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A very serious matter - filing a harassment complaint against estate agent
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Dowsett
Posts: 176 Forumite
Hi all,
Im hoping someone can give me some advice on how to handle this complaint as i am taking this very seriously and as far as i can go with it.
Our house is up for sale. Estate agent came out to draft up contracts and value the property. Upon doing this he made 2 contracts, 1 for me, 1 for my wife. both our numbers are on file.
I have discovered that the agent has taken it upon himself to use my wifes number and start texting her.
Surely there is 2 counts going against him here. 1 for the data protection act which says those numbers and information is confidential, 2 for a count of harassement.
the situation is that he has been sending her messages from his personal phone with nothing regarding the sale or information of the house.
Can someone help me or gudie me on making a complaint and taking this as far as i can.
Ive tried to google the head office number but with no luck. No emails or names of the MD or regional manager etc etc.
The estate agents is bridgefords. maybe someone has some contact info to get me on my way.
Any help greatly appricated.
Thanks
Im hoping someone can give me some advice on how to handle this complaint as i am taking this very seriously and as far as i can go with it.
Our house is up for sale. Estate agent came out to draft up contracts and value the property. Upon doing this he made 2 contracts, 1 for me, 1 for my wife. both our numbers are on file.
I have discovered that the agent has taken it upon himself to use my wifes number and start texting her.
Surely there is 2 counts going against him here. 1 for the data protection act which says those numbers and information is confidential, 2 for a count of harassement.
the situation is that he has been sending her messages from his personal phone with nothing regarding the sale or information of the house.
Can someone help me or gudie me on making a complaint and taking this as far as i can.
Ive tried to google the head office number but with no luck. No emails or names of the MD or regional manager etc etc.
The estate agents is bridgefords. maybe someone has some contact info to get me on my way.
Any help greatly appricated.
Thanks
0
Comments
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What is he saying,if it is sexual call the police.0
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Cant see what data protection has to do with it. She gave him the number.
What is the content of the texts.
If they are upsetting you both, get yourselves into the shop and sort it out.
If they are sexual, call the police.make the most of it, we are only here for the weekend.
and we will never, ever return.0 -
You sound rather insecure to me.
A lot of people do business by mobile.:beer:0 -
What are the texts saying ?
Swap phones with your wife or go in and see him and say your wife has lost her phone so the only number they should use is yours0 -
You say the texts are nothing to do with the house sale, so what are they about? If he is harrassing her, and using his own phone, it is likely his employers won't want to know. If your wife is offended or upset by this unwanted attention, take the phone with the offending texts to the police and report him. If they take it seriously, they may caution him, and if it then continues, you can take it further.
In the meantime, do not delete anything, or reply as it could encourage him further.
When you say you have 2 contracts, 1 for you, 1 for your wife, are you separating? Perhaps EA thinks he is in with a chance!0 -
If it were me the first thing I would do is ring him myself and tell him to stop texting her and to only contact yourself and only with business related to the sale of the house. I would also warn him that any more inappropriate communication and I would involve his head office and possibly the police.0
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I agree, phone him up and ask him to stop. If he doesn't, call his office and ask to speak to the manager and take it from there.
No idea why there are two contracts, I'd be concerned about that.0 -
Whilst I am not dismissing your concerns, I totally fail to understand from your post what the problem is.
- Data protection act is irrelevant. He can call whatever number he likes, especially as it was given to him.
- Communications outside of work might be relevant, but you have given no indication that communication is actually inappropriate. If it is, then the logical first step would be for her, or her and you, to tell the agent not to communicate with her.
Harassment is a repeated course of action that is intended to cause serious distress. So... where is the distress?0 -
Cant see what data protection has to do with it. She gave him the number.
It does.
Data is only to be processed for the purpose for which it is given. Any other use is misuse and a breach of the DPA.
The Wife would have given her mobile number so that she could be contacted in relation to the sale of the property.
I am presuming that the estate agent has taken to texting the wife on a personal level (I'm guessing he's taken a shine to her and is trying his luck).
If my presumption is correct than that is indeed (technically) a breach of the DPA.0 -
princeofpounds wrote: »Whilst I am not dismissing your concerns, I totally fail to understand from your post what the problem is.
- Data protection act is irrelevant. He can call whatever number he likes, especially as it was given to him. Possibly not, if he was given the number in a professional capacity, and is using it for another purpose they this is abusing his position. Having been given this contact number for use in connection with the contract to sell the OP's property ONLY, that is not an open invitation to contact her at any time.
- Communications outside of work might be relevant, but you have given no indication that communication is actually inappropriate. If it is, then the logical first step would be for her, or her and you, to tell the agent not to communicate with her. OP does say the text contents has nothing to do with the sale, so we can only assume he is contacting her privately, but I agree, until OP wishes to divuldge the nature of the texts it is hard to advise.
Harassment is a repeated course of action that is intended to cause serious distress. So... where is the distress? I can understand (as a female) how such unwarranted attention might cause distress, and if the wife has told the EA at least once, that his attentions are not welcome, then this does equal harrassment
However, if EA using own phone and in own time, I doubt employers would be interested in taking any action, and an approach to the police for advice would be my next step.
OP, have you or your wife actually ask this man to stop calling/texting her?0
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