Purple Bricks

Steve46R

Hi guys,  has anyone ever purchased a property through Purple Bricks.   I am trying to buy a house and they are trying to charge me fees, the buyer.

They have started by demanding £60 to check my ID which my solicitor has done already but they say they are no longer allowed to accept solicitors word.

Anyone else purchased through them at all and been asked to pay fees.

Regards
Steve

RHemmings

They were criticised for this last year, and in this article it's mentioned that one EA is being charged £4.75 for AML checks, which they aren't passing on to the buyer. 

https://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2023/2/purplebricks-criticised-over-new-60-buyer-fee

The article also says that some of that £60 will go back to Purple Bricks itself. 

eddddy

It's correct that Estate Agents are required to AML/ID checks on prospective buyers.

But, as above, many estate agents pay around £5 for this and don't bother passing the cost onto the buyer.


However, Purplebricks are following a different strategy, in order to make money.  As I understand it, the process works like this...

• PB pass your name and background details to a legal firm to do AML/ID checks - and you have to pay £60

• A chunk of that £60 goes back to PB

• As well as doing the AML/ID checks, the legal firm will try to sell you other services - Conveyancing, Buyer Protection insurance (and perhaps others)

• If you buy any of those services, a chunk of the money you pay goes back to PB

So when the legal company phone you about the AML/ID check, it's best to be aware that they will probably be trying to sell you other services at the same time.


(And PB will probably have passed any info they have about you to the legal firm, to help the legal firm's salespeople sell to you more effectively.)

mebu60

Reduce the amount of your offer price by £60? And tell the seller why! 

chanz4

they are also trying to flog you a service, make sure opt out as it auto renews

Largs

On my day off last week they were on Rip of Britain (BBC1) and it put me right off them.  I had planned to use them to sell my flat when the time comes.  But if you are buying then it seems a different situation, hope you find a solution.

theartfullodger

Purple Bricks were sold (? a couple of years ago ?) for £1.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purplebricks#Sold_for_£1.00

I'd be wary..

RHemmings

mebu60 said:

Reduce the amount of your offer price by £60? And tell the seller why! 

£120. 

             

mark_cycling00

Please discover which conveyancing company the seller has been forced to use by purple bricks.

Last time I looked it was a horrifically incompetent call-centre one where sales are very frequently delayed for months and very often fall through.

The £60 is the least of your worries.

And lesson learned for all. If a website offers an Xbox at 1/3rd the price you think it's a scam. When an estate agent claims to offer the same service for 1/3rd the price it's also going to be quite scammy in one way or another 

Chemistry777

Most EA will charge for this, however likely in the region of £25-£30.  £60 sounds excessive.

booksandbikes

Following this with interest as we are viewing a property next week with Purple Bricks. Wasn't keen when I called them and they immediately tried to push me to their mortgage brokers, and I felt like I had to jump through hoops just to book a viewing (which has yet to be confirmed).

I've since read a few things about them - mostly about their dire conveyancing firm. I'll be asking about this AML fee when I go to view with their 'local representative'.