Estate Agent Problems

Dear Gavin

Thank you so much for your prompt reply and the estate agent information sheet.

In order to keep matters simple I omitted to mention that, as per the contract, I wrote listing my reasons for giving 28 days notice of termination after my late father’s property had been on the market for over 18 months.  I consulted Citizens Advice who referred me to Trading Standards who in turn suggested that I write again at the end of the notice period to say that I considered the agreement to be terminated which I duly did.

Trading Standards say that they cannot help with this matter but expressed their interest in the fact that the Retford Office use misleading press adverts, which they are looking into.

One of the problems is that Newton Fallowell is a franchise and it is unclear as to whether the contract is with J. B. Kidney Ltd or Newton Fallowell as J. B. Kidney trades under licence as Newton Fallowell.

The trading name is registered with the OEA but I doubt J. B. Kidney is.

The agent’s most recent correspondence, dated 19th Dec which arrived on the 22nd, gave me 14 days within which to pay the fee or they will put the matter in the hands of an agency.

With Christmas and New Year falling within this period it leaves little time to take advice and I have every reason to expect a couple of thugs on my door step passing themselves off as debt collectors in the new year.

My next step is to write to the owner of the franchise, Mark Newton at the Grantham office, in the hope that he will intervene.  Your website is the perfect forum to bring to the public’s attention the way these rogue agents circumnavigate the legal system.

Wishing you and the team an extremely happy and successful  2009.

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If you need advice on selling house / conveyancing / how to stop repossession / sell and rent back schemes or anything else property related, feel free to get in touch.

Email me - editor@theadvisory.co.uk

Happy house sales!

Gavin Brazg (Editor)