Vendor impersonated me.... help!

Marvel1 · 27 April 2019 at 9:21AM

Cosmocraving wrote: »

Before listening to the recordings I assumed that she was probably frustrated with the situation and trying to find out more.

However, listening to the recordings it is more deceitful than that for example... they (the sellers) have agreed to put in place a chancel policy and my conveyancer on the phone to her states that we need to see a copy of this which is when she says ‘can this not be dealt with on completion do we really need to see evidence’. Which makes me think they weren’t going to do it.

Another example is the roads are not adopted as it is a relatively new estate and my conveyancer states we need section xxx and she says ‘well I’m not worried about that my sister lives nearby so I know its not a problem’.

There are numerous examples like that where she is clearly trying to steer them away from doing anything more. She keeps telling them that we have agreed to exchange this week and keeps referring to things being hurried along.

Last night I emailed the estate agent asking to speak to them as I am now concerned that she may have gone to my mortgage company pretending to be me. I had a issue earlier in the process where the estate agent kept chasing me for a copy of the mortgage company’s survey as the sellers had brought through help to buy. I repeatedly stated I did not have it and they said well we are going to ring your mortgage company then! To which I stated that I did not give permission for this and stated that when I received it I would be able to tell them if it met the criteria of a survey they wanted. It then went really quiet and I assumed that the seller had obtained their own survey but now, as you can imagine I’m not sure.

Definitely financial gain for her by instructing your end to don't do this and that, it's beyond checking progress.

Doozergirl · 27 April 2019 at 9:25AM

Cosmocraving wrote: »

Before listening to the recordings I assumed that she was probably frustrated with the situation and trying to find out more.

However, listening to the recordings it is more deceitful than that for example... they (the sellers) have agreed to put in place a chancel policy and my conveyancer on the phone to her states that we need to see a copy of this which is when she says ‘can this not be dealt with on completion do we really need to see evidence’. Which makes me think they weren’t going to do it.

Another example is the roads are not adopted as it is a relatively new estate and my conveyancer states we need section xxx and she says ‘well I’m not worried about that my sister lives nearby so I know its not a problem’.

There are numerous examples like that where she is clearly trying to steer them away from doing anything more. She keeps telling them that we have agreed to exchange this week and keeps referring to things being hurried along.

Last night I emailed the estate agent asking to speak to them as I am now concerned that she may have gone to my mortgage company pretending to be me. I had a issue earlier in the process where the estate agent kept chasing me for a copy of the mortgage company’s survey as the sellers had brought through help to buy. I repeatedly stated I did not have it and they said well we are going to ring your mortgage company then! To which I stated that I did not give permission for this and stated that when I received it I would be able to tell them if it met the criteria of a survey they wanted. It then went really quiet and I assumed that the seller had obtained their own survey but now, as you can imagine I’m not sure.

I have no doubt that your mortgage company has more stringent checks in place than your solicitor.

This is worrying, but you have uncovered the deception and your solicitor isn't going to let it happen again. Lots of people saying to pull out but those people aren't you, they haven't invested the time, money and emotional energy on it. I don't see how pulling out benefits you, other than to cost you money. You're buying the house, not the vendor. Do you want the house?

Clearly your solicitor needs to do something to set a rocket up the woman's bum; she's clearly batty but she's been caught. There's no doubt people hide stuff from buyers ALL the time. At least this is a new house. There won't be too many surprises and it sounds like your solicitor is doing a good job of the detail on their side.

I don't know what her 'punishment' should be, but what you don't want to do is it to make the process harder for yourself in the short term because you have a sense of principle that she should be punished. Don't cut your nose to spite your face, is what I'm saying.

pinkshoes · 27 April 2019 at 9:32AM

If she is that desperate to exchange, then I would question why...

Perhaps she is hiding something about the house? Horrific neighbours that she doesn't want you to notice?

It would just make me very suspicious.

Nevertheless, I would inform the vendor that someone has been impersonating you, snd if it wasn't her then you will need to get the police involved, and the sale will not proceed until this is solved.

AnotherJoe · 27 April 2019 at 9:33AM

Fair comment by DZ.

letitbe90 · 27 April 2019 at 9:41AM

Doozergirl wrote: »

I have no doubt that your mortgage company has more stringent checks in place than your solicitor.

This is worrying, but you have uncovered the deception and your solicitor isn't going to let it happen again. Lots of people saying to pull out but those people aren't you, they haven't invested the time, money and emotional energy on it. I don't see how pulling out benefits you, other than to cost you money. You're buying the house, not the vendor. Do you want the house?

Clearly your solicitor needs to do something to set a rocket up the woman's bum; she's clearly batty but she's been caught. There's no doubt people hide stuff from buyers ALL the time. At least this is a new house. There won't be too many surprises and it sounds like your solicitor is doing a good job of the detail on their side.

I don't know what her 'punishment' should be, but what you don't want to do is it to make the process harder for yourself in the short term because you have a sense of principle that she should be punished. Don't cut your nose to spite your face, is what I'm saying.

The reason to pull out is the potential issues that are being masked by the fraudster. Impersonating someone to tell the conveyor “No I don’t need evidence of that policy” or “I am happy about the roads no need for confirmation” are very strange. This isn’t just someone phoning up to get an update, they are effectively instructing the conveyor against the interest of the OP, which is disgusting.

Who knows what else is lurking, that is my reason to pull out. Someone going to these lengths god knows I would be spooked, what are they so worried about!?

As for police/fraud line, given how little time and effort they give to actual crime (from burglary, to assault and sexual assault), I’d say it is pointless and nothing will happen.

OP, if you are going to proceed (which I don’t advise), please gazunder them.... If they will go to these lengths to get exchange to happen, they will probably accept and you can see it as some just punishment!

AnotherJoe · 27 April 2019 at 9:49AM

letitbe90 wrote: »

As for police/fraud line, given how little time and effort they give to actual crime (from burglary, to assault and sexual assault), I’d say it is pointless and nothing will happen.

OP, if you are going to proceed (which I don’t advise), please gazunder them.... If they will go to these lengths to get exchange to happen, they will probably accept and you can see it as some just punishment!

Unfortunately I agree but telling her you've contacted the police with a view to prosecution may well give her some sleepless nights which is little enough compensation.

I also stand by my previous comment, I'd contact the ICO since the conveyancers procedures are clearly inadequate.

Beenie · 27 April 2019 at 10:03AM

I agree that there is little the police will do. The final decision would rest with CPS anyway, and what would the charge be? Potential loss isn't good enough, it had to be actual loss or harm. Happy to be corrected.

As far as the vendor is concerned, she wants to sell as much as you want to buy. Make her stew a bit by lying low and not answering calls, as someone else has suggested. Then reduce your offer by a serious amount (15-20%). Be prepared to walk unless you are dead set on this house. If it's an estate house, there will be plenty more in the coming months I'm sure.

Doozergirl · 27 April 2019 at 10:14AM

letitbe90 wrote: »

The reason to pull out is the potential issues that are being masked by the fraudster. Impersonating someone to tell the conveyor “No I don’t need evidence of that policy” or “I am happy about the roads no need for confirmation” are very strange. This isn’t just someone phoning up to get an update, they are effectively instructing the conveyor against the interest of the OP, which is disgusting.

Who knows what else is lurking, that is my reason to pull out. Someone going to these lengths god knows I would be spooked, what are they so worried about!?

As for police/fraud line, given how little time and effort they give to actual crime (from burglary, to assault and sexual assault), I’d say it is pointless and nothing will happen.

OP, if you are going to proceed (which I don’t advise), please gazunder them.... If they will go to these lengths to get exchange to happen, they will probably accept and you can see it as some just punishment!

The Doozer household follows the Obama household. When they low, we go high.

Gazumping someone isn't a reward, it's a different type of devious and could result in the whole thing collapsing - which is for the OP to decide on. What they don't want is to make knee jerk reactions where the collapse is engineered for them.

The woman has just played all her cards with the OPs solicitors. There's no need to read anything further into it.

Any vendor could be hiding bad neighbours, a crap boiler or some dodgy building work - we ALL have to do our due diligence in that respect. This woman's laid out her insecurities to the OPs solicitor. The method was devious but the result is more information than the average vendor might provide.

It is our own job to do due diligence on any house and to essentially ignore the vendor in our quest to do that. Nothing has actually changed in the process, only in the mind, because it's an unpleasant thing to do. But no actual harm has been caused - it's all psychological.

Beenie · 27 April 2019 at 10:34AM

I think this is a little different - it isn't 'gazundering' for the sake of it.

It's saying you as vendor weren't honest about the road adoption/this/that/the other, and if we had known that at the outset our offer would have been commensurately less.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that any buyer could reduce their offer when and if certain things came to light (such as on survey etc which is usually after the initial offer) so it's not classed as gazundering.

need_an_answer · 27 April 2019 at 10:34AM

Out of frustration and perhaps desperation, some people resort to whatever tactic they can to achieve a goal.

Do you still want to buy the house?

If yes I'd be tempted to let them know you have heard recordings of conversations where she proports to be you and advise her this is to stop immediately else the sale is off. You view her actions seriously and are considering making a formal complaint to the police over her actions.

If you feel that you cant do business with this vendor then consider pulling out,however be mindful of any money you have spent to get to this point.

Vendor impersonated me.... help!

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