PurpleBricks - exit fee for using own conveyancing

mogoi

I am selling my house with purple bricks and use deferred payment. I want to use my own solicitor and have been told to pay "exit fee", which they want asap. However I've read the terms and conditions and I can't find anywhere where it says I have to be it NOW, rather than later (when I pay their product fee).
I am pretty sure I can't win this one, but they keep throwing the terms and conditions book at me, so I'm throwing it back at them.

Am I in the right or not?

visidigi

Please tell us what terms and conditions they are referring you to.

Aylesbury_Duck

No idea, because I don't know the terms and conditions that you agreed to.  What do they say?

mogoi

Hi visidigi said:

Please tell us what terms and conditions they are referring you to.

I'm rather new to this forum, so am not allowed to post links. But please google  purplebricks terms and conditions 

Le_Kirk

mogoi said:

Hi visidigi said:

Please tell us what terms and conditions they are referring you to.

I'm rather new to this forum, so am not allowed to post links. But please google  purplebricks terms and conditions 

But you could look up the T&C and post the relevant parts here.

jon81uk

When we used Purplebricks a few years ago, we were told we could pay the estate agent fees upfront and use our own conveyancing, or use their conveyancer and pay the agent fees at the end.

I've just had a look at the terms and it states

Service Agreement (purplebricks.co.uk)

"PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

If you choose to Pay Later you shall make payment in full of the Product Service Fee when any of the following occurs, whichever happens first:

• When the property sells and the legal process is complete or
• If you withdraw your instructions for us to market the property or
• If you choose not to use the Conveyancing Services or
• Ten months from the date of entering into the Service Agreement"

So as you choose not to use their conveyancing services the product service fee is due now.

mogoi

Hi jon81uk

I'm happy to pay their product fee now, but not their conveyancing exit fee as well. 

jon81uk

mogoi said:

Hi jon81uk

I'm happy to pay their product fee now, but not their conveyancing exit fee as well. 

Do you have the terms of the conveyancer?

Purple Bricks terms don't seem to mention an "exit fee" so I assume that is to be paid to the conveyancer?

neilmcl

mogoi said:

Hi jon81uk

I'm happy to pay their product fee now, but not their conveyancing exit fee as well. 

Well they clearly state that an admin fee is payable should you wish to use your preferred conveyancing service so why wouldn't it be payable now.

mogoi

when the solicitor called me I told them straight away I was using my own.  A few days later I am called again, turns out my agent has agreed to it on my behalf (without my knowledge), again I said I am using my own.  As far as I know I never entered an agreement with them.

jon81uk

I've now found this in the FAQ FAQS | Purplebricks

When do I pay my fees?

Answer: All of our customers have the choice between Pay now and Pay later when they instruct us to sell their property. Customers who choose Pay later are due to make payment when any of the following occurs, whichever happens first:

• When the property sells and the legal process is complete;
• Ten months from the date your property listing is published;
• If you withdraw your instruction for us to market your property;
• If you withdraw from using our conveyancing services*

*Please be aware that if you decide to use your preferred conveyancing service instead of our third party conveyancing partner after you have already instructed us via Pay later, an admin fee of £360 is payable if you still want to defer the payment for instruction. Alternatively, you can choose to pay the full instruction fee upfront instead in order to avoid paying an admin fee.

Doesn't make it clear when the admin fee is payable but if you pay the product fee now then you shouldn't have to pay the admin fee too?

Although this is also in the terms "If at any time you have agreed to take advantage of the Conveyancing Services and thereafter withdraw, fail or refuse to use the Conveyancing Services you will be required to pay Administration Charges once you agree a sale of your property."