Should I file a Complain?

onepunchman

I need some advice. I am a first time home buyer and I found a property sold by an Estate Agent, acting on behalf of a vendor and decided to put an offer down. The estate agent asked me to send my passport details and driver's license copy as well as proof of deposit and my mortgage decision in principle certificate.

I sent a screenshot of my mobile bank app(s) with the deposit including every other document that was requested. Part of my deposit was in another account with a different initials. I was asked by the Estate agent to have my deposit under my account bearing my name for compliance and so I did just that and resent, this time with a bank statement partly redacted.

They had their mortgage broker/ financial consultant contact me. I was told he was calling to ascertain I could afford the mortgage. He tried selling himself as a better broker but I was happy with my current broker and towards the end he was quite happy with my finance and also said "my offer was very reasonable' and would let the Estate Agent know that I was financially capable.

Estate agent called later today to tell me my offer was substantially low and they have a few viewing booked on the property. They later emailed a scanned letter saying my offer was rejected but i should feel free to increase my bid.

I feel that this business is breaching a number of data protection and codes of conducts. I also feel some level of discrimination and malpractice is taking place because you shouldn't need to request this level of information to hand out a rejection if it was substantially low.

The practice stinks and I want to know if I have some kind of case to make to the ICO or Property Obdusman?

G_M

If you think the EA has turned you down without passing your offer to the vendor (eg because they favour a buyer using their mortgage services) then write direct to the vendor with your offer and explain you are financially viable but his EA (yes, the EA works for the vendor) has not passed on the offer.

If you wish to make formal complaints, you'll need to

* look up and follow the EA's internal complaints procedure
* check which ombusdman scheme they belong to and look at their code of practice and complaints process

* The Property Ombudsman
* Ombudsman Services Property
* Property Redress Scheme

onepunchman

The vendor seems to be a company/investment firm looking to liquidate assets quickly. I don't think the Estate agent will be willing to give me the details of the vendor.

eddddy

I guess your point is: Why did the EA do all the financial checks when your offer was "substantially low" and unlikely to be accepted?

As you suspect, the financial checks were probably an excuse to try to sell you mortgage services.

Rather than complaining, I would just learn from the experience.

For example, when you make future offers, say that you will provide proof of deposit, mortgage details etc, once the offer is accepted. (Even if the EA protests, if you put the offer in writing, it should be passed on to the vendor.)

Cakeguts

I read what you wrote like this. You put in an offer and were asked for you finanacial details. The agent then put the offer to the vendor who pointed out that your offer was substantially lower than the asking price but that there were other viewings coming up and then someone made an offer that was higher than yours and the vendor then rejected yours but gave you the opportunity to make a higher offer. All of this seems to be a normal part of house buying to me.