Estate Agent ID Check Charge

eddddy

LLM000 said:

I did question it at the time with a phone call and email to the EA but they insisted that their hands were tied and that all ID checks had to be done externally?!

That's what some people would describe as "weasel words" - i.e. intentionally evasive and/or misleading.


Perhaps key information they failed to mention was...

• There are external companies who charge EAs £5 for ID checks
• Most EAs don't bother passing on the cost (£5) to their buyers
• The EA will be getting about £30 from the £60 you pay
• It's a ploy to sell you legal services

• and the EAs "hands are tied" in the sense that their employer has told them to do this (in order to make more profit for the company)

Maybe it's a useful reminder to be cautious about taking things the EA says at face value.