Have you succeeded to buy a property with Connells or alike without using their mortgage services?

to_be_FTB

I am an FTB and I have put an offer on a property advertised by Connells. I have an AIP through a broker, but they would not take my offer without making an appointment with their mortgage advisor, so I agreed to it. The practices employed EAs to twist buyers into using their services were discussed here on few different threads (sigh!), but my question is: have you succeeded to buy a property through Connells without using their mortgage advisors? If so, how did you go about it? My concern is that if I flat out refuse to use their services, they will reject my offer because they found "a better one". 

PS. If only there was more available in my budget, I would happily boycott them altogether, but it is so hard to find something reasonable in my area!

MaryNB

Yes. I told them I wouldn't be using their mortgage advisor after they made several attempts to book a session. They made it out to be the next step in the process rather than an option. I kept refusing. Then they told me I didn't have to use their mortgage advisor's services but would have to meet them to check my finances. Of course this was BS and it was a sales pitch and mortgage advice session. I didn't use their services and my offer was accepted and I got the house.

See part 9c of the following
The Property Ombudsman - Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agents

JS21

We're currently buying a house via connells and also had to go through the sales pitch with their broker. We have a broker, had a DIP and just did the call as part of the process. During the call we just repeated that we had the above and that was it. He tried to tell us about the deals he could get us and we said OK we'll think about it and never did. We've continued with our own broker and are almost at the exchange point pending the last few enquiries coming in.

It's just a sales tactic as they earn commission for their referrals 

kasqueak

I came across this issue many times when I was buying last year. I had a MiP from a broker but different estate agents kept wanting me to speak to their brokers before even viewing some properties! 

I agree with the other answers here that it is just a sales tactic (a very sneaky one in my opinion) to get you to sign on with them and earn them commission. 

Just produce your own mortgage in principle to them and say “thanks for the offer of your services but i already have a mortgage deal, please call my broker if you’d like more information”.  My broker was happy to take calls from EA’s to ‘prove’ they were providing the service to me. 

It’s very frustrating though so I can relate!

snazzlebee

We went through the process to show willing, but told them we had paid for a broker upfront already. We tried to be very diplomatic, saying how grateful we were for them talking us through the different options, but unfortunately we've paid a fee upfront with our broker etc etc. 

When they pushed - ultimately offering to waive their fee! - I told them we were happy with our broker, and had a good working relationship and intended to stay with them. Ultimately they accepted it, the offer went through to the vendor and was accepted.

In some ways, it was useful to sit through the session as it reaffirmed that our broker got us a much better deal!

amandacat

I offered on a house a couple of years ago with this group, they refused to put in my offer without seeing their mortgage advisor. I said I had my own broker/AIP and they were welcome to see this and also speak to my broker. They still refused and wanted me to travel 20 miles to meet with their broker or they wouldn't put in my offer.
I sent an email of complaint quoting the Ombudsman code of practice. They then sent me a letter to my home address saying 'this is to confirm the offer you made of xxx, which you then immediately withdrew' obviously to cover their back when I made a complaint to the Ombudsman, I did complain to them explaining what they did with the letter but all I got from them was that the EA told them I made an offer and then instantly withdrew it. 
So I can't really offer any advice accept maybe send a letter to the vendor explaining the situation? I'd be fuming if I was a vendor and found this out. 
I have since refused to view or deal with this EA group but it doesn't help when you see an house you really want to buy.

snazzlebee

It's worth adding we hadn't paid for a broker - just said we had!

lookstraightahead

Gosh this stuff is scary ! 

Do they think everyone is stupid? 

ratechaser

Yet more argument that the industry needs to be better/properly regulated!

cherdoll

I always think the vendor should be made aware directly of what shady upsell tactics estate agents are using to push their own agenda rather than sell the house they are actually being paid to!

to_be_FTB

Great - thanks for your replies! It sounds encouraging! 
As frustrating as it is, it looks like taking the appointment is inevitable, and hopefully they will not pull any tricks should I decline their advisors/solicitors at a later stage... 
I thought about sending a letter to a vendor but then I got worried they might have a connection to the EA and it would antagonise them...
I definitely wish the industry was better regulated - buying is stressful enough without having to worry about the dodgy tactics!