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Original poster

Harrassed by failed buyers

103 replies

blacklilypad · 08/09/2021 13:28

My friend and her husband completed and moved into their new house 3 weeks ago. They were looking for months and finally found the perfect property. It went to best and final and they didn't get it. My friend was distraught and her DH called the estate agent offered more money and they got it. Obviously, this was not a particularly ethical thing to do but it happens and it worked for them.

After they had been in the house a couple of days, they received a hand delivered letter saying they 'would get what was coming to them'. Their first thought was it was some teenagers bored over the school holiday and they were a little worried about what kind of neighbourhood they had bought into.

The next one said something along the lines of karma would sort them out and they knew what they did. It started to get very I know what you did last summer. But this made them think it was the buyer that they gazuumped.

They have received several more and get them every few days. My friend is really upset. She is a very sensitive and kind person and already had felt terrible about the gazuumping but her DH had convinced her it was fine. They have gone to the local police station but they can't help as currently no crime has been committed as the threats are more karma based than 'I'm going to hurt you'.

They are looking at getting a camera to see if they can catch them or hopefully just put them off doing it.

Has anyone else ever had any experience of anything like this? If so, did they eventually get bored? I know gazuumping is horrible (and have had it done to me) but this seems a bit of an over the top reaction to it.

OP posts:
Pinklioness · 08/09/2021 23:21

@Boomkin

I don't think your friend's been kind at all Tough shit, that’s how the world works! If you’re nice then you’re at a disadvantage because nobody else is. You have to play the game. OP’s friend offered more money and she won. Sucks to be the other person but they can’t go around harassing people just because they were outbid.
I didn't say you should but also don't claim to be the nice, sensitive type too. Own your nastiness. Like you obviously do.
whynotwhatknot · 09/09/2021 10:53

if it was 30k over valuation they offered the lost buyer never stood a chance-but could it be an old owner dispute rather than the person they gazumped

broccolibush · 09/09/2021 19:35

Are the letters coming at the same time of day? Sod a ring doorbell, I’d wait by the door and open it as soon as one plopped onto the mat and give it back to the cowardly fuck who is doing it. Poison pen letter writers are the biggest cowards out there. They wouldn’t be obnoxious in person. DH suggests a super soaker full of cat pee but I think that’s probably a step too far.

Disfordarkchocolate · 09/09/2021 19:42

This is hardly gazumping, it doesn't sound like the winning bidder will have had time to incur any costs.

I'd be back in touch with the police if it doesn't stop. I wonder if its worth mentioning it to the estate agent?

Elieza · 09/09/2021 19:50

I’d be getting a ring doorbell pronto. I think you’ll find it will stop after that. Takes batteries. No transformer needed.

BlueMongoose · 10/09/2021 21:03

They did something grubby. No doubt what is happening to them is wrong, and it needs to be stopped, but that doesn't make what they did right, either.
We had some so-and-so pull that 'upping best and final' on us, after already making an offer when we'd had ours accepted, costing us 15 grand more than the offer that had been accepted months before thanks to the best and final competition they instigated. They then offered more again after the best and final. The HA was livid, as for complex legal reasons in this specific case it created a lot more work, including the vendors going back to court, but luckily our main vendor was ethical, respected the fact that we had been very patient with their difficulties with the sale for months, and stuck with us.
I hope the harassment is stopped, and that the police act fast and hard, because harassment is wrong regardless of the reason. But I am unable to find any sympathy for the victims in this case.

BlueMongoose · 10/09/2021 21:06

@GreyhoundG1rl

So they offered over asking but not their maximum. I think £10k over. They knew full well what they were doing. They were awful to do it and the agent was unprincipled to let them.
The HA can't help it. They are legally obliged to pass on any offer made to the seller. Only the vendor has a choice.
GreyhoundG1rl · 10/09/2021 21:23

Is that true in the case of "Best and Final" offers?

HalzTangz · 10/09/2021 22:09

@FleasInMyKnees

You can tell the e.a but without proof what can they do except ask the failed buyers. Its not their job to send them a letter threatening legal action.
The EA won't get involved at all, if they ask the failed buyers they will accuse the EA of slander etc.

This is a police matter

ShingleBeach · 10/09/2021 22:15

‘Best and final’ is just a negotiating / decision making / marketing tactic ostensibly designed to prevent drawn out horse trading, but of course psychologically in the recent market encouraged people to push the price up.

It has no legal status.

Anyone can be gazumped up until the moment of exchange, and if anyone behaved unethically it was the vendor.

The failed buyers could equally have offered more. In the first plac, or afterwards.

The notes are obviously harassment, irrespective of what anyone thinks about the tense business of house sales. The police could easily ask the EA who the failed buyer is.

It is really horrible behaviour.

sst1234 · 11/09/2021 09:16

@ScrumptiousBears

She's sensitive but happy to go along with offering over and above a best and final offer even though they technically lost. Whilst this is horrible to receive these messages and that shouldn't happen, she needs to check her morals.
Utterly ridiculous, made up claptrap nonsense. Ever heard of the phrase ‘housing market’?
sst1234 · 11/09/2021 09:18

@BlueMongoose

They did something grubby. No doubt what is happening to them is wrong, and it needs to be stopped, but that doesn't make what they did right, either. We had some so-and-so pull that 'upping best and final' on us, after already making an offer when we'd had ours accepted, costing us 15 grand more than the offer that had been accepted months before thanks to the best and final competition they instigated. They then offered more again after the best and final. The HA was livid, as for complex legal reasons in this specific case it created a lot more work, including the vendors going back to court, but luckily our main vendor was ethical, respected the fact that we had been very patient with their difficulties with the sale for months, and stuck with us. I hope the harassment is stopped, and that the police act fast and hard, because harassment is wrong regardless of the reason. But I am unable to find any sympathy for the victims in this case.
Clearly, the house you were buying was undervalued. And you paid what it was truly worth.
Original poster
blacklilypad · 17/09/2021 15:10

For anyone interested, they got a clear photo of the woman putting a letter through the door on Monday. They gave it to the police who said they will 'put it on file'. I think that might be code for in the bin. But they haven't had another one yet and they were more regular so they are hoping that the doorbell camera has put her off.

The notes stayed in the same vein and never specifically mentioned what was the issue. So as some PPs said it could definitely be something to do with the previous owners

OP posts:
PinkFootstool · 17/09/2021 15:13

Personally I'd put that picture on the local Facebook group and ask if anyone knows who she is....

JauntyJinty · 17/09/2021 15:21

Do you think the estate agent or previous owners would look at the photo and confirm/deny it is a failed bidder?

JauntyJinty · 17/09/2021 15:27

^^ estate agents will probably immediatly say no if it's not them and something like "I'm afarid we can't reveal that sort of thing" if it is them. Try to catch them on the hop!

KihoBebiluPute · 17/09/2021 15:43

The "best and final offer" isn't a legally binding situation. It's not unethical to offer more if your so-called "best and final" wasn't your maximum. It's not unethical for a vendor to seek the best price they can get.

There's a big difference between the situation in the OP - where the eventual buyers outbid the others in a bidding war - vs the kind of "gazumping" that should be legislated against, where the bidding war is allowed to reignite after the putative buyers have forked out thousands in search fees and legal fees. That didn't happen here. The failed buyers didn't lose anything, they were merely outbid.

Cocolapew · 17/09/2021 15:44

I'd print the photo and stick it on the front door so if she comes back she'll know they have her picture.
Poster size would be good.

Marcee · 17/09/2021 15:47

@PinkFootstool

Personally I'd put that picture on the local Facebook group and ask if anyone knows who she is....
This. Do this.

She will be found out and more likely to stop

Halfarsedwoman · 17/09/2021 16:17

@Cocolapew

I'd print the photo and stick it on the front door so if she comes back she'll know they have her picture. Poster size would be good.
I agree with @Cocapew. They could also add a note to say they have no idea what the letters are about, they need to cease and desist the harassment and their picture has been passed to the police.
fuzzymoomin · 17/09/2021 16:43

Is it addressed to them by name? Is it definitely for them or maybe could be aimed at the people who moved out? I'd get a camera fitted asap but meanwhile I'd leave a notice on my door for the letter writers telling them you have them on security camera and have gone to the police. (What I'd actually do is wait in a bush as long as it takes and then pounce on them!)

Geriatric1234 · 17/09/2021 16:49

@Cocolapew

I'd print the photo and stick it on the front door so if she comes back she'll know they have her picture. Poster size would be good.
Genius.
fuzzymoomin · 17/09/2021 16:52

Sorry just saw the update. I would print the photo of the woman, stick it on the front door with a note for her saying the police are following up.
Have they met/seen all of their neighbours? I'd also go around the neighbours with the photo - if it isn't one of them they might know who she is if she is local.

GreenClock · 17/09/2021 20:53

Friend should post the pic on the local Facebook page with a breezy “does anyone know her? She’s been trying to get hold of us.” Someone will tag her or name her.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 17/09/2021 21:12

I reckon this is why the previous owners moved. If the other buyers found something else they have moved on.

Can't help thinking karma's a bitch though