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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think estate agents shouldn't of done this

26 replies

Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 14/05/2018 09:34

Not sure if IABU or not I gave months notice on my flat last month on the day I paid my rent I gave the keys back yesterday I posted them through the door and they have put me overdrawn by taking another months rent today. I paid 1 months rent in advance before I even moved in. I spoke to my sister about it and she thinks that they shouldn't of taken the rent money today. This now leaves me in the shit and means any money I get in next week will be taken straight back out by the bank.

OP posts:
CuppaSarah · 14/05/2018 09:36

The notice period is usually two months on most rental places isn't it? Are you sure you only needed to give a month's notice? Give just them a call today and see what's going on. It could easily just be that it's an automated system and they forgot to remove you.

Forgottencoffee · 14/05/2018 09:38

Are you sure it wasn't a standing order where you have to cancel the payments? I don't think many estate agents do direct debits

LifeBeginsAtGin · 14/05/2018 09:39

What does your contract say?

How much notice must you give?
Do you have to put your notice in in writing (Email/letter)?

Are you dealing with the landlord or an agent?

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:39

Is your rent paid by standing order? If so you will have needed to cancel it yourself.

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:40

Also, did they acknowledge your notice and give you a date for the key handover?
If it’s a simple case of you not cancelling the standing order then it will be solved by a phone call to the estate agent.

Imchlibob · 14/05/2018 09:41

Just so you know when you write to complain, it's "shouldn't have" not "shouldn't of" - but you are quite right. Did you get any communication in the last month acknowledging the notice?

FatBottomedGal · 14/05/2018 09:41

Agree with above posters, I’ve always paid my rent using standing order - so set up by me rather than the estate agents. Check your bank first, the estate agents will be able to transfer it back to you if it’s been done in error!

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 14/05/2018 09:44

Cuppasarah it was a months notice they told me when I signed the tenancy and it was written in the tenancy as well.

ForgottenCoffee I did have to set up a standing order for them but I have no idea how to cancel it I didn't know I had to. Thank you I will do that. Will I get that money back off them if I go in and speak to them about it.

LifeBeginsAtGin I had to give 1 months notice and I put it in writing and made sure they got it. I don't know who the landlord is everything is done through the estate agents.

OP posts:
JammyGem · 14/05/2018 09:46

Same as above, I've always paid by standing order so had to cancel it myself. I'd pop into your bank to cancel it and contact the EA to organise a refund.

Forgottencoffee · 14/05/2018 09:46

You should get the money back but they will probably charge you an admin fee. You can usually cancel the standing order on your banking app if you have one.

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:47

It will be the standing order then. Do you have internet banking? If so it’s easy to cancel online. Otherwise pop into the branch.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 14/05/2018 09:48

SoyDora They did acknowledge my notice I handed it to them and they knew that I would be out by today. Thank you everyone I will cancel the standing order and speak to them to get the money back off them. Does anyone know how I cancel a standing order.

OP posts:
Forgottencoffee · 14/05/2018 09:48

When I say should, I mean you will get it back. It was paid by mistake. Just give them a call and explain Smile

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:48

A standing order is an instruction for your bank to pay them from your account, not for the estate agents bank to take it from your account. So they haven’t ‘taken’ the money from you, they wouldn’t have been able to cancel it from their end.

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:49

You can either cancel the standing order online or in the branch. Or via telephone banking if you have it set up.

Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 14/05/2018 09:50

Thank you JammyGem ForgottenCoffee SoyDora I will cancel that and speak to the EA to get the money back from them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shootfirstaskquestionslater · 14/05/2018 09:52

Thank you everyone at least I know I will get it back Smile. SoyDora I didn't realise that was how a standing order worked. Thank you telling me that I need to cancel it I didn't realise that I had to do that as well.

OP posts:
Haberpop · 14/05/2018 09:53

My rent has always been paid by standing order, when I have given notice to quit the agents have always told me to ensure I cancel the order once the final payment is made so I think this is down to you not the agent. Cancelling is easy on most apps or by going into the bank.

SoyDora · 14/05/2018 09:53

Hope you get it back quickly!

Mummyoflittledragon · 14/05/2018 09:57

As they accepted and acknowledged you’d be gone, you should get it back soon. It happened to dh and me when we changed mortgages years ago. Unbeknownst to me, we should have cancelled the SO.

Rightsaidmabel · 14/05/2018 10:00

A standing order is called that because you order the bank to continually pay the same amount to the same recipient on the same date until you order them to stop."Standing" means it's continuous, it continues to "stand" as an instruction under you stop it.
You are in charge of the transactions.It is safer for you when renting, than a direct debit,where you give permission to your debtor(the estate agency) to directly approach your bank and debit (take funds out)of your account.An unscrupulous person could take random amounts ,say decide to charge you for a new carpet when there was never one before.

GabsAlot · 14/05/2018 10:13

you will get it back but might have to wait a few days-its on you to cancel SO

FizzyGreenWater · 14/05/2018 10:20

I did have to set up a standing order for them but I have no idea how to cancel it I didn't know I had to.

You do! The agents CANNOT cancel it. It has to be you. Yep get to the bank and get it stopped! Agents are definiely not at fault. Good luck!

WazFlimFlam · 14/05/2018 10:57

It can be sorted in a 5 min chat at the bank OP.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 14/05/2018 11:12

I've done this before purely out of carelessness - I kicked myself but the agents said it's surprisingly common! Blush