Estate agent ID Check charge for House purchase

whizzywoo

Part of the reason is to stop people making offers for houses which they can't proceed with.

We struggled with selling our house. Buyers saying they were cash in the bank, but they weren't, that they had sold their own house but they hadn't, etc etc. The estate agent and the solicitor are checking your buyers from differing points of view.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82174303#Comment_82174303

When I sold & bought last year I paid one fee of £60, to my solicitor. Neither my estate agent or my seller's charged for an ID check. I refused to use an app and I refused to do any electronic proof of funds. My solicitor and the EA's were fine with that and it wasn't an issue. These multiple charges are indeed a scam.

martindow

I wouldn't say they are a scam as agents are required to do money laundering checks. They are a racket though as they often add a considerable mark-up to the price charged by companies to do the checks.

Chief_of_Staffy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82175549#Comment_82175549

They're a scam in that people are told that electronic confirmation in combination with third party processing is necessary and mandatory, and that they must pay these inflated prices to have this done. None of this is true. Also, that it must be done multiple times as the confirmations aren't transferable. This is incorrect too.