Estate Agent Wants Screen Shots of My Bank Account?

RiversTam

I SS our account but cropped it so you literally saw the current balance - No other info.
Try that?

KTD10

My husband and I were asked for proof of deposit just to put an offer in!

We were really reluctant but in the end agreed and actually printed off the relevant statements and blacked out everything except the deposit amount and our names before scanning and emailing. That seemed to be acceptable so that's another option for you.

chappers

Just say you will do it via a solicitors letter. imho that's the proper way to do it anyway

Scotbot

I am a cash buyer and was asked for proof which I get, it's the same as being asked to show mortgage approval. I sent a statement with all personal details blacked out. A solicitor would have charged and I hadn't instructed one before I made an offer.

shortcrust

I used an in house mortgage advisor so all my financials were obviously shared with the EA (despite what they say). When and if I buy again I’ll not be letting the EA know what I’ve got in the bank. I’m with those saying get the solicitor to confirm - say that matter’s closed and you won’t enter into further discussion on the topic. I’d contact the seller directly to explain the situation if the EA digs in. If I were a seller in that situation I’d be straight on the phone to the EA to say please stop messing about and get on with things.

Surrey_EA

shortcrust wrote: »

I’d contact the seller directly to explain the situation if the EA digs in. If I were a seller in that situation I’d be straight on the phone to the EA to say please stop messing about and get on with things.

It is entirely possible that the seller has asked the EA to verify the financial situation of the prospective purchaser!!

I don't think it's a case of 'messing about' to take measures to ensure a prospective buyer has the financial ability to go ahead with the purchase. I would consider it part of the EAs role to make some sort of effort to confirm the financial position of a buyer.

Scotbot

Round here the house stays on the market untill proof of funds are confirmed. I was concerned about showing how much I had and the first offer fell through after the survey however I subsequently found the agent far more helpful when he knew I was good for the cash.

theartfullodger

I would send, but I'd edit out the dangerous stuff (account numbers etc..) using PhotoShop or the free, faster, GIMP.

Tell them I'll show you mine if.... Ask them for screenshots of their's first. £5 says they also want to offer you "**free**" the services of their in-house mortgage junior-trainee who couldn't get a job elsewhere...

shortcrust

Surrey_EA wrote: »

It is entirely possible that the seller has asked the EA to verify the financial situation of the prospective purchaser!!

I don't think it's a case of 'messing about' to take measures to ensure a prospective buyer has the financial ability to go ahead with the purchase. I would consider it part of the EAs role to make some sort of effort to confirm the financial position of a buyer.

I agree with everything you say. However, is a solicitor's letter not sufficient to verify? If I were a seller, that would be more than enough for me and I'd completely understand why a buyer might not want to give their bank balance to an EA. I would be skeptical as to the reasons the EA was insisting on a screenshot rather than a letter, especially as a screenshot could be knocked up in 10 mins on photoshop!

Edit to add: Thinking about it, a screenshot is a really really rubbish way of verifying someone's position. Bordering on negligent perhaps.

Surrey_EA

shortcrust wrote: »

I agree with everything you say. However, is a solicitor's letter not sufficient to verify?

Absolutely, as I have said in pots #5 and #11 above!

shortcrust wrote: »

If I were a seller, that would be more than enough for me and I'd completely understand why a buyer might not want to give their bank balance to an EA. I would be skeptical as to the reasons the EA was insisting on a screenshot rather than a letter, especially as a screenshot could be knocked up in 10 mins on photoshop!

I'd be surprised if there was anything sinister behind the EAs request, and agree with you that anyone reasonably familiar with Photoshop could produce something convincing.