Estate Agent won't stop marketing property

codepoet

I hired an estate agent to market my property, but they turned out to be useless, and mishandled the whole thing. So I gave them their two weeks notice and instructed a different agent to start marketing the property once the notice period was over. The new agent has collected the keys from the old agent, however the old agent is continuing to market the property. What do I need to threaten them with to stop them from marketing it? It seems to me that trying to sell a house your are not entitled is not really on, however I am sure they are doing it to spoil the new agents chance of getting a sale.
Advice?

Annie1960

What does the contract you signed with the first agent say? How long was the contract for? At what point did you give them notice?

codepoet

First agent had sole-agency for four weeks. I gave two weeks notice after 15 days, and they handed the key over to the new agent 14 days after that. They do not seem to be disputing that their time is up, but just being useless in removing the property from their website etc.

Annie1960

The bottom line is you could threaten them with the Ombudsman. However, that is a last resort.

Is it a small independent agent, or a large national one? If national, you could try their Head Office. If local, you could try the owner of the company rather than just the EA you have been dealing with. Go up the chain in whatever way is appropriate for their corporate structure.

The threat of the Ombudsman is the bottom line.

ACG

Have a friend call up and ask about it.

If they say its sold/under offer etc go into their shop (today would have been ideal - saturday busiest day) and cause a fuss until they remove it.

DRP

I'd be slightly concerned that they'd try to claim a fee if a future buyer contacted them prior to viewing through your current agent.

I'd write a letter confirming you no longer wish them to be your agent, asking for the ad to be removed ASAP.