Has anyone else used bookasurvey.co.uk and had problems?

eddddy

teneighty wrote: »

They claim to only use RICS regulated firms but there is no record of a firm "Hunter and Mason" being regulated by the RICS. Maybe the spelling is different.

If it's this "Hunter and Mason", it looks like they are 3 individuals, who each seem to be chartered surveyors (i.e. registered members of the RICS) - so if the contract is with one of them, that seems reasonable: http://hunterandmason.co.uk/index.html


(But I don't know anything about them, and so this isn't any kind of recommendation.)

trigger_mike

That's the company, it's 'Ben Davies' who we was allocated,

davrosdalek

Wish I'd found this a few days ago, going through exactly the same here after having paid for a survey with bookasurvey.co.uk

After my initial up-front payment a second, unauthorised payment has been taken. No response to any phone/email/online chat. Mysteriously my account on the site has now been disabled - how very strange eh?

Paid with debit card but looks promising in terms of recovering the money as my bank's fraud team have been very helpful.

Avoid this, not worth the hassle and potential loss.

thomase

Hi
Looks like there's definitely something up then. I booked through them too. They weren't the cheapest but impressed with set up and information provided initially.
They "accidentally" charged me twice too and initially i was able to get someone on chat and they said they'd do a refund which hasn't turned up. The surveyor didn't either - the same Ben Davies. Now his vm and that on the company website is "full"! And bookasurvey can no longer be reached by phone or chat. I noticed a thing at the top of their website now saying they're having a technical issue and lots of enquiries so to bear with them.

I googled them beforehand and couldn't see any sign of it having bad reviews or being a scam. Maybe They've gone bust or.. Really are having technical difficulties?

I'll try the bank. Paid on debit card too. !!!!!! as if buying/selling isn't stressful enough! And now I'll never get a survey done before Christmas!

MobileSaver

trigger_mike wrote: »

I paid by visadebit card so I dont think I have any protection now.

davrosdalek wrote: »

Paid with debit card

thomase wrote: »

Paid on debit card too.

The most shocking thing here is people paying £500+ to a completely unknown online company using a debit card! !!!!!!?!?

I'm just finding it hard to comprehend that, after almost 30 years of the Internet, people still don't appreciate the protection they get when using a credit card to buy online. I am genuinely flabbergasted.

eddddy wrote: »

If it's this "Hunter and Mason", (i.e. registered members of the RICS) - http://hunterandmason.co.uk/index.html

It's quite possible that the real Hunter and Mason were just selected at random by the alleged scammer and have nothing whatsoever to do with any scam.

Gmanscaff82

I think I’ve been scammed too. Was also assigned Ben front Hunter mason who never turned up...promised a refund and an Argos voucher as gesture of goodwill...been chasing refund for 3 weeks and this morning they just debuted my account another £659.
NATWEST not being very helpful, saying need to contact company to ask why and I explained they don’t answer or return calls.
Now over £1000 out of pocket and no service ever received !!!

trigger_mike

At least it seems I'm not the only idiot, hey! I didn't expect so many other people to be having the same problem, it seems to just prove my suspicions.

I've been on the phone to the bank again this morning after reading this and cancelled my card, they said that was the only way to stop them taking more money out of my account.

teneighty

Probably worth having a word with RICS, professional standards department. If this Ben character really is a chartered surveyor I think he will be getting a disciplinary.

Buj

Hi All. Gutted to be reading this. I too was assigned Hunter and Mason. Ben Davies. He is a Bristol (coincidental i am in Bristol) based RICS qualified (on their website as Benjamin Davies Bristol...unless his name is borrowed?) My story is even more confusing.

A Ben Davies turned up at the estate agent, booked out the keys, rang me when he was at the house (allegedly). Seemed like a really nice guy and knew his stuff. Time passed, I did get an email from bookasurvey saying it was taking a little longer to get the survey together. Then more time passed, I complained to bookasurvey. Ben called me....and told me about the survey with very credible information on the house (so I thought all fine). I was told by him bookasurvey has the forms and would be doing the processing. Then more time passed, I complained, got offered a retail voucher and a promise the survey would be that day. That was 2 weeks ago as I write. I have chased via chat bot, email and phone at least 100 times...to no avail. I have also emailed and called Hunter Mason and Ben...All voicemail. He has not been seen on WhatsApp since weeks ago.

The email tone from book a survey and Ben were similar. Use of i instead of I, signing off "Yours", and using similar terminology to explain the delay. Bookasurvey and Ben might be the same people...

I have given them until Monday, but I think it's time to get the fraud team on it at the bank. I am going to get the company reported to RICS, trading standards etc. I might also go to their registered address in Birmingham and talk to someone....no doubt they don't even exist there.

Very slick websites, automated quote emailers with random name generators, "verified" surveyors, chat bots etc etc. Can convince even a savvy internet shopper. It is only in hindsight I can see their website is garbage. Generic reviewer names, nonsense FAQs, lack of company registration details. It is just so confusing because he actually did turn up to the estate agent!

Consider the above a proper review. Learn from me and others....DO NOT BOTHER.

teneighty

Just had a quick check and the only chartered surveyor by that name in Bristol is a Quantity Surveyor. It would be very unusual for a quantity surveyor to be doing residential surveys and he does not appear to be a registered valuer so certainly shouldn't be doing Homebuyers Reports as they have a valuation element.

The plot thickens.