Vendor impersonated me.... help!

ACG

Call the agents and ask them to explain to the vendor that because she has tried to push along the conveyancing process you are concerned that she is trying to make them rush in order miss something and so they are going to go back over everything to ensure nothing has been missed (even if that is not the case) and if she calls again you will be reporting her to the police.

It seems clear she is not trying to doing anything untoward other than try to speed things up - not that I am saying she is doing nothing wrong and like you I would be annoyed. But I think you need to accept it for what it is, someone trying to push things along but make it clear it will not be accepted going forward and if it happens again you will be pulling out and suing her for costs.

BrownTrout

There has been no criminal offence here however you could play it to your advantage

Cakeguts

It is fraud.



I would not under any circumstances buy a house from someone who is prepared to commit fraud. You don't know what else they have done that is fraudulent. Do they actually own the house they are trying to sell?

Albala

BrownTrout wrote: »

There has been no criminal offence here however you could play it to your advantage

I'm not sure about either- impersonating someone for your own financial advantage, or in order to gain personal information, would that not be some kind of offence? and I can't see how it could be 'played' to the advantage of the buyer. It's just an all-round dismal situation. I'd be shocked, if it wasn't for the fact that both telling the truth and being honest seem to be unfashionable these days.:(

Cosmocraving

Thanks for your comments.
I agree the ‘security’ questions aren’t robust. I now have a password on the file.
I’m so close to exchanging it’s difficult to know what to do.
She clearly has no problem lying so does make me worry about the answers they have previously given.
My conveyancer has spoken to her solicitor and shared the voice recordings and he has said that it sounds like her. She is denying this but it’s definitely her she makes lots of references to the ‘seller’s solicitor has sent this, is that not enough for us?’
Think I need to sleep on it.

Cakeguts

Cosmocraving wrote: »

Thanks for your comments.
I agree the ‘security’ questions aren’t robust. I now have a password on the file.
I’m so close to exchanging it’s difficult to know what to do.
She clearly has no problem lying so does make me worry about the answers they have previously given.
My conveyancer has spoken to her solicitor and shared the voice recordings and he has said that it sounds like her. She is denying this but it’s definitely her she makes lots of references to the ‘seller’s solicitor has sent this, is that not enough for us?’
Think I need to sleep on it.

So there you go she has lied again. When challenged she said it wasn't her. So is happy to commit fraud and lies. What else has she lied about?

pimento

I'd gazunder her just because I could.

Albala

Cosmocraving wrote: »

Thanks for your comments.
I agree the ‘security’ questions aren’t robust. I now have a password on the file.
I’m so close to exchanging it’s difficult to know what to do.
She clearly has no problem lying so does make me worry about the answers they have previously given.
My conveyancer has spoken to her solicitor and shared the voice recordings and he has said that it sounds like her. She is denying this but it’s definitely her she makes lots of references to the ‘seller’s solicitor has sent this, is that not enough for us?’
Think I need to sleep on it.

Sleeping on it is a good idea. This is a situation where it's worth thinking very carefully (and taking professional advice) before doing anything.

eddddy

Cosmocraving wrote: »

She is denying this but it’s definitely her she makes lots of references to the ‘seller’s solicitor has sent this, is that not enough for us?’

Enough for you to do what?

Whilst it's weird, dishonest behaviour, it doesn't sound like you've suffered any loss as a result.

But if you want to back out of the purchase, you are free to do that at any time up to exchange of contracts - you don't need to prove any wrong-doing by the seller.


(FWIW, for this to be 'fraud by misrepresentation', the seller would have to be doing this to make a financial gain. It doesn't sound like there's a financial gain involved.)

rajeshk4u

If I am right, it seems the seller has phoned your conveyancer, to get an update on the progress of this purchase.

Sometimes one solicitor is waiting on another solicitor for a piece of paper. I think she is trying to unblock any delays. So if your conveyancer had said the vendor's solicitor have not sent us "xyz", then she would have gone back to her solicitor and asked him, why he has n't sent "xyz". Solicitors can play a paper ping pong match and it can delays things...

The vendor is trying to help the sale along, but their method is naughty, unethical and foolish.