Does this ring true? or a con?

[Melsa]

I agree, if in doubt, DON'T! Always trust your instincts. Good luck

[StephanB]

Agents want to do little for lots of £££. Best is to choose a well known agent or someone you know in the property game and if they dont perform -- bad publicity can be harmfull.

[theresa1906]

There are many companies saying they have buyers, what I like to know is were they are all coming from.

The property prices are going down, so the people interested in buying at the moment are being refused mortgages, and investors would they really invest in a market that is currently still in decline?

[Chris Boards]

Yes, its a scam.

I'm sure that every now and then they manage to fool an investor into buying your property, but these companys make their money by getting vendors to pay a fee upfront.

Before you start slating the Estate Agent, last time I encountered a company like this (funnily enough, from Manchester aswell) they dont actually tell the agent this is what they are doing.

They give conveyensing details (which 9 out of 10 times is another company they have set up in the same building), then when they have the vendors details they contact them direct.

We onlt found out it was dodgey when a vendor contacted us about it... some vendors pay up straight away.

The companies have AIP's and everything. they pass all 'due dilligence' tests when the offer goes in.

So, not only are they conning you, but they are in effect conning the agent aswell. Ok, you loose money straight away, but the agent also looses their fee... and the neg looses their commissionn. AND, any future marketing of your place is set back.

Not nice... ANd not illegal either

[Ben.Dell]

Originally Posted by brian

Definitely sounds like you agent is letting you down - try other services.

I agree with Brian.
If you feel like your not getting satisfactory service then try another.