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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

About the buyers from hell

92 replies

bimbabirba · 04/07/2013 17:23

Buyers are requesting to come in with two painters/decorators and I'm freaking out. We've exchanged but they've proven such a nightmare from day one that I'm worried that letting them in again may cause further problems or questions or God knows what. Plus I don't fancy tidying up again when I'm busy packing and it hurts to think i'll be hearing about all the changes they're going to do to what still feels like my house.
WIBU to not let them in? I know that legally I can do so but I fear the repercussions. They are incredibly rude and demanding people who have managed to piss everyone off, including their own solicitor who has described them as "control freaks". Unfortunately they have my email address.

OP posts:
wouldliketobethere · 05/07/2013 08:36

we must live in a dodgy area for the royal mail service! we had a weird courier turn up at about 6am with our passports and he took a photo of the house to prove he had delivered it here. I thought they must really be tightening up on passport security! You should def let them know you are moving if you haven't received the passports by about a week or two before you move.

cantreachmytoes · 05/07/2013 09:13

Def NO to letting them in before they get the keys.

You know it won't stop at the decorators and their estimates.

Pigsmummy · 05/07/2013 09:53

Say that you are too busy packing to accommodate the request.

Original poster
bimbabirba · 05/07/2013 14:53

So, another email this morning this time about what energy tariff I'm on. Shock
What the fuck do they care about?
Unfortunately last time I had to renew passports they came with a dodgy courier service too. I had completely forgotten about it until someone on this thread mentioned it. That means the redirection won't help and so if the passports don't turn up pronto I'll have to give in to their requests!

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CSIJanner · 05/07/2013 15:20

We paid for special delivery etc for my Lo's passport and it came through the door without needing a signature. They do take a photo now, but you can always call up and see how far along they are, or track it through the number. When did you send it?

And keep emailing friendly "I'm too busy packing" emails to head them off in the meanwhile.

HotCrossPun · 05/07/2013 19:10

New passports are delivered by DX Secure and for most areas they don't require a signature.

Your old passport comes back through Royal Mail - unless you pay £3 extra.

If you call the passport office advice line (open till 8 tonight) you can change the address where your passports get delivered to, i.e to your parents of your new house.

Choccywoccydodah · 05/07/2013 19:13

Say no, it's not theirs until completion, they've not totally paid for the house yet, and yes they can still back out, but they would lose their deposit they would have given on exchange.
While your items are still in the house, I would definitely say no!

Choccywoccydodah · 05/07/2013 19:15

By your items still in the house, I mean tell them you don't want strangers around the house while you're packing as you have personal items out.

Aetae · 05/07/2013 19:25

You really don't have to give into their requests just to make sure you get the passports. Both the Home Office and the police would be VERY interested in someone refusing to hand over some brand new passports. If it was a normal delivery then maybe, but they're not going to keep your passports.

Raum · 05/07/2013 19:29

Not their house yet so not something you should allow, plus who is liable for damages etc if it is for decorating rather than quotes? Personally I would tell them to do one..

RedToothBrush · 05/07/2013 19:36

You've exchanged but not completed. What happens if they both get run over by a bus before completion? Unlikely, but you get the point.

Bottom Line. Its your house until you complete still.

BabyHaribo · 05/07/2013 19:40

Can you just ignore the email? If you have exchanged they can't pull out without serious financial implications (for them!). I would be willing to accommodate buyers if they had been reasonable but by the sounds of it that's not the case!

As soon as you move ring the passport office and tell them your new address. As long as you know all the details on the form including the barcode number on the front they will send to your new address. I am in a similar situation with my sons passport and I checked with my dad who used to work high up in passport office!

Kat101 · 05/07/2013 19:46

I would let their estate agent bring round the decorators and accompany them in the house to do a quote with me also present.

No to the actual decorating. Your buyers would be idiots to think that was a good idea before completion. Say no your not insured for someone else's tradesmen.

cleoowen · 05/07/2013 19:46

I don't think it's UR to ask for quote just depends how many visits. I would say,yes to a couple of tradesperson visits if,our buyer wanted but not for them to do any work.

We have had two tradespeople around the house we are buying but it's empty so probably different. These were important, as we only wanted the house if we could do the extension we wanted and had to sort out this in relation to drains,etc.

but decorating quotes aren't important and should wait.

Original poster
bimbabirba · 05/07/2013 20:27

They're pushy and arrogant. The sort of people who think that if they keep pushing eventually they'll get their own way. I can't stand people like that.

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mysteryfairy · 06/07/2013 07:49

I must live in another world because in my experience of buying and selling houses its very normal to allow access for tradesmen to quote etc at this stage. I think it would be a bit petty to say no - even if they have been difficult why go down to their level?

Choccywoccydodah · 06/07/2013 09:18

I don't understand what the rush is though? If they want to bring them round to do a quote, why can't they do it in their own time when they have completed?
It's not like they're having essentials done like the electrics or boiler checked or anything (which we always do to make sure it's safe when we move), but decorating?? Really??
Yes they probably want to organise it so it is done as soon as they move in, but if it were me, no.
It's bad enough packing and stuff and having people come round that you know, never mind organising that! Especially if they are actually doing the work. Like someone else said in a pp, what if you damage it?
They have a completion date, I'd tell them to wait for that.
Some friends just completed on Thursday, they booked quotes for carpet, decorating etc etc for Friday (yesterday).

merrymouse · 06/07/2013 09:36

Exactly choccy.

Emergency paint?

SarahAndFuck · 06/07/2013 10:15

Just reply back to them saying that you are concerned any decorating they do before they move in could be accidentally damaged during the move, so you don't think it's a good idea and that you don't have the time to have someone come in to measure up and quote for the work to be done after the move either.

Fairenuff · 06/07/2013 12:10

If you haven't replied to their last email either, ignore this one too. They will think you haven't received them.

hermioneweasley · 06/07/2013 12:17

If it's just for quotes, I would let them in, but obviously not to do work.

Tee2072 · 06/07/2013 12:31

Just ignore them. You are not required to respond to them at all, so don't.

If you're that worried about the passports, ring the passport office and have them sent to a different address, but it's a huge leap from being a pain in the ass to being a criminal, which is what they would be if they kept your passports.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/07/2013 12:37

Ignore the emails.

Speak to the passport office about your passports, I'm sure you are not the first person in this situation.

cumfy · 06/07/2013 12:43

Dear Buyers,

We are on holiday until 2015.

Please contact agents with any queries.

See ya.

Original poster
bimbabirba · 06/07/2013 20:53

mysteryfairy leaving aside the fact that they're rude and arrogant, it's a right pain in the butt to organise to be at home and let them (plus the tradesmen) in for quotes, show them around, etc. I think it's very cheeky to request more than one visit and when I said to the wife why can't they have one quote after the other, she said that she can't be away from work for more than an hour at a time! So she wanted to organise 3 separate visits! Err..what about me having to be available 3 times for your non-esdential building work?
Sort it out when you move in!

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