Can I actually do anything about this?

[Namechange1067949]

Our estate agent is turning people away and not allowing them to view our property, because we have one offer that is under asking

We have offered to do the viewings ourselves if it’s a time issue (even though we are paying them to do it)
They are telling us that there is NO interest in our property and we should accept the offer on the table

So I called from a withheld number (obviously not saying it was me) and asked to see the house and they said no, because it had ‘loads of offers already’ and the sellers were going to choose from one of those.

I’m going to complain but really do I have any consumer rights, or anything else here - I’m clearly not getting the service I paid for?!

The house has only been on the market 3 days!

I'd be absolutely hopping OP. Definitely get your contract out and find a part where you can demonstrate that they've breached it by doing this, tell them you know categorically that they've ignored your instruction to keep arranging viewings as you haven't accepted an offer. And report to Ombudsmen. At a bare minimum you know they're slimy as if they're willing to bare-face lie to a potential buyer and are not acting for you as they should be doing.

Our agent (purple bricks who I know get terrible rep!) was brilliant. He followed our instruction to permit all viewings as long as people were proceedable- which was our request, not the agent's - and when we had multiple offers he made it abundantly clear that it was our choice and ours alone. We actually ended up accepting a different offer to the one he would have gone for (we asked him this) and he was still fully supportive in our decision and getting things processed quickly.

I have been amazed when looking to buy properties at how unhelpful, rude and inflexible estate agents can be to prospective buyers. And how little they follow up after viewings and keep interested, suitable potential buyers in the loop. I keep a note so as to make sure I never sell my own house with them. The "service" is appalling most of the time!

I know a small market town where there are 4 estate agents who are all excellent cos their reputation is everything as the whole population know exactly what they're all up to. I'm guessing this estate agent might be a franchise riding on the reputation of the brand... The absolute worst experiences I've had with estate agent have been these sorts.

Sorry are you saying you have not accepted the offer? If this is the case they are behaving illegally.

If you have accepted they are behaving correctly.

Estate agents definitely take brown envelopes - you need to switch agents - they are ripping you off, probably less than they are getting in bribes

Definitely dodgy and as a PP said, he could be in bed with the buyer he's lined up. When I worked at a solicitors there were several estate agents who had built up relationships with BTL landlords and property developers. They all knew what those clients were looking for and often called them just before putting something on the market. To give them their dues, all but one of them acted honourably and didn't keep the property from others but there was one agent we were suspicious of. He had an abnormally low rate of standard buyers and we saw the same 20 purchaser names over and over from him.

Oh my god this is absolutely scandalous!!!!! Please report them (though to who, I have no idea!).

Op they're probably selling the house that belongs to your lower offer people so they're trying to ensure they get yours sold for commission and they also get the commission from selling your buyers house, they try it a lot tbh so corrupt but it's all about commission for then isn't it xx

Estate agents can definitely be in business for themselves. I once sold a flat in London after having rented it out for a long time (while it was in negative equity) and the valuer concluded that I was an old biddy who had no current idea of the market, so he valued it at £50k below the two other agents who were asked. I thought then he was probably planning to flip it quickly for his own pocket. That firm did not get the instruction.

@Namechange1067949 did you speak to the agent and tell them that you phoned & asked to view the house? Just wondering if you moved agents or if they apologised & booked more viewings