To put in a formal complaint on my dads behalf?

[amelema]

Last Friday my dad was meant to watch my daughter for me for a few hours but he phoned me just before 5pm and said he was locked in his flat, the key was broken inside the lock. He said he had phoned the estate agents and they were sending someone out but couldn't give him an exact time - fair enough.

No one turned up Friday evening or Saturday or Sunday. No one answering the phone at the estate agents or emails and the locksmith they had as their emergency locksmith was also not answering.

Eventually on Sunday my dad had to phone another locksmith and pay for it himself. Estate agents are refusing to reimburse him for this as he didn't use their locksmith....how could he? No one answered. They also can't explain the fact that they had stated on Friday evening that someone would be out that night.

My dad lives in a 2nd floor flat. What if he'd taken ill or there was a fire? They're unapologetic.

My dad thinks just leave it as can't be bothered with the aggro.

AIBU to submit one anyways?

Bump

That is shocking!!

Take it to your dads local mp and see if you can get better resolution through that channel.

I think you are absolutely right. As you say, what if there had been a fire? The estate agent is totally out of order. Who can you complain to, though?

I would presume that the EA will refuse to engage with you since you aren’t the client but YANBU. Could you draft an email and persuade your Dad to send it?

Maybe get in touch with the landlord? The estate agents put his property at risk as you say what if there had been an emergency?

And isn't there a regulator now for estate agents? I think it's usually worth putting situations like this in writing over email to agencies and the manager of the branch?

It's crazy that they let your dad be locked in until he paid for it.

YANBU! Absolutely. Complain like hell.
I imagine your dads response is similar to my parents who rent….they don’t want to make waves in case they get evicted.

Thats terrible I would deduct the money off his rent

That's appalling! Are they usually that shit?

That’s appalling. Yes definitely complain and take it higher if needed. No one should be locked in their flat!

Email the estate agent and cc his local MP

Not sure you can complain on behalf of your dad if he has the mental capacity to do so himself, which he clearly does if he's watching your daughter

Absolutely disgusting, dangerous and not ok.

Ask your dad for the screenshots of messages and calls to show him attempting to contact. Pull these together as attachements in an email for him to send, setting out really clearly the disagreement, number of times contacted, amount of time waited and safety concern. Clealry state the resolution you expect (for this to be paid by them, and an acknowledgement of the fact they cannot leave a tenant locked in, as well as an explanation of what their policy is on thsi, and their complaints procedure). Ask for a response and confirmation they will pay within 5 working days (?). Copy in someone senior from the estate agents as well as the EA you are dealing with, also councillor and MP. Have it sent from your dad (needs to be him not you, or they will say only dealing with him).

@jellybean88

Thats terrible I would deduct the money off his rent

You legally can't do that and could get evicted

Does your dad have the landlords number or email, if so contact them, the landlord is paying a fee to the EA to maintain the property which they failed to do. I bet the landlord will reimburse your father and in turn he will get money back off the EA