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Can I change Estate Agents without a loss while in contract...

L.S.D.
L.S.D. Posts: 416 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in House buying, renting & selling
... we had three agents around & chose one of them to market our house. We signed the agreement in our house, there was a 14 days cooling off part of the agreement with a 'waver' that I initialled, as they would not market until the 14 days was up. We have had the agents a week now & several times last week & once this week we tried to contact them & every time my call is transferred to a call centre in another town, even that today said to leave a message. Our thoughts is what about potential viewers having the same problem. Obviously I am unhappy with this 'service' so I want to change to one of the other agents but am worried the one I have now will want payment of some sort even though they are clearly not doing their job.
Nice to save.
«1

Comments

  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Read the contract.

    If there's a 14 day cooling off period, use it.

    Where did you sign the contract? At home or at the agent's office?

    see

    http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/how-to-cancel-a-contract-without-being-penalised
  • L.S.D.
    L.S.D. Posts: 416 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    We signed at home. There was a 14 day cooling off period. It also said to 'waive' the contract. The agent said nothing would be done unless we initialled the waive section, so we initialled it as we want the property marketing straight away, however we expected the agent to be there when we call & so far they have not.
    Nice to save.
  • alchemist.1
    alchemist.1 Posts: 860 Forumite
    L.S.D. wrote: »
    We signed at home. There was a 14 day cooling off period. It also said to 'waive' the contract. The agent said nothing would be done unless we initialled the waive section, so we initialled it as we want the property marketing straight away, however we expected the agent to be there when we call & so far they have not.

    I'm not sure you can legally waive the cooling off period.

    What you can do is ask them to start work straightaway so you would be responsible for anything they have already done.
  • L.S.D.
    L.S.D. Posts: 416 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    They have started marketing it, as in Rightmove etc. My concern is that if I can never contact them direct, potential purchasers may have the same problem & give us a miss.
    Nice to save.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    alchemist.1 wrote: »
    I'm not sure you can legally waive the cooling off period.

    What you can do is ask them to start work straightaway so you would be responsible for anything they have already done.

    You can. It's a separate form.

    The cooling off period is not a trial period, it's a chance to rethink.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    L.S.D. wrote: »
    They have started marketing it, as in Rightmove etc. My concern is that if I can never contact them direct, potential purchasers may have the same problem & give us a miss.

    Well how did you contact them in the first place?
  • L.S.D.
    L.S.D. Posts: 416 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Guest101 wrote: »
    Well how did you contact them in the first place?

    Not really an answer to my question, but...

    I phoned them up & they answered the phone. Since signing the contract in spite of several attempts we have not once been able to get through & talk to them once.
    Nice to save.
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    L.S.D. wrote: »
    Not really an answer to my question, but...

    I phoned them up & they answered the phone. Since signing the contract in spite of several attempts we have not once been able to get through & talk to them once.

    The answer to your question is no, u cannot just cancel, they've incurred costs.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Guest101 wrote: »
    The answer to your question is no, u cannot just cancel, they've incurred costs.
    I suspect they can charge for work to date, but OP can cancel the contract as per The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013

    (see my earlier link)
  • slowpoke_rodriguez
    slowpoke_rodriguez Posts: 307 Forumite
    How long is the contract?
This discussion has been closed.
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