EA forces us to have meeting and go with their mortgage consultant or they won't book us viewings

Chaoscontrol

So we're FTBs and expats. Meaning we are pretty clueless to the UK buying process. We just started to have some viewings, and one specific EA tried to push me their mortgage broker before. I told them I already have mine. They tell me theirs helps the search, and that most sales they have are the ones he puts in. I sort of accept. 

Mortgage man calls. I tell him the truth. We already have one, and can't have 29 brokers for the 29 EAs on the area. He understands and we leave it at that. 

A week passes. We find another house we like and call to view. Lady remembers me, and pushes me hard. No viewings if I don't have the meeting with the guy. It's too busy (ad was just up today) and seller is only accepting viewings from this mortgage consultant (this seems SO false lol).

Anyway, since I didn't know what to do I played along. Have the meeting this Saturday, and viewing next Saturday. But I'm afraid they'll cancel the viewing depending on the meeting. I can play along the meeting, since I think they won't charge anything yet. It will give us time to have the viewing, and finding a mortgage comes after the offer is accepted really. 

Would this work? How can I play around this?

PS. I hate this EA lady really. She didn't let me speak. She has her pushy sales script burned. 

Brie

I'd phone up the EA office and complain about her actions.  I've been asked if I have a mortgage arranged and that was the end of the queries - no point in wasting everyone's time.

canaldumidi

Anything in writing from them? This is against the rules.

Which ombudsman scheme do they belong to?

See the relevant scheme code of practice and complain a) to their manager and/or head office and then b) to the ombudsman

eg see 9c:

https://www.tradingstandards.uk/media/documents/commercial/codes-of-practice/tpo-sales.pdf

Chaoscontrol

Brie said:

I'd phone up the EA office and complain about her actions.  I've been asked if I have a mortgage arranged and that was the end of the queries - no point in wasting everyone's time.

Won't that get me in a worse position afterwards? This is the local branch for an area we like. 

Mrs6653

I had a similar issue with EA not excepting a formal offer until my ID and finances were verified by their in house broker. I told them o already had a broker and AIP with NatWest. They were unhappy with this an intimated that I’m their opinion it would take 18 weeks and if I wouldn’t consider changing their vendor may be reluctant as they are on a tight schedule. I ignored  them and carried on, only to find they don’t want to move until end of august. 

If i we’re you I would tell the EA that you will approach the vendor yourself and certify as you don’t believe their behaviour is ethical. 

Brie

Chaoscontrol said:

Brie said:

I'd phone up the EA office and complain about her actions.  I've been asked if I have a mortgage arranged and that was the end of the queries - no point in wasting everyone's time.

Won't that get me in a worse position afterwards? This is the local branch for an area we like. 

If they are already stopping you from viewing a place you think you will like how can it get worse?

Chaoscontrol

Brie said:

Chaoscontrol said:

Brie said:

I'd phone up the EA office and complain about her actions.  I've been asked if I have a mortgage arranged and that was the end of the queries - no point in wasting everyone's time.

Won't that get me in a worse position afterwards? This is the local branch for an area we like. 

If they are already stopping you from viewing a place you think you will like how can it get worse?

Well, they arranged the viewing in the end (additionally to the mortgage meeting). If I decline on that meeting, or after, I would imagine they would make my offer look worse, or push me harder, or just not giving me info on other offers and keeping me blind on the process, and slowing it down. Just making things harder I guess. 

I think I will go to the meeting, and be honest with the guy. I can keep going with him, I will consider his advice on mortgages, but won't commit with him unless it really is my best option. I hope that's enough for him. 

And if the EA ever calls back pushing again, I will tell her off a bit, mentioning the ombudsman and code of practice and ethics, and saying I will go contact the owner too. 

TripleH

Let the guy have his pitch (he will be a pushy **** as well) but at the end of the day you haven't put in an offer.

If the owner shows you round, and especially if you aren't a fan of the house mention that you had to jump through hoops and that the agent is trying to force people to go through their broker so the sellers may miss out on interested parties.

Greymug

Chaoscontrol said:

So we're FTBs and expats. 

[sarcasm mode: on] Sorry but you qualify as an expat only if you are british and live abroad.

If you are foreigner and live in the uk then you are an immigrant. [sarcasm mode: off]

Megaross

Call up, ask if you can record the call.

Blow off their meeting with their branch "mortgage advisor" they're just trying to take you for a ride to make commission.

Browntoa

Estate agents tried this with my daughters first house.

I went with them and sat there answering every question with stuff like "they have a mortgage agreed " , "is this best advice " , "are you tied to one broker or whole of market "

The bit that wound him up most was me jotting stuff down as he spoke . When he objected I told him he was doing the same and that i wanted a true and honest record of the discussion

She got the house anyway