Lied to by estate agents, bullied into things

489489

Hello all
This is my first post please be kind
I'm having problems with a purchase of a house
The house went on the market on the 26th of Jan for £100,000 through wards and partners
I went to an open house on Sunday 4th Feb
Put an offer of 111,000 on 5th Feb
6th Feb was asked to see their mortgage broker as he could offer me a better deal, left work early to do so and sent proof of funds to him same day
7th of Feb I was told that the seller would only accept my offer if we used the same solicitors for a quick sale and they said they were using Martin tolhurst, who give wards and partners a big referral/recommendation fee for all those who get pushed their way, wards and partners rang me 9 times on this day to convince me to use Martin tolhurst REPEATEDLY TELLING ME IT WAS FOR A QUICK SALE and even had their mortgage broker ring me acting like my best friend "listen mate Martin tolhurst are great they are so helpful, your my favourite buyer for any house I've had all year, I want you to get this house but you need to go through Martin tolhurst or the seller will walk"
In the end I felt so scared at losing the house (first time buyer) I agreed to use Martin tolhurst but I said I wasn't going to use their mortgage broker, this prompted more calls and texts from the broker who said the seller wanted everything in house at wards and partners, I told the broker I may be stupid enough to believe that the seller has said anything about the solicitors I use for a quick sale, however I know for a fact that it doesn't matter where I get my mortgage from, he tried convincing me otherotherwise and I hung up
8th Feb I got a call from wards and partners saying the seller wanted me to "put my money where my mouth was and pay a £300 deposit for Martin tolhurst" before accepting my offer. I paid it and the offer was instantly accepted (I think it already had been and they were just making sure I would be using Martin tolhurst)
9th Feb I had first contact from solicitors, I instantly sent off my form80Ar, MTOB, proof of ID and proof of address,
I left work early again to go to Halifax and get my mortgage sorted, which was sent to my solicitors that day.
12th Feb solicitor said he received all and was drawing up my instructions
16th Feb the app I had been sent to follow solicitor progress updated to say "instructions received from buyer"
1st March seller confirmed to wards and partners she had sent their instruction paper work off to their solicitors (Nearly a month after offer was accepted, so much for a quick sale!!)
7th march sellers solicitors receive instruction paperwork
9th March my solicitors say they have received nothing from seller
20th March I emailed Martin tolhurst to say I was unhappy how long the sellers and their solicitors had taken and asked him for advise in this matter, he agreed that it had been too long however it was up to the estate agents to chase, I then emailed saying I was forced into using Martin tolhurst and the points above just put simpler
21st March email for Martin tolhurst saying he "notes contents" in my email
22nd March voicemail left from wards and partners saying they have chased it and sellers solicitors are not sending contracts yet as waiting for er er probate to be granted, she then pauses and says this is a probate sale, wards and partners clearly miss sold this house and also sold me something I didn't need, the solicitor also I WAS NEVER TOLD THIS WAS A PROBATE SALE.
Where do I stand? I really don't know what to do any help would be great, sorry if I waffled first post sorry
Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

davidmcn

Get your £300 back and go buy something else.

TamsinC

yep, walk away after getting back you £300 - there are always more houses.

Mr.Generous

Before you believe everything people tell you in future just think about what's in it for them before you do anything.
Keep your own council, take advice, but take your own decisions. Trust your gut feel a bit more.
Oh and pull out of this sale even if it costs you £300. What on earth made you offer £10k over the asking price in the first place? Savvy buyers pay below the asking price. I wonder how you came to believe there was "so much interest" and "multiple buyers waiting" etc to convince you to do this.

Brock_and_Roll

Rule number 1 - always assume that everything an estate agent say is a lie unless you have evidence to the contrary!