Estate agents have taken more money than i've agreed

Gritty1602

Hi all 

Hoping you can help. My house is rented via Reeds Rains, and i have been there since 2017. My rent has recently gone up from £475 to £525 per month. They where trying to get me to pay £550 however, i have haggled, and got it to £525 per month. I didn't sign anything for £550. 

On the 1st October they took £550 from me, and i missed getting the direct debit stopped from the bank, and trying to get the money back to me, and proof they have changed the direct debit amount is proving quite difficult. 

I am getting fobbed off from everyone i speak to, about who needs to approve the amount needs sending back to me. 

I have asked for it to be escalated to an official complaint, but is there anything anyone can advise on how to get the money back / what it is i should be saying to them? 

Thanks

la531983

If you have it in writing that you agreed to £525, speak to your bank and put in a direct debit indemnity claim. That however will return the full £550 to you, and you will have to arrange to pay the £525 back.  I suspect they will rather quickly start dealing with you if you owe them money than the other way round!

saajan_12

Do the agent agree the rent is £525 or are they now disputing that? 

If they agree, then just cancel the DD and send £500 for the next month? Then set up a standing order for the £525 it should be thereafter. 

Gritty1602

Thanks for your responses  

I have signed the contract for £525, but they (Reeds Rains) Has set it up for £550. 

My bank told me that they couldn't do anything about the direct debit now, as i called the day after it came out and it had already gone through, but feel like i may have been fobbed off at the bank also? 

I agree though, if i had paid less they would be hounding me for it! 

Albermarle

saajan_12 said:

Do the agent agree the rent is £525 or are they now disputing that? 

If they agree, then just cancel the DD and send £500 for the next month? Then set up a standing order for the £525 it should be thereafter. 

OP- just do this.

la531983

Gritty1602 said:

Thanks for your responses  

I have signed the contract for £525, but they (Reeds Rains) Has set it up for £550. 

My bank told me that they couldn't do anything about the direct debit now, as i called the day after it came out and it had already gone through, but feel like i may have been fobbed off at the bank also? 

I agree though, if i had paid less they would be hounding me for it! 

Yes your bank have fobbed you off. A DD can be recalled if taken erroneously or the wrong amount was taken. But the other suggestions in this thread might be easier tbh.

born_again

la531983 said:

Gritty1602 said:

Thanks for your responses  

I have signed the contract for £525, but they (Reeds Rains) Has set it up for £550. 

My bank told me that they couldn't do anything about the direct debit now, as i called the day after it came out and it had already gone through, but feel like i may have been fobbed off at the bank also? 

I agree though, if i had paid less they would be hounding me for it! 

Yes your bank have fobbed you off. A DD can be recalled if taken erroneously or the wrong amount was taken. But the other suggestions in this thread might be easier tbh.

It can be, but could lead to OP getting a missed payment marker & any late payment fee's by RR.

Sometimes using the regulations can end up with a very expensive hole in your Wallet foot.

Tabieth

I wouldn’t pay less next month - that’s a risky approach. I’d ask RR to refund you the overpaid £25 and ensure the direct debit is set to the correct advice moving forward.