Property Agent forcing me to sign TA

[cheated0106]

Hello!

I view an apartment on Wed'e evening & I like it so the agent asked me to signed the LOI straight away saying that we need to act fast since there are many other offer so I did. She also suggested to me that I should propose the landlord an early move in date (1 week before my original move in date) to get a better chance but an hour later the agent text me & say, it would be eve better if i change my date even earlier giving me 16 days to move in so I did because I do like the place then she text me few hours later saying the landlord has given the ok so told me to get the deposit & stamp duty cheques, my passport copy ready for her to pick up tomorrow morning at 10 am so I did... when I told her that i have given her a post dated (2 working days delay) cheques for reason I need to transfer money from 1 bank to another & she said.. "if that's the case then the landlord might change her mind since there are so many offer so it's first comes first serve" so I told the agent i understand but I cant change the date so if the landlord decided to go with the other offer than i will just give it a miss.

By noon, the agent text me saying the landlord still waiting for her husband to read the LOI since she can't read English then I text her back saying after having to think about it again, the start date it's too rush for me so I have decided to renew my lease instead so that its when the agent told me that my one month deposit will be forfeited...

I told her that ii don't understand especially since the landlord not signed the LOI or giving me the 100% ok yet so why do I have to pay & she otld me that is the rules & the price for the work she has put in?? if I have taken a lots of her time & have signed the TA then I probably agree with her but the Landlord not even signed the LOI yet!!

I asked her to send me a copy of the LOI she said she don't have it as it's with the landlord & then i asked when can I have it then she never reply until the next afternoon saying to me... "The landlord has signed so the TA will be deliver to you & enjoy your new environment" At this point i felt so sick because it seem like she now forcing me to sign the TA & telling me she too busy to answer my queries now so when I asked her why she forcing me & that she misleading me... then she started telling me that i should blame myself for the lack of knowledge!! then i decided not to text her back because she obviously an un-reasonable person & trying to con me!! she then kept harassing me by sending me text telling me if i dont sign the TA then i have to pay the one month deposit

Can someone please tell me am i the victim here?? does she have the right to forfeit my one month deposit even the LOI not signed yet?

Your advise will be very appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[QRM]

Is she a registered agent? Read the small print of the LOI nothing is standard here, if it says you forfeit the deposit if you pull out then thats what happens when you sign things without checking. Though it does sound like she is taking the piss, there are alot of rental scammers around make sure you have all their details ID etc before handing over any cheques. ( a bit late here)

[beppi]

Very typical agent scenario - i.e. all bullshit!

If you haven't yet signed the LOI, you have not agreed to pay anything.
Agents fees are due when a TA is signed, so she also cannot claim anything.

Just ask your bank to stop cashing of the cheque (if it's not already cashed). This will cost you a fee (S$15 or so). Then wait and see if they take up legal action - they won't as they know they will lose!

[cheated0106]

Thanks for both your advise. I have stopped the cheques & the agent has non stop text me telling me to confirm the time she can deliver the TA or pay her $1500 for compensation & she quoted " $1500 is a mere suggestion on without prejudice basis" whatever that mean??? Today I rang her office & found out she also charged me extra for the stamp duty fee too so she obviously has been planning to corn me all a long

I don't know what is the rules here but I'm sure when she started to asked money from me, she has crossed the line....?

Because of all her texts, now each time I get a text... I just have this sickening feeling given me sleepless night because I don't understand as to this happening to me but Im going to continue ignore her until they take legal action as beppi said... Hopefully this nightmare will pass soon.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Be sure not to delete the text messages. They can be used a proof of harassment.

[JR8]

+1

Tell her you're reporting her to the Council of Estate Agents for dishonesty and harassment, AND do it.

[x9200]

Is she a registered agent? Read the small print of the LOI nothing is standard here, if it says you forfeit the deposit if you pull out then thats what happens when you sign things without checking. Though it does sound like she is taking the piss, there are alot of rental scammers around make sure you have all their details ID etc before handing over any cheques. ( a bit late here)

LOI is not a binding agreement. It is just what is said it is: an expression of the intent, a meeting minutes, what the parties are planning to establish within the contract but nothing more. As such regardless what it says about the deposit it should not be fortfeithed.

[aster]

Sounds like a complete horror story.

Glad the OP was able to stop the cheques from being cashed. I take it if the so-called "agent" was due any of this money the cheques would have been cashed almost instantly...?

[west2east]

In the UK, I kept a separate phone / SIM card for dealing with letting agents

When I moved out of the flat, they would be ringing every 5 minutes trying to make appointments for viewings, but sadly I had disposed of the SIM card after moving in and they couldn't reach me.

They are just stupid bullies, in the UK, the law says they must wait 24 hours before any viewing, but on a Saturday, people come in to their shop and they want a viewing right away, so they bully the tenant. It seems that the bullying gene is also a prerequisite for this (sub)industry in Singapore. Just do the SIM card trick, use an alternate email address, give them the minimal amount of private information in the first place.

[JR8]

In the UK, I kept a separate phone / SIM card for dealing with letting agents

When I moved out of the flat, they would be ringing every 5 minutes trying to make appointments for viewings, but sadly I had disposed of the SIM card after moving in and they couldn't reach me.

They are just stupid bullies, in the UK, the law says they must wait 24 hours before any viewing,

No there is no such law.

but on a Saturday, people come in to their shop and they want a viewing right away, so they bully the tenant. It seems that the bullying gene is also a prerequisite for this (sub)industry in Singapore. Just do the SIM card trick, use an alternate email address, give them the minimal amount of private information in the first place.

[marsdec6]

I also think you should complain to the CEA and reduce the number of agents like her.

http://www.cea.gov.sg/cea/content/resou ... tForm.html

Hope you still have the messages as proof.

[cheated0106]

Thank you all for your advise, I continue ignoring the call/text & so far it's been a week since the agent last contact me so hopefully it stays that way.

I have to say ever since this happened, it does made me paranoid to deal with agents. I know not all agents are like this but it just ashamed that the "bad" ones ruin it for the rest.

[JR8]

Thank you all for your advise, I continue ignoring the call/text & so far it's been a week since the agent last contact me so hopefully it stays that way.

I have to say ever since this happened, it does made me paranoid to deal with agents. I know not all agents are like this but it just ashamed that the "bad" ones ruin it for the rest.

Agents like you experienced exist because people are too lazy to report them.

You haven't reported her either have you?

[beppi]

I have to say ever since this happened, it does made me paranoid to deal with agents. I know not all agents are like this but it just ashamed that the "bad" ones ruin it for the rest.

Based on anecdotal evidence, this "rest" is a minority.
Does a flock of black sheep ruin things for the very few white ones - or the other way round?!?

[pault]

hi cheated106.

your experience sounds like a complete nightmare . i would certainly report this agent to the relevant body as people like htis need to be stopped.

if you need the name of a very good , trustworthy agent let me know . i think i got lucky with this agent and he has become a good friend of mine

hope everything works out for you