[Tyro]

Hi,

I hope this can benefit someone. In case if you are considering going to Flatland for a cheap property, as most of us have ended up doing looking at their cheap rates, as I did because it's hard to make ends meet in today's world and we all are looking to save a penny here and there! then please do yourself a favor and do not use flatland1971.com. FLATLAND1971.COM ARE TOTAL RIP OFF'S.

First and foremost, any property website you see (rightmove.co.uk, findaproperty.co.uk) flatland has posted bogus and very cheap studio flat's (a prime example: Studio in Earls Court for 2 people for £105 with All Bills Included), houses, etc which sounds too good to be true and are! and they can tempt any one to pay before viewing the property. Please do not be mislead by these.

A few points to note:

1 - THEIR WEBSITE IS NOT UP TO DATE

2 - THEY DO NOT PROVIDE ANY PICTURES OF ANY FLAT'S THEY ADVERTISE

3 - YOU WILL BE TOLD, WE ARE SORRY WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FLAT TODAY WITHIN YOUR BUDGET, TRY ANOTHER DAY - AND THEY CHARGE YOU £90 (FOR TWO PEOPLE) JUST FOR MAKING PHONE CALLS! YOU CAN DO THAT YOURSELF USING GUMTREE OR LOOT.

4 - YOU CALL THEM AND THEY PUT YOU ON HOLD FOREVER BECAUSE IF YOU GO TO THEIR OFFICE YOU'LL SEE, THEY ARE JUST TOO BUSY. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL

5 - AND THEY CHARGE YOU A FEE FOR BOOKING APPOINTMENTS AND NOTHING MORE (NOT VIEWING, NOTHING ELSE WHAT SO EVER) AND AT TIMES THEY WILL BOOK YOU AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PROPERTY AGENT WHO WILL ALSO CHARGE YOU, IF YOU CHOOSE TO TAKE A PROPERTY FROM THEM - SO YOU PAY FLATLAND AND THE PROPERTY AGENT, BOTH - BIZZARE.

6 - THE LADIES THAT WORK THERE ARE VERY RUDE, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TREAT CUSTOMERS - THIS COMPANY IS A TOTAL RIP OFF

Please do not waste your money and your time as I have, I just wish now that I would have at least visited Gumtree first and read here what other's have had to say about Flatland1971.

I just hope this helps someone!

[Bluey]

Here's some related posts. Consider contacting the local council's Trading Standards department for advice - with sufficient complaints they may be able to take civil action but tougher legislation to cover unfair trading practices is not in force until later this year.

Consider sending them a recorded delivery dated letter before action demanding a refund of the fee within 2 weeks or that you will take legal action (keep a copy). If not refunded in full by then, then launch a small claims court action via the government's MoneyClaim online HM Court site. Risk that you lose the case but potential to get redress, either by a company settling before the case is heard or by the judge finding in your favour.

Search the forum for information on small claims court action. if you do this, let the forum know how you get on.

[Tyro]

Thanks Bluey, Appreciate you taking the time to reply.

Tyro

[Bluey]

oops, sorry, forgot the related thread! doh! you can unearth plenty more on this forum or t'internet with the searches.

http://forums.gumtree.com/about28787.html&highlight=flatland

http://forums.gumtree.com/about19661.html&highlight=court

[Tyro]

It's great to be able to see people who are so willing to help first and secondly provide one with information which most of us don't really know.

Cheers Bluey!

[Mr_X]

[Bluey]

Mr_X,

I do agree that some businesses of any type can thrive by appealing to the bargain hunting side of their customers and this can include tenants that are duped into parting with high fees to agencies lured in by advertisements of unrealistically priced accommodation at way below market rent.

However, it's not necessarily greed on the part of the customers that are affected, but sometimes optimism or naievity.

Remember, a lot of people new to the UK will not realise how expensive accommodation is compared to back home, will have little knowledge of their rights or have any awareness about how they could potentially be scammed and this includes any sphere of business - accommodation, employment and so on.

Bluey

[FreddieKiwi]

I HAD AN EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE WITH FLATLAND1971.COM!!

When I came to London a few months ago I was desperate for flat and was searching the property rentals sites for days looking for something. I came across some properties advertised by Flatland on here and called them up to arrange a meeting.

I went into their offices and had a meeting with one of their consultants, who explained to me EXACTLY what their company did and what I how many flats where available to me within my limited budget at that time.

Being pretty desperate, and almost outstaying my friends welcome, I (reluctantly, seeing as I hadn't much money and had no luck my self) paid the consultancy fee and had appointments arranged for me to go and see 3 properties THAT DAY!

None of them were what I wanted, but the lady from FLATLAND called me again the next day and had arranged for me to see 2 more properties - one of which was exactly what I wanted (well, considering my limited budget that is ) and I am now living there and (relatively) happy.

So I think the fee I paid was well worth it. especially as I hadn't been able to find something I wanted on my own. And the service from the staff their was excellent, efficient and very professional And fast!

I hate it when ignorant people enter into any contract (with an agency or whomever) and DO NOT read the terms and conditions first and then whinge about how they have been mislead or hard-done by!

[Bluey]

Gumtree advise against paying any upfront fees before viewing a property. We request that tenants report to Admin any agencies advertising on Gumtree that ask for fees upfront (i.e. before giving listings or arranging viewings).

This pretty much rules out all the 'appointment making' accommodation service companies who charge tenants fees for giving them listings and arranging viewings (as opposed to letting agents that actually have properties on their books are obliged by law not to charge any fees before they've secured accommodation for the tenant).

http://www.gumtree.com/help/stay_safe#item73

The forums of Gumtree and other accommodation sites are choc a bloc full of criticism from tenants that have parted with steep upfront fees only to find out that the ads that lured them into parting with their hard-earned do not match the accommodation they are then shown.

If a company is making good money from joining fees, there's not much incentive for them to make their money from actually securing accommodation for the tenant, or representing landlords directly and earning their commission that way.

Genuine modelling agencies do not charge their applicants upfront fees - they rely on commissions from clients. Genuine recruitment agents do not charge job applicants any upfront fees - they earn their income from employers. Genuine tradesman do not charge upfront fees before they've completed the work - they issue an invoice after the work is done and has been inspected by the customer. There are very good reasons not to pay in advance for a service not yet delivered.

[a_l_a_n]

FWIW,

I used these guys to find my current place. I cant complain too much because I did find something, but the OP is right about some stuff.

a) Their website is little more than an advertisement, You will not find any useful information there.

b) Their rates are steep. I think I paid £120 for about 10 minutes of their time and a few viewing appointments (note that in the hour in took me to get from their offices to the second place it had already been let ...).

c) They dont have any photos of the places theyre sending you to so you really have no idea what youre paying for.

d) The office is crazy ... Its not the most professional outfit.

I was also somewhat perturbed when several months later I got a phone call from them which started out as a standard customer survey but soon turned into a rather inappropriate interrogation about exactly where I was, exactly how much I was paying, the name of the landlord, etc.

I dont know ... Id avoid them if possible, but I suppose you could keep them in mind as a last resort.