National Homebuyers panned on BBC Watchdog

[Daytona]

I see National Homebuyers got a panning on BBC Watchdog the other day
<URL:http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/reports/home/home_20051122_2.shtml>.
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

[Aztech]

"Daytona" <***@privacy.net> wrote in message
<

Post by Daytona
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.

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.

[Richard Faulkner]

Post by Aztech
<

Post by Daytona
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.

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.

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.

[Daytona]

Post by Aztech
Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to
resort to such companies,

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

Daytona

[Aztech]

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech
Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to
resort to such companies,

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

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.

[Daytona]

Post by Aztech

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech
Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to
resort to such companies,

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

Watchdog has accumulated a massive file on them during the last 6 months,

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

Post by Aztech
People would sell
their properties on the open market but they've suddenly suffered a massive
jolt of gullibility over recent months

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

Daytona

[Aztech]

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech
Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to
resort to such companies,

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

Watchdog has accumulated a massive file on them during the last 6 months,

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

Post by Aztech
People would sell
their properties on the open market but they've suddenly suffered a massive
jolt of gullibility over recent months

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

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

[Richard Faulkner]

Post by Aztech

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech

Post by Daytona

Post by Aztech
Obviously the housing market is extremely strong if people are having to
resort to such companies,

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

Watchdog has accumulated a massive file on them during the last 6 months,

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

Post by Aztech
People would sell
their properties on the open market but they've suddenly suffered a massive
jolt of gullibility over recent months

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

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

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.