Beware of misleading purple bricks

AnotherJoe

Fshorty30 wrote: »

I am in process of getting poa.
In reference to the sale of the house the proceeds of the sale was paid into my dads account - although there was medical evidence to prove he had early stage altzheimers. Can I object to payment on the grounds that it was my father that sold the house and not me- his name is in the deeds? If so , can purple bricks pursue a claim against me saying I shouldn’t have completed the application online on his behalf without his consent ?

I think they can sue you for the money, and you open yourself up to be prosecuted for fraud by misrepresenting yourself as being capable of selling this house.

I recall the words in the contract you signed that are posted here also make it clear that you declare you do in fact have that authority.

You cannot have it both ways. Either you were an "authorised agent" of your father and fully capable of signing on his behalf in which case you are liable (and thats what you signed to) or his Az is severe enough that he was not competent to agree to having you as agent and you were acting illegally since you had no POA. However that latter is ruled out since you are currently applying for a POA so that by itself proves he does currently have ability to use you as his "agent".

Or to coin a phrase "you cant have your cake and eat it too"

markin

Looking at the site the seems to be a bit of an overload of useless info, if you end up here https://www.purplebricks.co.uk/book-your-free-valuation/find-your-address Before you have read the part about 'pay now or in 10 months' printed else where on the site, it would be easy to get confused by an agent, The fact is this isn't even the first thread on this, the are many more who missed it or were mislead by agents.

kinger101

markin wrote: »

Looking at the site the seems to be a bit of an overload of useless info, if you end up here https://www.purplebricks.co.uk/book-your-free-valuation/find-your-address Before you have read the part about 'pay now or in 10 months' printed else where on the site, it would be easy to get confused by an agent, The fact is this isn't even the first thread on this, the are many more who missed it or were mislead by agents.

Most people leave school with the ability to read, and those that don't, know somebody else that can. If you get to the point where you've signed their agreement without understanding their fee structure, you have nobody to blame but yourself.

G_M

1) The terms of business were clear. Payment is not dependant on a sale - it is either upfront or after 10 months.

2) you signed up to a contract on that basis.

3) presumably your father still has 'mental capacity'. That is a legal/medical term. Early stage dementia/altzheimers are conditions. Depending on the stage of the condition, the sufferer may or may not still have mental capacity. If he does not he cannot sign a contract, and without POE nor can anyone else

4) your father did not sign up though you were effectively acting as his agent, on his instructions, in arranging the sale that he ultimatly agreed to.

5) when you signed up to PBs you agreed that
"When you Instruct Purplebricks you confirm that you do so with the knowledge, consent and agreement of each and all of the legal owners and occupiers and those who have an interest in the marketing and/or sale of the Property. Further, you confirm that you have all relevant authorities and authorisations as are necessary or required to enable you to take advantage of the Products and Services. It is a condition of your acceptance that you do so on behalf of all legal owners of the Property.”

Davesnave

AnotherJoe wrote: »

I think they can sue you for the money

It's actually Close Brothers who will go after anyone who doesn't pay.

When someone defers payment with PB, they're taking out a credit agreement with that company.

HampshireH

This post is quite an interesting example of how people fail to take responsibility in life.

You cannot pretend to be able to sell a house, agree to ts and cs and then say you aren't responsible.

As above either way you need to pay or potentially be sued for fraudulent activity.

The fees are probably going to be the preferred route as if they sue you (they will probably win) you risk employment etc later in life which is far more devestating that the bill.

datlex

If you didn't have POA and were not the owner of the property how did Purple Bricks manage to agree a contract with you? You can't sell something you don't own.

AnotherJoe

datlex wrote: »

If you didn't have POA and were not the owner of the property how did Purple Bricks manage to agree a contract with you? You can't sell something you don't own.

You cant legally sell something you dont own. There's always misrepresentation and fraud.

Fshorty30

Thanks for your responses, although I take offence to people questioning my literacy. Initially I put faith in human nature and believed the sales man, who verbally told me it was a no sale no fee and assured me the form filling was just a formality. Hands up I should have researched their well rehearsed confusing written contract and it has taught me an expensive lesson - do not trust purple bricks sales advisors !!!

haras_nosirrah

While people bemoan the cost of estate agents and say why do they charge so much more than these online agents - this is why.

An estate agent will only get paid if it sells. They are therefore incentivised to sell but also waste time and money on houses which do not sell.

Purple bricks and their like will charge to put it on the market and they don't have to do anything more for their money. They get paid for every house they list therefore they can charge less as the houses which sell aren't subsidising the ones which don't.

I think it is a shady model to be honest