Mil Collections someone out there to help?

3Bowls

Hi all, lots has happened in a short space of time here and I've tried to gain knowledge and be ready for what sounds like an awful situation. 
I'll try and keep this is a logical order:

• I put my house on the market for sale Oct 2018 - divorce reasons, with estate agent 'A', the agent/manager at the time had no contract and he said there wouldn't be one until it sold so he could get a good name for the company and keep people at ease and not feel pressure.
• We left this agent Jan 2019, the manager at the time doesn't work there any more and all the promises are gone. I/we didn't sign anything, but I found out 2 days ago someone they showed someone round, who then went on to buy the house from the estate agent 'B' we moved onto. The house completed Oct 2019. They didn't pass any info onto the new agent and there wasn't a signed contract. The new manger at estate agent A has verbally said this.
• But...I got an email saying they had evidence to believe they are owed money as they introduced them to the house. There was a phone call between us I said there was never a contract, no information on to anyone and where is all this coming on.
• He went away and then 2 hours later he emails saying its been passed onto Mil Collections, he wont discuss it except did let slip he had no contract.
• I didn't know who they were at the time, I've emailed them, and gave my mobile, a number they already have. 
• They don't have have current address, they have a rental property I was in when the house was being sold. 
• Estate agent 'B' have no info from estate agent 'A', it was never given.
• I spoke briefly to a solicitors yesterday who's advise was to be tough, email them address and tell them to meet in court and '!88!' off. 

I've looked for a case similar, but no luck. 
My ex wife is stressed, doesn't handle anything like this well, they don't have her address I wont give it to them, I don't want the kids to see anything. Kids are 50% each time wise, I gather they can come to house.
I've seen letters I could send to them asking for details, telling them to write letters only, but the debt they ask for doesn't exist, the solicitor said it should go to court and should win? 
Anyone.....any advice please? 

sixtyfoothigh

Can you write to them and say "prove it" ask for the paperwork proving you owe this money. If they can't provide that then they can't enforce the debt. And if they did take it to court you'd have evidence you asked for proof of the debt and they didn't provide it. Ideally you'd like to avoid it going to court, not because you wouldn't win, but because of the hassle/stress/expense if you pay for legal advice (which you might in theory be able to claim back, but no guaranteed you'd get it). Sx

3Bowls

Thanks for reply.
I've contacted The Property Ombudsmen and then emailed the estate agents informing an official complaint is being filed and that I require the proof of all documents. Thing is he's said there aren't any on the phone. 
I'm not too bothered about court, just want to sort it now! 

sourcrates

There just a debt collector, they don’t own the debt, so can’t do anything except spout hot air.

you only need to respond if the estate agent starts a court claim.

Nothing else matters, they can ask for money and engage all the debt collectors they want, you can just ignore them.

3Bowls

Again thank you for the reply. I did get a reply from the Estate Agents and the individual who started it all from my official complaint. He has said he has had to pass onto Mil Collections for advice and didn't answer any of the questions. 
Lets see how it goes, is there a way of warning others about this agent?

3Bowls

Do I need to give them my current address? They have a rental address I was in when the house sale/move was going on. I checked with the agents for that rental and apparently no delivered letters so me, but a signature required letter did arrive but taken away as I don't live there.

madaboutspots

They really don't appear to have a leg to stand on. If they wanted an "introduction fee" they should be asking agent B for it... If they believe they introduced the buyer to said new agent. 

House offered for sale (without contract, what agent does that?), withdrawn from market and re-introduced by new agent. Buyer wandered past agent B's window and saw house they liked for sale. Bought it. Job done. Agent A is trying it on without contract. How can they even prove the buyer wouldn't have seen the house with agent B anyway - in person or online? They would need to do this and of course prove they initially introduced the buyer. 

DjangoUnchained

tell the agent to stick it. doubt they would take it to court as theyd probably lose. Plus, not good publicity for an agent to take sellers to court,

3Bowls

Well Head of legal got back to me, 14 day to pay. I also stressed that I still haven't seen any supporting evidence of contract or details. CAB said I could pay then claim back as The Property Ombudsmen will take 3-5 months at most, also I can claim for Stress and Nuisance. Cant believe there's no evidence then estate agent can still try it. 

sourcrates

They can ask for anything they want, if they want to get serious, then let them start a court claim.
That would be the time to bother about it, until then it’s all he said, she said, hot air and nonsense.