wasted day (and cash)

jacobi1

Hi
I'm not sure if this is a legal question or moral or both.

I arranged with an agent to view a property today. When arranging by email the agent said an offer had been made, but rejected. so I said OK, but let me know if the owner accepts or a higher offer is made before I come. Agent said OK.

So today I travel 50 odd miles each way to view. Agent not there, but another agent is - and tells me I can't view as the property was sold 2 weeks ago!

Can or should I claim my costs (and wasted time)?

sam2015_2

Did you have an appointment to view the property?

kinger101

No. Next time ring to re-confirm on the day if it's a long journey.

jacobi1

sam2015 wrote: »

Did you have an appointment to view the property?

Yes. As stated in my opening post.

No. Next time ring to re-confirm on the day if it's a long journey.

the emails were spread over several days, with the final confirmation being yesterday evening.

The property was sold 2 weeks ago.

sam2015_2

Sounds like the vendor wasn't straight with the agent.
Few months ago I went to the an open day to view a property. It was a popular terrace and lots of people turned up for viewing but we couldn't get in as the agent couldn't get hold of the vendor to open the door. Few days later it was sold by another agent. Things like that common in London and South east.

dc197

By all means complain to the agent, but they were probably just as surprised and annoyed as you. Likely they will do nothing.

melstar11

What I don't understand is why, if it had sold two weeks beforehand, there was an agent there at all? If it's on with two agents and it was the other company's agent who was there, did you ring the person you had contacted to question what was going on?

moneyistooshorttomention

Certainly you need to at least make a complaint. The more people complain about this sort of treatment = the greater the chance that they will "get their act together" and not do this to anyone else (if only to save themselves the frequent "earache").

Davesnave

jacobi1 wrote: »

Can or should I claim my costs (and wasted time)?

Who will you claim from and how? Small claims? What if they contest/ blame each other/blame the vendor?

Be realistic. It's 100 miles worth of fuel and your leisure time; not a huge amount in the general scheme of things.

Someone has been lazy or messed-up, that's all. Believe me, if this is the worst thing that happens to you when buying, you'll have done really well.