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National Homebuyers panned on BBC Watchdog

I see National Homebuyers got a panning on BBC Watchdog the other day . They charge rip off valuation fees of £295-995 for a drive-by valuation which actually costs about £75 and claimed to a potential customer that they make no profit out of it, as it's what the surveyer charges them. Plaudits so to e.surv, who, once they were aware that this was occuring, refused to act for them.

I'm intrigued as to where drive-by surveys come on the RICS scale (1-3), I think they're probably level zero, if they can even be called surveys !

I notice that they've removed the line "at a price you'll like" from the advert now.

It's depressing that there are so many gullible people who fall for these aggressive sales pitches and highly controlling companies. Right from the off it's obvious when you see and hear the salesman on the advert, these type of companies always use the same type of people in adverts. I suppose you could say that customers get what they deserve

- Darwin theory and all that.

The final twist appears to be that they lower their offer just before you're due to exchange.

Daytona

Reply to
Daytona
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Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to resort to such companies, RICS don't ever seem to mention this in their ever hopeful reports.

Reply to
Aztech

In message , Aztech writes

They have been around for several years, as have other firms like them. The gullible are equally gullible whether the market is weaker or stronger.

Reply to
Richard Faulkner

Like Richard, I don't see how you can link it to the market.

Daytona

Reply to
Daytona

Watchdog has accumulated a massive file on them during the last 6 months, it's a mere coincidence, nothing to do with the market. People would sell their properties on the open market but they've suddenly suffered a massive jolt of gullibility over recent months so they're using these sharks instead, in reality people selling houses has very little to do with the housing market.

Reply to
Aztech

Moronic exaggeration. If you read the report you'd see that it's 60.

Prove that he number of gullible people have changed from previous years.

Daytona

Reply to
Daytona

Maybe the number of gullible people is constant but the housing market has changed instead... my bets are on the number of gullible people.

Reply to
Aztech

There is no doubt that the market is significantly different to what it was a year ago - in fact it might even be falling now!

And that might be the crux of the matter - Watchdog is very selective about what it shows in its' short weekly show, and obviously goes for the most shocking stories. This story may not have been as shocking 3 or

4 years ago, so they may not have followed it up.

You can just imagine the producer:

"Remember that stuff about house sellers being ripped off for survey fees a few years ago?"

Journo' "National Homebuyers?"

Producer "That's the one! Go and get me a few cases and we'll see how it looks today"

Me again: Let me stress that I am not denying that the market has slowed/stagnated, but Watchdog is a vehicle which has the survival of Watchdog at its' heart, and not necessarily the customer. Have you seen Nicky Clark in action - so amateurish it makes me cringe.

Reply to
Richard Faulkner

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