Estate agent query

[viky]

Has anyone recently had any experience of using Cubitt and West?

I was thinking of changing agents and was told by them they charge a flat fee only and that it was �3,500 + vat. I thought that was too steep compared to current 1.5% and stayed where I was.

Few weeks later, they called me seeing if I had thought about changing. I'd said no as fee seemed high, they told me that was what all their branches were doing and he could do nothing about the price.

I then called round 4 other cubitt and west branches and was told 4 different stories as to how they charge their fees. It varied vastly to say the least, one even said it was a % fee not flat fee. They were all in the same county region as well so I knew the 1st one couldn't use that as an excuse.

I spoke to the 1st agent again and advised him of what happened and he said that he didn't know why they'd said that and that it was a flat fee. So as I'd recently lowered my house price I asked again for the cost, just in case it had lowered their fees.

He then proceeded to give me a new fee to go through them that totalled �700 more than the 1st one I got. He said this was because they'd just increased their prices.

Obviously he's trying to take me for a ride and seems to be lying through his teeth due to the inconsistencies, but has anyone else had to same experience at all?

We won't be going through them but can't believe how bad this is and wondered if it's been happening elsewhere.

[Eve]

According to their website.....

http://www.cubittandwest.co.uk/_assets/EAC_Cub itt.pdf

They are a member of the Ombudsman scheme...

http://www.oea.co.uk/

[viky]

I already spoke to the OEA, unfortunately they cannot act upon a complaint as it was all verbal and therefore could be consider heresay.

[Cakeboy]

We bought through Cubitt and West and they were absolutely useless. Terrible communication to us and the seller, shabby service - promises never kept, calls never returned etc.

I had to do all the chasing for everything.