Being taken for a ride! Please help

ragle

Resolution found thank you.

Ulfar

Stay well clear of this. You did the right thing.

I would ask the estate agent to put the deal in writing, which they won't. If there is any more messing about then I would report the buyer who is a conveyer to the appropriate authorities.

Argghhh

i would change estate agents and report them for their part in all this, then put house back on market for £1000 more and see how they react

belisha-beacon

I would certainly be unhappy about paying any estate agent who would play such a blatant part in enabling my buyers to commit fraud against me. Not only is it illegal but completely immoral - the agent works for the vendor not the buyer! If you can get any evidence of it I would be reporting them to their trade body (and possibly trading standards too).

It might be worth seeing if they have a complaints procedure. In your position I'd certainly be thinking about writing to the head honcho saying what has happened, and that you want to know what action they intend to take about the fee that they were going to charge you, bearing in mind that they may have lost you a sale. If nothing else, it will help to establish some evidence that it has happened, and it might make them get their !!!!!! in gear to save the sale.

And yes, I would definitely (as in: I would already have done it!) report the solicitor to the SRA. Your own solicitor may be able to give you advice about how to do that.

belisha-beacon

Oh, and it may be worth stopping answering your phone to the agents. Email them saying that all the calls are causing you stress, and that they should update you by email. They can't suggest anything dodgy if you're only dealing with things in writing, or if they do then it's great evidence!

belisha-beacon

Also (sorry for so many posts), if you can get any evidence about what the agent has done then you may be able to make a claim in the Small Claims Court for any losses you've incurred as a result of their sharp practices. You shouldn't be footing the bill for such dodgy work, nor the costs of remarketing the house or the additional costs of selling it once you are overseas.

steeeb

I know you need to exchange by a certain date, but what would happen if you were to pull out would this seriously affect your plans moving abroad?

I'd think in this situation I'd gain evidence and report both the EA and buyers solicitor as well as cancelling the contract with the EA and listing with someone else and putting it back on the market.

thequant

ragle wrote: »

so, I spoke to our solicitor about all this yesterday, and she sent an email agreeing to pay £700 and in return the buyers would exchange on 8th October at 12pm and complete on the 24th October - as had been agreed from the outset of the deal - all dates proposed by the buyers incidentally. This morning our EA rings saying because WE told our solicitor about the £700, the buyers now need to delay further because technically what the buyers had suggested and agreed to (remember the buyer is also acting as their own solicitor) was mortgage fraud, so because we had disclosed this deal they now had to go through the correct channels i.e. the mortgage lending company for approval before they can exchange. I said that if the buyer had any integrity as a human being and a professional then she would forfeit the £700 and stick to agreed dates still, unless she could think of another option that wasn't fraud. I honestly didn't think any solicitor would bother risking their career for £700, but I clearly underestimated the buyers greed. The agent got back to us almost immediately and request the cheque for £700 to be made out to their landlady/friend directly!!! Unbelievable!! Oh and to get our solicitors to write an email saying that the £700 offer had been withdrawn to cover the buyers back from any accusation of wrong doing. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE?? The EA said, "it's called mortgage fraud, but it happens all the time and it's no significant amount". But this is like MPs saying that fiddling expenses was no big deal - surely fraud is fraud? Maybe I am being a bit officious... Anyway, the deadline for exchange is 12pm tomorrow, so we shall see what happens. We have not responded as yet, we are currently trying to digest what is going on and who exactly the EA is representing... All thoughts much appreciated, and many thanks for all advice given so far.

Not sure if I should be wasting my time by responding, because in theory you should be an intelligent adult, but anyway.

1) They are taking you for a complete fool, don't embarass yourself any further by entertaining their games.

2) I know you are worried about the completion date, but you need accept that every little stroke they pull is about playing for time. This sale is not going to happen on the 24th unless you learn to grow a backbone.

Sorry to be harsh, but these are the facts.

rpc

Personally, I would run. These buyers are not playing straight.

And report the buyer to the Law Society. As a solicitor, she is regulated and should not be participating in mortgage fraud.

SnooksNJ

rpc wrote: »

Personally, I would run. These buyers are not playing straight.

And report the buyer to the Law Society. As a solicitor, she is regulated and should not be participating in mortgage fraud.

I would be livid if before moving to a foreign country someone wanted me to get involved in any kind of fraud. Tell the UKBA or Homeland Security or whoever issue's your visa, yes
I was involved in fraud but no biggie, it's only £700.
I would say why pay my lawyer £150 to write a letter saying the offer is rescinded when I can call the Law Society and the Real Estate board(or whoever governs Real Estate agents) and have them "rescind" the offer for free.