Dodgy letting agency

fearlesscazim

I moved in and subsequently 6 months later moved out of a rental property recently.

I was charged a £300 "admin ref fee" on application. I filled in an application form.

However it would seem no referencing was done. When I moved into my latest property, after checking my experian credit report, there was a trace of it and linking an address. However there wasn't after the previous referencing should have been done.

On contacting the reference company, they could find no trace of my details, and confirmed in writing no referencing was done on myself for the property.

I appreciate they could have used another company, just used another reference form, but have refused to enter into discussions regarding this.

I also have a dispute regarding the deposit, which will be going to county court soon.

What if anything have they done wrong charging me for referencing, telling me referencing would take approx 5 days, and not actually doing it.

booksurr

fearlesscazim wrote: »

What if anything have they done wrong charging me for referencing, telling me referencing would take approx 5 days, and not actually doing it.

they have done nothing wrong.

you do not have a contract for the performance/delivery of services with them (the LL is the contractor), so you have no grounds to dispute their failure to do what they said.

lonestar1

fee could have been for letting agent to confirm over phone your references no other companies need be involved

fearlesscazim

What for £300? Why deceive with a branded tenancy referencing form then?
And tell me they were waiting to hear back with confirmation.

theartfullodger

Send them an LBA (they might pay) then take them through a claim for the costs & your other financial losses through the small claims could (you might win). Citizens advice has good advice on both.

& complain to whatever body they are a trade member of
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lettings-agents-and-property-managers-redress-schemes

Mallotum_X

It's for them to do whatever referencing they and the landlord feel like doing to satisfy themselves. plus with the word admin in there how do you decide how much is admin and how much is referencing.

Not your worry if they didn't reference you to a very high standard.

HappyMJ

fearlesscazim wrote: »

I moved in and subsequently 6 months later moved out of a rental property recently.

I was charged a £300 "admin ref fee" on application. I filled in an application form.

However it would seem no referencing was done. When I moved into my latest property, after checking my experian credit report, there was a trace of it and linking an address. However there wasn't after the previous referencing should have been done.

On contacting the reference company, they could find no trace of my details, and confirmed in writing no referencing was done on myself for the property.

I appreciate they could have used another company, just used another reference form, but have refused to enter into discussions regarding this.

I also have a dispute regarding the deposit, which will be going to county court soon.

What if anything have they done wrong charging me for referencing, telling me referencing would take approx 5 days, and not actually doing it.

They would have checked for bankruptcy records, DRO's, IVA's and CCJ's. None of that shows on your credit report and the databases are all publicly available so you won't see them checking for that.

The marker you have now from the referencing may have just been an identity check which does not affect your credit or show to any other creditor.

Referencing also consists of calling your previous landlord and your employer. Did they do that?

DandelionPatrol

fearlesscazim wrote: »

What if anything have they done wrong charging me for referencing, telling me referencing would take approx 5 days, and not actually doing it.

Let's put it this way. You paid £300. What benefit do you get from a credit check? Markers on your file? A report? No, none of those are any good to you. The benefit you get is being considered for renting. You were allowed to rent. So nothing to be disappointed about.

Marktheshark

This argument "You have no contract"
An agent in a tri party agreement works for both parties as the third parties.
There is no "landlords" agent, if they take money from you and act as an agent in a contract they are both parties agent equally.

You have a service contract with the agent.

DandelionPatrol

Marktheshark wrote: »

This argument "You have no contract"
An agent in a tri party agreement works for both parties as the third parties.
There is no "landlords" agent, if they take money from you and act as an agent in a contract they are both parties agent equally.

You have a service contract with the agent.

A contract requires

• Offer and acceptance
• Intention to be legally bound
• Consideration

Perhaps you would be good enough to explain the contract in the above terms, so that no one is under illusions about what this contract is?