Estate agent lack of communication - but can I do anything?

lizzieb1410

Hi there, 
I am in contract with my estate agent for 10 weeks and I was wondering on what grounds you could pull out of a contract without incurring any fees? 
Essentially, I will tell you the story and can someone please advise me what to do:

On 17th July EA1 (all come from the same company, same office) came around to take pictures and do a formal valuation of my 2bed leasehold flat. He insisted that it would sell like a hot cake, and I signed a contract that had a 14day cooling off period. 
We agreed to an open house on 31st July. 
I phoned him 3 days later asking about interest on the property and he said to me he had had 8 people contact him wanting to view. Fantastic. This is on 21st July. I said I would consider bringing the open house forward to 24th July and he told me to get back to him to confirm. 
When I phoned to confirm the bringing of the open house forward, I spoke to EA2 (same company) and he advised me that this was all sorted. 
On 23rd July me and my partner are getting ready for open house, it is 12pm with no contact from estate agent about the open house the following day. 
I phone up at 1230pm and ask about the numbers to EA1 for the open house on 24th. He is so confused as he thinks the open house is on 31st still. I explain to EA1 that we had brought it forward and then he was baffled as he had no idea. He said he would phone me back. 
EA2 phones me back explaining that there wasnt anyone to do the open house, didnt give me the option to do it by myself on 24th and said we would stick to 31st July. I explained my frustration by duly agreed as this is the first time I have sold a property and I foolishly didn't want to offend by removing my services. 
A week later, still no word from the estate agent so I phone up and ask how many people we have coming to view. EA3 (same company, same office) tells me there is 8 people booked in to view. Fantastic. They said that they would phone me on the Friday (30th) to arrange the open house. 
No phone call on the Friday by 4pm so I phone up. I speak to EA2 who advises me there is now 5 people coming to view and that EA3 was doing the viewings and would be at the property 10mins before the viewings started at 11am on 31st to run through the property, get a feel etc. 
It is 1057am on 31st, noone has arrived and I phone the office - to which I get no answer. 
EA3 turns up the same minute, looking all flustered and I quickly show him around because the viewings start in 2mins. 
He advises me that he confirmed appointments with 4 of the people and they were still coming. He said he would call me on 2nd August in the morning to let me know the 'feedback'. 
2nd August comes, (today), no phone call by 11.30am. I phone the office and a lady EA4 tells me that EA3 is out of office and will get back to me by 130pm. 14.17pm still no news, so I phone up again, speak to EA2 who advises me that there is no feedback been written on my file from the viewings and asks me if I want him to phone around the potential buyers to get their feedback. I declined as I was advised that EA3 had already phoned around the clients in the morning by EA4, and I didnt want to seem desperate to potential buyers. I tell EA2 that I am frustrated with the service I have received and I would appreciate EA3 phoning me back within the hour. 
Half hour later, EA3 phones me back. 2 people did not turn up to the viewings (I know this isnt their fault), and out of the other 2, 1 was uncontactable. He told me that he would book in some more viewings but did not specify how many, or when, or what time scale we are talking. Baring in mind, EA1 had told me that the property would sell within a week and he was 'confident' of it. In the mean time, three other flats within the same block have gone up for sale and all been sold within a week. Mine has now been on the market for 3 weeks and only had 2 viewings due to the estate agent's incompetency as far as I can see. 
So my question is, what rights do I have? I have logged a formal complaint with the branch manager, EA1, who has responded instantly explaining he is on annual leave and will get back to me within a few days. I have explained I am not happy with the service and believe I should not have to pay for it. 
What do you all think?
Thanks so much in advance,
Lizzie 

Irishpearce26

Sounds a bit like their internal communication isn't great, I don't think this would be the reason your house hasn't sold. Its still early days.

This also doesn't constitute you not having to pay a fee if they sell your house s they have done the job in getting people to view the house, hopefully they will sort their internal communication out.

ssparks2003

You have been on the market 2 weeks, and there has been a bit of poor communication. No that is not grounds to recind the contract and walk away. If you think this has been rough so far, you are in for a world of pain through the rest of the process, just wait till solicitors are involved 

Thrugelmir

It's now the summer holidays. The market will quieten down. Your property will sell when it sells. There's no way of forcing the issue. 

teachfast

I think you have grounds to back out of the contract and go with a different agent. Write to them explaining they have frustrated their end and your intention then get it on the market with the agent that sold the other flats.

UnderOffer

How does your listed price compare to the other flats that are under offer, are they the same price? 

If you’ve tried to advertise higher because “it’s a buyers market” this may be why you are not getting the footfall predicted. 

Flugelhorn

all the estate agents I have spoken to lately are wailing that they are so busy they can't do X & Y - I am not taking that nonsense, they are raking in the business, not treating purchasers well  and really should take on some temp staff if they can#t cope