Estate Agent problem

[angrywoman]

I have had my house on the market since the end of January. For the first 2 weeks the agent showed quite a few people round. Then I heard NOTHING. So 2 weeks ago I gave notice of ending the contract because I think they should at least call you now and then. The sole agency period (9 weeks) had passed. I noticed in the small print that after notice they have 14 days. It isn't clear to me what this means. I need to know because I now have a possible buyer who came along during the notice period (ended yesterday)and I don't want to pay the agent. Mainly because they were rubbish. Although he may have seen their ad on rightmove.

If that clause means that the agency continues for 14 days after you give notice, then they will be entitled to their commission.

This is what confuses me, are they still the 'sole agent' until then? I haven't found another agent yet but apparently if contracts are exchanged 6 months or more after the expiry of the period of sole agency and where the seller has appointed another agent whose activities have resulted in the sale of the property then no fee is due. This agent has quite a high fee, 1.69.
I was wondering about doing it on my own as my experiences have been quite negative with several agents. This agent also arranged a viewing with the interested party and then didn't bother turning up. So we have done 2 viewings ourselves.