Peter Clarke Estate Agent and Letting Agent
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Costly Mistake
In June 2022 we chose Peter Clarke to market our property because we had an excellent service from both letting and sales, in the past. We accepted an offer from someone who was obviously well known at the branch as they were always referred to by their christian name, they had a property portfolio and were going to raise the funds against it. All sounded good, after weeks of being fobbed with excuses pertaining to their personal life, we were not surprised that the offer was withdrawn because of lack of funds. We were left feeling that their interest was with the potential buyer and not us. We then accepted another offer, which was withdrawn on 4/11/22. There was no follow up as the whether they were still interested in the property. We decided to take it off the market and informed Peter Clarke on 28/11/22. The property was sold by another estate agent on 22/5/23 to the person who had withdrawn the offer in November. We were aware of the 6 month clause in our agreement with Peter Clarke, but truly believed that the 6 months was from when a potential buyer withdrew their offer and ceased to be a person of interest to them ie 4/11/22. In August this year, some 15 months later, we received an e-mail from Jonathan Joy to say that he had information that we has sold the property and as it was less than the 6 months by 6 days and we were bound by our contract to them to pay £3000 in fees. We replied explaining that we honestly but wrongly assumed the 6 months started when the buyer had withdrawn their offer. We heard nothing more from Jonathan Joy until towards the end of November when received an invoice for £3000. followed by another e-mail offering us a 10% discount and the threat that if it was not paid within 7 days he would take action to recover the money. We have paid Peter Clarke £2700, at lot of money for innocent mistake of 6 days and we strongly object to being threatened like criminals who were trying defraud the company. In the e-mail that Jonathan Joy sent us to acknowledge receipt on the money he wrote "it seems clear that (the buyer) would have proceeded anyway" Which begs the question why didn't he follow the potential sale up at the time.