Estate Agents Fees - What Should I Do?

MadOldMaz

I originally asked this question in the debt free wannabee's forum but would be grateful for any further advice.

I recently sold my house and moved into rented accommodation. I wasn't happy with the estate agents because the sale took forever - with no good reason for the delay - apart from the incompetent conveyancing they organised for my buyers.

I know this is common practice but I still think it's a conflict of interest when they're charging a big fee as a sole agent. I stopped their bill from being paid from the proceeds of the sale and wrote them a letter listing my grievances and complaining that their maladministration and inefficiency had resulted in undue delay.

It's now more than three months later and I've heard nothing.

Should I contact them and ask what's happening?
Should I make them an offer of, say, half the fee?
What would you do?

Doozergirl

Wait for them to write to you?

But I do keep telling people that if you are unhappy, you need to be negotiating a discount before the bill is due. You can't really just not pay it after the event.

tbh, it's rarely EAs that hold up a sale - they don't have a massive part to play once the offer is agreed, everythig should be able to get done between sols etc. A good EA though can speed things up; bit of a contradiction, but makes sense in my little head

Strapped

Check your contract. If they fulfilled the terms of the contract, you owe them and should pay. You will probably find that the contract says something along the lines of, if they introduce someone to you who subsequently purchases the property, then you owe them £x. I very, very much doubt it will say anything about whether you had to be happy with the service. Sorry, but legally, that's the way it is.

Strapped

PS Also check that contract re. what ADDITIONAL fees/interest you are currently clocking up...maybe they are not in an hurry to chase you

MadOldMaz

Thanks for your replies Doozergirl and Strapped.

I know exactly what you mean DG about a good EA speeding things up - because that's exactly what they promised me. They were proud of the fact that they were the second most expensive EA in the area - but promised me super efficiency (in writing!)

I won't list all my grievances here but - just for starters - it took a month, from my buyer viewing the property, to the EA issuing the Memorandum of Sale to my solicitor - in spite of being chased several times. And things didn't improve after that.

You're dead right Strapped - they do have a clause whereby they add interest to the bill if it isn't paid - but surely they have to actually ask for the money at some point?

Strapped

MadOldMaz wrote: »

Thanks for your replies Doozergirl and Strapped.

I know exactly what you mean DG about a good EA speeding things up - because that's exactly what they promised me. They were proud of the fact that they were the second most expensive EA in the area - but promised me super efficiency (in writing!)

I won't list all my grievances here but - just for starters - it took a month, from my buyer viewing the property, to the EA issuing the Memorandum of Sale to my solicitor - in spite of being chased several times. And things didn't improve after that.

You're dead right Strapped - they do have a clause whereby they add interest to the bill if it isn't paid - but surely they have to actually ask for the money at some point?

It probably states in the contract that the money became due on completion - they don't have to ask twice (after all, you had to intervene to STOP payment).

Surprised they haven't followed you up by now, though.