Help Requested ASAP

NellyLock

OK. I have just had someone turn up at my house informing me and asking was the house was up for auction? I obviously sniggered and said "no" and he came back and showed me the auction information. and lo and behold it has been listed on http://www.findaproperty.com/.

needless to say i will be ringing them first thing in the morning but im a bit worried/annoyed at having my house information plastered accross with pictures (showing my car!) on the internet...what should i do?

i also wonder if others have used this site? are they a rip off? has the guy who came to my house been conned out of money to join the site (£300 apparently)

a kinda worried

neil

carol_a_3

Are you in a semi/terrace? Could it have been your neighbours? Good luck!

NellyLock

nope its my house...my car. semi detached.

neil

Ian_W

Neil,
Just a quick look around the site and it looks genuine to me. Each prop I've looked at appears to show details of an Agent who has listed it on the site.

Who is yours listed with? I would have thought they were the 1st port of call to find out why you're listed by them. If they can't give a satisfactory explanation I'd contact findaproperty and explain what's happened and ask them to take you off asap.

If there is a scam it looks like the "agent" is the one scamming, not the website. Although it's your house listed, the scam would be against those who paid money for your details rather than you, so I'd suggest to them they contact the cops to report it.

My thoughts anyway - hope you can sort it quickly, and this helps.

NellyLock

here is the link to the agency called choices
http://www.findaproperty.com/choices-investments/index.html

edit: thanks to all who have posted soo far any further comments from anyone else?

Ian_W

I've seen CHOICES a lot on websites listing auction props. I'd get onto the office that appears to have listed you as per previous message first thing to-morrow. Can't think you can do a lot more as a starting point until you've spoken to them. May be a gen mistake but does appear very iffy.
B of L & let us know what transpires.

Doozergirl

I agree that you are probably not the target here but I think they look dodgy. I don'ttrust people that charge you for information you could get yourself from the library or from watching a few episodes of Property Ladder.

Looking at the property listings, they say they're not the auctioneers so it looks like they reproduce the details from someone elses auction catalogue and then charge you for the auctioneers details you call; information you could obtain for free. It's funny how many of the better looking properties are new looking apartment buildings, making the risk of people like you sussing them out very low.

You could, for curiosity's question them as a potential buyer first, getting more information on what they're about. If you tell them who you are first, guaranteed they'll apologise and take it off the website.

In fact, is anyone daring enough to give them a call and pose as a potential client? I'm sure my hubby would, I'm too chicken!

ben500

I'd definately set them up for some serious questioning BEFORE you let them know its your house, that's about the only way you are going to know if its a genuine mistake, they could just be using random properties to pack out their poor portfolio or there could be something more sinister, get a friend to call them and pose as a potential purchaser and see what can be picked from them, if they are dirty say nothing and pick up the phone to the police.

paint

ben500 wrote:

I'd definately set them up for some serious questioning BEFORE you let them know its your house, that's about the only way you are going to know if its a genuine mistake, they could just be using random properties to pack out their poor portfolio or there could be something more sinister, get a friend to call them and pose as a potential purchaser and see what can be picked from them, if they are dirty say nothing and pick up the phone to the police.

An EXCELLENT idea! Pose as an interested party initially, then you will be able to ascertain whether they've made a mistake or are scumbag cowboys.

NellyLock

seems like it was a "genuine" mistake...although im waiting for a call back to see what really happened!

thanks for your responses!

neil

Woby_Tide

were you getting a good price for your place though??