Ethixcal Estate Agency Practise?

[sunnysideofthestreet]

We put our property on the market with a local agency last year, signed the contract and let it run its 16 week term without a sale. At the end of contract sale we decided to change agencies (not so local), gave the 2 weeks written notice etc etc and put the property for sale with the new agency.
After no luck, again, with the second agency, we decided to return to the first more local agency, gave notice and moved back.

When we asked the agency about signing a new contract, the receptionist said that they would simply reinstate the original one (somehow). Now, our dilema is that the original contract was "Sole Seller" and we are NOT willing to use the agency under such a clause, "Sole Agency" would be fine which would allow us the opportunity to sell privately should a buyer come to us.

Can this agency resurect an old, cancelled contract in this manner without any written confirmation from the seller and what should we do about it for the agency to ACTUALLY to promote our property in a manner agreeable in writing by us?

[googler]

Discussed to the Nth degree over at money-saving-expert, so no need for further comment here, methinks....