Cancelling estate agent contract - anyone managed to do this?

[Joytotheworld2021]

We're about 8 weeks into a 20 week estate agent contract. We would really like to get out of this contract now if we can. We had a verbal agreement to a 12 week contract but missed the 20 week part in the scanned faint copy of the contract they sent us to sign. They wanted a percentage fee based on asking price rather than achieved. They agreed to change this verbally but it wasn't in the contract and we spotted this and got them to alter it but somehow missed the length of the contract.

The service from the estate agent has been woeful. I have no confidence they will ever sell our house. Has anyone ever managed to get an estate agent to agree to call it quits before the end of the contract? Thanks.

You could try appealing to their better nature, but I doubt you'll get very far - I strongly suspect there will need to be something in it for them to release you early. Perhaps you could find a mutually agreeable payment. Otherwise, you'll have to wait it out, as sadly "I didn't read what I was signing" isn't grounds for voiding a contract.

Thanks very much ThePants

Someone else suggested I contact the Property Ombudsman for advice. I did so yesterday and they said, based on our description of the very poor service, we would have sufficient grounds for complaint which would warrant the contract being cancelled. However, this process would obviously take time and the branch has wasted too much time already. Best approach would be to contact the Head Office, tell this was the Ombudsman said and suggest that it's in the best interests of everyone to cancel now. The person I spoke to in Head Office was very understanding and said she would speak to her manager and the cancellation department. Unfortunately they also need to liaise with the branch to progress the matter. So, nothing definite yet - as my husband said, it's still entirely possible that they will say no, but I have more hope than I had yesterday.