John Shepherd Estate Agents
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I found them suspicious
I contacted this company about a flat for sale in Burton on Trent. No answer, so contacted again, left a message, odd response saying they were Aquire? No answer. I looked at the advert, odd that its a Derby number for a Burton Estate Agent. So I looked up the Burton number, they said they dont deal with sales, I will be contacted. They didnt. So rang again and I was put through to sales after hearing they were Aquire again? So spoke to sales and asked about the flat. The email response had a Birmingham number? So I checked to see if they were registered as an Estate Agent in Burton on Trent, they were not, I checked on here, no reviews under the drop down to which branch to review. I was suspicious, I had seen so many numbers, so few answers. I checked out the company, looks like a company (Aquire) just sold to a larger company John Shepherd) although only having one property for sale? I was now very suspicious. So checked some more, looks like they are a letting agency and sales are handled by other branches if they have any. Derby had 4. The company is part of the Lombard group the trading name for Chianti holdings, then some connection to Chianti Bidco and one director who had been associated with directorships of 109 previous companies in 18 years. On checks with company house all appeared legal although they are not registered as Estate Agents in Burton on Trent, so I checked with National Trading standards asking about their legitmency Here is part of their reply I have checked the details you provided for your agent using the online property agent checker Search the Property Agent Checker - National Trading Standards and this does not find any current redress membership for Acquire Sales & Lettings. Acquire would however appear to be a trading name for John Shepherd Lettings Limited who, in turn, appear to be owned by Lomond Property Lettings Limited, registered in London. Lomond are members of The Property Ombudsman Scheme. Given the complexity of the corporate structure, I will refer the matter to The Property Ombudsman and ask for their views on the membership position. So in order to check this company out I had to go through that. Even then there is no direct answer and they appear to be a letting agency. I had meanwhile offered on the flat they had. I was then asked to pay for my ID check? While I understand that an Estate Agent has a legal obligation to check IDs it was the first time I had been asked to pay and I really was very suspicious. I refused to pay although had supplied my ID information. They meanwhile said the property had another offer which despite me having received an acceptance of offer letter was taken. Normal phrase is gazumped. I just dont trust companies like this. I felt suspicious and nervous throughout.