FUMING with Estate Agent!!

Sput2001

And if that means you delay the sale, then you delay the sale, and don't take this type of monkey shine lying down.

Fair enough, but just make sure you don't cost yourself more than £100 in the process. If, for example, the buyer's currently paying rent, then even a week's delay could well cost them more than that, not to mention any additional fees and the extra stress and aggro involved. You really need to ask yourself whether it's worth it.

lush_walrus

Wow I cant beleive that everyone bar me, seems to think that the agents and vendors did it intentionally rather than made a mistake with the keys!!!!

Oh well I guess I am less cynical about EA staff....Not all of them are bad!

Stonk

Is it a sole agency sale? If not, buy the property through a different agent. And tell the present agent you are doing it. If they are not counting you as a client in some way, and have no obligations to you, then they can't really claim any fees for introducing you to the seller.

Alternatively (for the sake of argument assuming the agency commission is 1%) agree with the seller to buy for £10K less than before, and to give him £9.9K in cash as a gift. Then everyone has the same money, except the agent who is £100 down.

What a palaver ;o)

bylromarha

I guess I'm not the only one who would appreciate a name and shame on the Vent board?

The agent could be directed to the website and see how much business they have potentially lost as a result of their incompetence...and only you have the power to remove the post...like they have the power to refund your survey fees. A simple deal for simple people!

SnowyOwl_2

Welcome to the world of home owning...now you know why people complain about house buying & selling being so stressful!

Definitely you must ensure the vendors know about this glitch with the estate agent. There may well be other problems and for the vendor's sake it's important they find out...just imagine when you go to sell a property if your estate agent behaves like this and nobody tells you, you'd be hopping mad. £100 isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, however it's the delay that this has created - not good for you, and if the vendor is in a chain not good for them nor for whoever they are buying from. The estate agent could and should pay the extra £100 as a goodwill gesture (though they have certainly lost your business for when you want to sell the property in the future, though they probably haven't thought of that). Whatever you do don't skimp on the interior inspection, it is essential, so get it done.

It probably was a genuine error on part of the estate agent but the manner in which they dealt with you is unacceptable, after all if you disappear the entire deal collapses. So yes, complain in writing to the most senior person at the estate agents, and send copies to the vendor, your own solicitor for your file and to the vendor's solicitor. This will show that you will not accept any nonsense and also to help build a case should any further problems arise.

filigree_2

I'm not sure how best to recover the £100, but if I were the vendor I would want to be warned about the agent's incompetence so I could make a complaint about them scaring off potential buyers.

Thinking back, I was a FTB in a buyers' market years ago. People were desperate to sell (in the early 90's) but even so, arrogant estate agents still offered shoddy services because we didn't have a contract with them. Excuse me? Where do these creatures get off treating buyers badly?!

With hindsight there were one or two who were really shocking, perhaps I should have dropped the vendors a polite note mentioning the estate agent's shortcomings.

What goes around comes around though - I can remember which agents let us down and they won't get our custom when this place goes on the market.

PaulUK_4

Estate Agents - dont you just love um - NOT.

1. Get the survey done (ESSENTIAL) and tell the vendor (who would be MAD not to reduce by £100) about the problem.

2. The EA may have made a simple mistake - but why should you be out of pocket for it - any "normal" profession would attempt to put things right.

3. Move into and enjoy your lovely new home.

4. Write to the local press and vent your frustration - and write to the agent (head office) letting them know they've lost out on future commissions (during a market slump, they'll soon regret upsetting potential clients).

5. Finally (well it should have been the first thing mentioned) - if you are "very,very" short of cash - should you be risking your future on your first mortgage if things are so tight? (sorry, for the moan).

Ive had a few recent experiences of poor EAs - an untruth here and there - but thats what they're like unfortunately.

If more people searched out (and used) the many free property advertising websites, it would put a few of the so and so's out on their ears.

nelly_2

Get a tube of "NO-NAILS" and seal the door of their offices up, in the middle of the night, park up in the morning and watch the fun from a distance.

Ok it wont get your hundred quid back but it'd be damn good fun to watch

Malestrom

Hehe, I like your style nelly. You weren't the guy that dumped a couple of tons of manure over his local bank a few years ago were you?

mandi

it the agents fault!! theyve made the mistake,, so make them pay.. find which person issued the keys for the property.. then make a complaint to the managing director advising him that unless he comes up with a solution to your problem you will be contacting the National Association of Estate Agents.. and the Estate Agency Ombudsman... I would suggest making and appointment and going to see him/her personally.. if you make enough fuss theyll give in.. After all it was their negligence that has caused you anxietym as well as delays and inconvience .. not only to you, but to your seller and the surveyor

Good luck

:rotfl: