Current letting agent trying to charge me £25 for a reference for my credit check!!!!

cashmonger

There is no end to their underhandedness.

I got my credit check going through all ok. I never imagine I would be charged for a reference from my current agents. I sent an email last night to say they could expect a request for a reference from the credit checkers and I just got an email saying they want to hit me up for £25 for it.

The underhandedness of that really boils my blood. I looked on their website and they don't even list that as a fee on the website that I could see. If they do it's hidden.

And if I complain about it now I risk getting a bad reference from them.

What can I do? This could effectively hold my new flat acceptance up for ransom. If I had any idea they would have done that dirty rotten move I would have asked the landlord instead. I only didn't because I was being polite not to bother him with it and I am punished for it!

SCUM OF THE EARTH!!!!!!!!!

I just sent a reply that I had no idea of that charge and would not have ask if I had known. I asked if she will instead forward it to the landlord if he will be kind enough to do it.

Icecannon

I can't see them making stuff up, maybe not giving you 1 if you don't pay.

Anything they put will have to be based in fact, so very unlikely they will lie...what are they going to say, you never pay on time? You had loads of complaints? Very easy for you to prove those as lies if they are.

cashmonger

These agents havent even been my agents for long; only about 5 months or so out of the 7 odd years i lived here. She even said to me I might want to ask the previous agents since they knew me for longer but they might try and scalp me for a fee as well.

I asked her to forward it to the landlord and ask if he will do it for me since he is at least a human unlike these walking cash registers; we'll see what the reply is tommorow.

He has also known me for the duration of my tenancy and maybe he will sympathise with the fees because he also went into a rolling periodic contract with me without us formally announcining it to one another. So maybe he was getting sick of agent fees as well.

G_M

This should be no surprise.

If you ask a business to undertake an administrative task it is normal to receive an invoice for their time.

The alternative is to ask the landlord for the reference. He might or might not charge.

IAmWales

You're asking a business to provide you with a service. I'm not sure why you would expect them to do so free of charge.

Who are you going to complain to?

cashmonger

Why are you putting words in my mouth. Where did I say I am going to complain to anyone?

sparky130a

cashmonger wrote: »

T

What can I do?

cashmonger wrote: »

Why are you putting words in my mouth. Where did I say I am going to complain to anyone?

I'd say it's inferred non...... ?

cashmonger

If you like.

I have no problem with a fee since they are a business but it's the question of the amount that is extortionate.

Just like having to pay hundreds for application fees and credit checks is extorionate.

theartfullodger

cashmonger wrote: »

Current letting agent trying to charge me £25 for a reference for my credit check!!!!

There is no end to their underhandedness.............
............................

Hey, there's way, way, way more they could try on - and many do.

....SCUM OF THE EARTH!!!!!!!!!.........

Well, yes, but that's no terribly informative, is it..

One key point. No agent or landlord HAS to provide a reference: (Any more than a tenant has to provide a landlord or agent with a reference, now there's a thought, eh??)

saajan_12

Not really sure why you're so angry.. they don't have to provide a reference, and so can charge for their time and inconvenience in
- checking your rent payment history
- reviewing past correspondence
- checking past inventory / inspection reports
- writing up a reference
- dealing with you to send it to the right place

I think £25 is quite reasonable. There's plenty of £100+ move in fees to get so angry about, this one isn't terrible.

Besides, they're a business, if you don't like the price, don't buy the product (reference) and find another way.

davidmcn

cashmonger wrote: »

I have no problem with a fee since they are a business but it's the question of the amount that is extortionate.

It's not extortionate. £25 is perfectly reasonable. My bank charges £100 plus VAT to provide a reference.