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Original poster

Thug threatened us on our doorstep last night

43 replies

Passthewineandchocolate · 17/07/2014 07:28

We are a law abiding family who are never involved in any confrontations or trouble.

The reason it happened is this. We own a rental property (we lived there, it went into negative equity so when we moved on we rented it out. We are now selling it as it's gone up in price again). We are members of a residents and owners group on Facebook for that house. Yesterday there was a thread talking about lettings agents. Someone recommended one we had used and had trouble with. This agency treated us and our tenant badly. They ignored our tenant's problems and didn't deal with them or tell us when we were paying them to manage the property, they were rude and dismissive on the phone, they charged the tenant for a credit check that they didn't do, they were impossible to get hold of. I could list more.

My husband commented on the thread just saying that we had a bad experience with them and wouldn't recommend them. At 10pm that night a massive, aggressive man came to our door. I answered as DH was upstairs trying to help me sooth our chicken pox covered toddler. This man aggressively demanded to speak to my husband. I asked who he was and told him to leave but he carried on. My DH came to the door and then this bloke leant right in our front door into my DH face and threatened that if he didn't remove is comment in the next 5 minutes he'd be back.

We shut the door and my husband removed the comment but I am fuming. We are entitled to our opinion. My husband's post didn't say anything that wasn't true. This agent has given a thug our address and he threatened us in our home.

What can we do to this agent now? I don't want them to get away with this but I don't want the situation to escalate.

OP posts:
JenniferJo · 17/07/2014 07:31

Go to the police. How many more people will he do this to if you don't?

todayisnottheday · 17/07/2014 07:31

You were threatened on your doorstep, you call the police! Same as if it had been a random drunk or whatever. Call 101 now and tell them you are worried he'll come back.

snoggle · 17/07/2014 07:32

If you have been threatened in your own home I would call the police

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 17/07/2014 07:34

Police. How fucking dare they. Did your dh takes screen shots first?

OwlCapone · 17/07/2014 07:35

I would have called the police, not removed the comment.

UptheAnty · 17/07/2014 07:37

How awful for you Shock

We once had a bad experience with a letting agent. A short arse jumped up little boy took DH and I into a room and told us if we don't pay his fees in cash he would have new tenants in our house in 2 days and there was nothing we could do about it.

Basically they had looked after our property for 3 years while we were abroad and now that we were back & wanted to see it before we signed off- as was our right - they wouldn't allow us access.

Luckily I burst out laughing which put him in shock and diffused my DH who liked like he was about to explode!!

I changed the locks that day and gained access to my trashed house that they had not been looking after properly or doing the required checks that they had falsified.

We reported tha agent to the company director.

I would call the police & lodge a complaint.

headlesslambrini · 17/07/2014 07:38

Police

Original poster
Passthewineandchocolate · 17/07/2014 07:38

I was on hold to 101 for ages last night and couldn't get through. It also seemed like a petty thing to involve the police in. He was aggressive but didn't say anything violent, just 'take it off in the next 5 minutes or I'll be back'. I don't think DH took a screen shot we were in shock at the time and didn't think.

OP posts:
tribpot · 17/07/2014 07:39

Police. Without question. That sounds very scary.

tribpot · 17/07/2014 07:42

It also seemed like a petty thing to involve the police in.

It really isn't. Why not just put the comment back up? I'd imagine you would prefer not to make any kind of comment against this agent ever again to avoid a repeat of that.

Bearandcub · 17/07/2014 07:44

Police and refer the agency to the TPOS the ombudsman.

www.tpos.co.uk/make_complaint_rents.htm

Elysianfields · 17/07/2014 07:48

Pass I have pm'd you

Isitmylibrarybook · 17/07/2014 07:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Passthewineandchocolate · 17/07/2014 07:54

Don't we need proof to report him to anyone? We know the name of the thug as I wouldn't let him speak to my husband without his name and we know that the lettings agent must have given him our address but we can't prove any of it.

OP posts:
GalaxyInMyPants · 17/07/2014 07:58

I'm going to go against the grain here.

If you ring the police what happens? Your word against this blokes and no proof. No proof he's connected to the letting agency. Police may well have a word but realistically I doubt they can do anything.

You're then left with one very pissed off thug who may not be the sort to let you get away with it. He knows where you live.

Its really not worth the aggro. Leave your comment off and forget it. I know its really maddening and you shouldn't have to let them get away with it but I would.

tribpot · 17/07/2014 08:00

No - how would anyone who was ever mugged report a crime if they needed independent proof?

It's true he may deny it, and it may not be possible to prosecute but a visit from the police certainly seems in order.

If he comes back to your house, record the encounter on your phone.

GalaxyInMyPants · 17/07/2014 08:09

Mugging a are different. There's generally stuff which has been taken so maybe evidence there. Plus a possible assault with physical damage/evidence.

Here the OP may well understandably have felt threatened but the thug didnt actually threaten them. So has a crime being committed?

Its quite possible that if its reported to the police then the thug and cronies will indulge in stuff like bricks through windows and slashing car tyres.

UptheAnty · 17/07/2014 08:15

itismylibrary

Sorry for the offence!

I was just setting the scene really, my DH is a big man & he took us to the side - bold as brass, he couldn't have been over 25 and baby faced. He'd obviously done it before IYSWIM?

The director spoke at length with my DH and asked him what he wanted... Should he fire him Confused?
My DH said it was up to him how he handled his staff, there must have been a culture of it for the agent to threaten so freely.
Also my DH works for a large company so the director would have been more concerned about future business, I don't think it would have played out the same for others.
Angry

Original poster
Passthewineandchocolate · 17/07/2014 08:16

Yeah this is what I'm worried about.

The agency is owned and managed by an ex married couple. We had all the problems with the male owner. I found him on Facebook last night and sent him this message:

How dare you send a thug to threaten us at our home when we have young children here. You should be ashamed of yourself. DH is entitled to his opinion. You should treat your landlords and tenants better if you expect good reviews. We are going to the police.

I was thinking about calling the lady owner and telling her what went on. Don't know what good it will do.

OP posts:
Bifauxnen · 17/07/2014 09:03

I'd put the comment back up and say you were threatened but now have involved the police. Let others know about how this letting agent operates. Their behaviour would have really got my back up and I'd be telling all and sundry.

Isitmylibrarybook · 17/07/2014 09:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flipchart · 17/07/2014 09:28

Galaxay Once they have reported the incident it is on file. The Op may never be bothered by the thug again. However someone else might. By reporting the incident the police are able to build up a case.
If the OP doesn't report it and the next person does, that next person may appear to be the first victim IYSWIM.
I know I have worded this rather clumsily.

MildDrPepperAddiction · 17/07/2014 10:16

Do you seriously have to ask? Report him!

Original poster
Passthewineandchocolate · 17/07/2014 21:32

I spoke to the police. We have an officer coming to see us at the weekend. He is guilty of a crime. I can't remember the name but it was to do with making us feel threatened. The estate agent could also have broken the law by giving away our address details.

It's up to us whether we just log it or take action against them.

OP posts:
tribpot · 17/07/2014 21:57

Personally I think the estate agent is guilty of the greater crime but I guess it will be very hard to prove they actually asked him to come and threaten you although he'd have to be especially mad to have come and done it of his own accord!

I'm glad the police are coming to see you. I take it you've had no reply from the Facebook message.