ask CW to disclose all information they hold on you under freedom of information via the data protection act, Cost £10.

This would in essence have the same info

PlonkerFish

The tenancy agreement says nothing about references.

With regards to the FOI act, how long would such a request take - as I plan to move house in 9 days!

Guest101

I don't remember for sure, it's either 28 or 40 days, so guess that's not viable.

What about asking your actual LL for a reference. If you've been there 2.5 years he'll have had plenty of cash from you

PlonkerFish

Tried that - but she doesn't want to do it as they are now part of 'CountryWide' and have to abide by their rules, despite the fact that I signed a contract with them.

Thanks for your help so far btw. It is much appreciated. I am currently waiting for a phone call from my current Estate Agents to see what I can do.

With regards to my New Estate Agents, they want LetSure to do the referencing, who have said to me they need a character reference, and so simply showing I paid my rent isn't enough.

Guest101

No no, not your letting agent. The LL, the person who owns the house.

And a letting agent is not someone I would give as a character reference. I'd contact my GP and ask for one, or a solicitor, priest, police officer who you know

PlonkerFish

Sorry, I may have been getting my terms mixed up.

Basically, the questions that LetSure is asking are whether they have had any problems with me during the rental; whether I have destroyed property; and whether I have paid my rent (this is what I referred to as a character reference).

I'm still waiting for the phone call from my Current Estate Agent...

If they refuse to give a reference, I'll contact my landlady - who is quite nice anyway; but I have to make sure that neither LetSure or my new Estate Agents have a problem with by-passing Countywide.