Advertising non-existant properties?

[yetanother]

Twice in the last week I've enquired about properties advertised to rent with different agencies. One claimed they had no record of the property in question even though it was advertised on their website and rightmove. The second claimed the property had already gone even though it was still advertised on rightmove and their own website as still available. Both are still advertised a few days later.
The agencies seem to brush aside your request and get all your details promising to call back with suitable properties (we have yet to hear back from either).
I'm getting the impression that the properties were never available in the first place, but can't imagine what the agencies would have to gain by doing this. Either they're terribly inefficient or have some sort of weird reason for falsely advertising, although I can't imagine what it would be. Has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

[New Homes Expert]

It is just the same with RECRUITMENT AGENCIES advertsing non-existant jobs on online job boards just to get your CV and details.

It makes no sense at all really but they ALL do it!

[yetanother]

Yes, I've heard that complaint about recruitment agencies as well. With either, it's !"£$%&* irritating!

[Enness Private Clients]

They do it to fill up their data base to which they then spam email with complete disregard. Very annoying

[robertt606]

It's really a confusing situation. I don't have any good idea how to overcome it actually, But wish you best of luck.

[New Homes Expert]

Resistance is useless!