Obstructive Estate Agent

davidmcn

_Debs_ wrote: »

Il

We'll try sending him a letter (although any we've previously sent about other issues he just ignores) and see where this gets us, thanks!

Maybe check if they treat a "different" potential buyer the same way, to see if it's something personal to you or if they're generally not doing viewings at the moment.

_Debs_

davidmcn wrote: »

Maybe check if they treat a "different" potential buyer the same way, to see if it's something personal to you or if they're generally not doing viewings at the moment.

We may also try this, by getting a family member to enquire. Although I suspect it is personal due to previous dealings with him around 6 months ago.

My partner arranged the viewing on the Monday for the Thursday and got a text from the EA on the Thursday afternoon saying viewing was cancelled. When he phoned the EA told him potential buyers' builders' had the keys and when my partner asked if we could rearrange he said it would need to be "next week" and hung up.

I suspect the receptionist put the viewing in the diary then when it got to Thursday the EA looked at his diary and noticed my partners' name and then just made up some crappy excuse!

zarf2007

_Debs_ wrote: »

We may also try this, by getting a family member to enquire. Although I suspect it is personal due to previous dealings with him around 6 months ago.

My partner arranged the viewing on the Monday for the Thursday and got a text from the EA on the Thursday afternoon saying viewing was cancelled. When he phoned the EA told him potential buyers' builders' had the keys and when my partner asked if we could rearrange he said it would need to be "next week" and hung up.

I suspect the receptionist put the viewing in the diary then when it got to Thursday the EA looked at his diary and noticed my partners' name and then just made up some crappy excuse!

can you go into the estate agents and kick up a massive fuss? escalate to his manager, even if you end up not getting a viewing i would make that gits life difficult.......i long for the day when we cut these idiots out of the loop altogether, talentless parasites the lot of em...

_Debs_

zarf2007 wrote: »

can you go into the estate agents and kick up a massive fuss? escalate to his manager, even if you end up not getting a viewing i would make that gits life difficult.......i long for the day when we cut these idiots out of the loop altogether, talentless parasites the lot of em...

Its difficult because it is a small local company and it is only the EA and his assistant/receptionist (who also happens to be his partner/wife) so its not like we can complain to the manager as it is him and he wouldn't entertain it. I think the next step re complaining is the Property Ombudsman but I just feel if we go there he'll lie to them about the situation.

princeofpounds

I think the next step re complaining is the Property Ombudsman but I just feel if we go there he'll lie to them about the situation.

Of course he will.

The land registry title is the right route to go down. It takes a bit of work to find the dept of the bank that deals with repo sales (often they are called something entirely different) but if you get in contact with them they may be able to tell you the truth about its marketing status at least.

Elsewhere

If a house is repossessed, surely the people who had to give up their home are looking to the sale to write off as much debt as possible to the lender?

Wouldn't it be irresponsible of the lender to not investgate thoroughly if doubt is cast on the honesty of the agent they have employed to sell the house?

I don't know how much hassle it is to contact the ombudsman, but if it's quick and easy it would be a kind thing to do for the original borrowers and possibly advantageous for yourselves.

_Debs_

princeofpounds wrote: »

Of course he will.

The land registry title is the right route to go down. It takes a bit of work to find the dept of the bank that deals with repo sales (often they are called something entirely different) but if you get in contact with them they may be able to tell you the truth about its marketing status at least.

I'll have a look at obtaining a copy title and contacting the bank, just worried that the bank might not want to hear it and will just tell us to contact the agent. Worth a try though!

princeofpounds

If a house is repossessed, surely the people who had to give up their home are looking to the sale to write off as much debt as possible to the lender?

Yes

Wouldn't it be irresponsible of the lender to not investgate thoroughly if doubt is cast on the honesty of the agent they have employed to sell the house?

Yes. But having seen many of these cases reported on the board over the years, it doesn't seem to be much urgency from the banks to deal with the matter. People report them, the bank says thanks, and little happens. Meanwhile the same agent is awarded many more repos to sell.

I suspect the incentivisation for the repos sales departments means that selling is more important than the extra 5-10% from a well-handled non-corrupt sale.

_Debs_

Update on this is that we ended up instructing a solicitor to try to arrange a viewing. The solicitor explained to the EA that he was aware of our position and that we are in a position to buy. Basically he was told that the EA had checked with the vendors and they were happy not to allow us to view. We think the EA has obviously told them we have no money.

We have subsequently asked someone else to view the property for us and they were given a viewing straight away without all the hassle we are getting. Ultimately though this does not help us decide whether we should buy the house or not and also the solicitor stated that he thought if we submitted an offer the EA would bin it.

Its just ridiculous how these EAs can get away with treating people like this and we will be following this up with a complaint to the ombudsman.

mike0090

Sounds very dodgy to me, you should ask your solicitor to put a note of intrest on the property. I think in Scotland the EA can't accept other offers without asking you for a counter offer.