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laughing_goat

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Everything posted by laughing_goat

  1. Opening the account is fine now as the rush is long over. I found problems with transfering money, after 10 days (7 working days), my money still hadn't apeared in the account. When I phoned customer services to ask what had happened, the guy on the phone didn't understand the question and I was told a supervisor would phone me back (they didn't), I phoned again the next day and again they didn't understand what I was asking them, but this time I got throught to a supervisor who blamed my current account bank (I phoned them too and they said it had definately gone over), phoned a third time and again got no luck, so I wrote a letter (in the meantime the money cleared, 14 days in all), I got no reply to my letter. Also, I had to transfer some money out, this again took over 10 days and several calls to customer services. I'm afraid when thousands of pounds goes missing for days on end and no one can tell me where it is (on two separate occassions) I do start to sweat a little. So by this time I'd had enough and decided to close the account. It took them nearly over a month to finally transfer the money back to my current account (Apparently they hadn't received my request to close the account, B0ll0k5!). I am not someone who generally gets angry at CS people, I've dealt with Indian CS staff before and on the whole not had a problem with them, but these guys really tested my patients to the limit. This of course is just my experience and to me a little more interest is not worth the hassle. If you're not worried about customer service, then go for it as the rate is excellent (in the present climate). LG
  2. I suspect he has not contested it all as the walls and lawn could be put down wear and tear. Some of the grass on our lawn died over winter as the soil it was in is almost entirely clay (we have planted some more but whose to say that won't die too). The only advice I can give is have ALL the details with you, everything. I think the important thing is to have proof that the police paid for the damage to the carpet. If it can be shown that the LL is trying to charge you twice, then he/she will loose credibility with the court. I know several people who have had to go through this, sadly even after the court has judged in their favour, they still haven't gotten their money back and have continued to return to court. I hope this doesn't happen to you. Anyway, let us know how it goes and good luck.
  3. Has anyone read the article yet? I have to admit that I saw it on a news stand this morning but was too embarrased to buy it. I normally don't care what people think of me but asking for a copy of the Express infront of a crowd of people is just to much for me. Besides, I don't want to give them my money. EDIT: Personally, I think Bruno should continue with his flashing torrent of diatribe. When I see it all flashing away like that it mearly re-enforces my view that it will all go t*t's up.
  4. I haven't read the article, I wouldn't be seen dead buying the Express (saw it on a news stand this morning). If you look at this link you can see the headline in the top righthand corner. Has anyone read it yet? LG EDIT: the express website seems to have a pop up box fetish! EDIT2: Just noticed the other thread (eyesight not working this morning), if the mods want to delete this post feel free.
  5. An update: Finally heard from the LL, who is going to self manage the place (from 300 miles away!), we now have to pay the rent directly to the LL. I doubt anything serious will go wrong, but if it did, I can foresee me sorting it out (not ideal), but we will give it another 6 months and see what happens. The good news is that the deposit will stay with the stakeholder (thank god), so at least that's more likely to come back to us at the end of the tennancy.
  6. And there is no way I am going to give permission. My LL is very untrustworthy, the agent knows this and has offered to remain a stakeholder for the deposit. Obviously, the LL will have to agree that the agent remains the stakeholder, but it is good news that the deposit can only be 'moved' with my permission.
  7. Had a look at the original contract and it says that the Agent holds the deposit as a stakeholder!
  8. I signed up for their account but have sinced closed it. The customer service was pretty awlful, simple requests or questions could not be understood, even closing the account was hard work.
  9. Hi, I have already told the 'present agent' that the deposit will have to be held by an ARLA approved 3rd party. He cannot get hold of the LL at the moment (obviously doesn't want the rent then?). He suggested that maybe he could be the stakeholder, but the LL would need to approve this. He did say that he wouldn't handover the deposit without my permission. I might write a letter stating that this, what do you think? LG
  10. Appologies for the long post (I get carried away sometimes) Hi Munimula, About 18 months ago, we had a simular situation with a relative. Had his house on the market as a 2/3 bed place for the price of an expensive 3 bed place. The house definately wasn't a 3 bed house and there wasn't truthfully the opportunity to make it a reasonable 3 bed place (a small dining area could have made a tiny extra room, but it required a wall!). Anyway, it had one offer about 12 months into it being on the market but as soon as it was accepted the buyer pulled out. The EA wasn't making an effort to market the place at this stage, so after the buyer backed out, he changed agent and dropped the asking price by 20% on new agents advice). Two years after first being put on the market a buyer came along an offered 15% less than the new asking price, what does the silly old fool do? Yes he rejected it! Amazingly, the buyer came back and asked the agent to ask what my relative wanted for it, his reply, "The asking price, of course!". It's worth noting that at this point the new EA wasn't making a lot of effort to advertise the place, he had long since given up. Eventually, after much persuation from the family and the EA, he came to his sences and sold for the 15% reduction. However, he nearly lost that buyer too, as he didn't have all his paperwork in order (built and extension without planning permission, and had to apply retrospectively). Personally, I wanted to give the buyer a medal when it all finally went through. This was a guy who had no pension provision, Hated where he lived and was apparently desperate to get out. Does this sound familiar? When looking at property on the Net, if I see a house that has been on the market for a long time at an over inflated price, I tend to mentally skip past it. If your parents house remains at it overinflated price for too long, the agent might not advertise it so agressively and buyers may not even notice it when it is. There is nothing wrong with testing the market, but there needs to be a time limit set to it (weeks, not months). Also, bear in mind that a price reduction does (no matter how unreasonable) make a buyer think, "What is wrong with that place?". LG
  11. Hi 'Spring In The Air', What type of people have been buying houses in the last year? Have you seen any changes (less FTB's, more divorcee's and BTLers)? Do you deal in lettings? How has this been going? Genuine questions. LG
  12. Do you not think this is designed to highlight the need for HIPs? I have to admit to not watching the programme, but I did hear it mentioned earlier and I believe they were also going to talk about HIPs.
  13. My letting agent sent me a letter the other day saying the LL had written to him stating they no longer required his services from the beginning of next month. He also phoned me but has very little knowledge himself of what is going on. So far the LL hasn't contacted us, we have no contact details for the LL, no bank details to send the rent to (the rent is due in the first week of every month) and I'll be dammed if she thinks she'll be holding the deposit. Does anyone have any advice?
  14. I was forced to go to homebase today and it was 'relatively' busy. Bear in mind this store normally has only a handful of customers a day (as far as I can see), so relatively busy doesn't mean it was packed. I got served quite quickly, but that was down to me rushing to a newly opened till rather than no one buying. Before I went to Homebase I tried to go to Wickes, but couldn't get in the car park (no it wasn't closed, it was full) and sencing I was beginning to loose the will to live, I gave up and went to homebase. I also, had to go to... Tesco, which was no busier than normal. Habitat, lots of people, but no one really buying anything unless it was on offer. (I always have a wander around habitat, but never buy anything). Curry's, busy, but no queue at the tills. All in the Hatfield/St Albans area.
  15. Hi Dr Bubb, Thanks for the reply. I wasn't too worried about how soon you saw the post and I did want some other opinions, I have to admit that I'm not much of a forum wiz and have not heard of the GEI forum before (but I dod now). I've been reading quite a few of your posts and the www.housepricecycle.com site and have found you a good source of info (if only I'd listened about the gold eh?), so I was keen to get your opinion. I haven't invested in anything yet, essentially I have 11 1/2 months to do so (in theory). I have a cash ISA which I've already filled up for this tax year and a UK tracker ISA which I don't plan to add to this tax year. I am quite interested in the immerging markets like Brazil, India and China, but am concerned by the speed of growth, the Nikkei did grow hugely last year (as with most markets) and the Japanese are soon to raise IR's (well they can't go downwards), I fear I've left things a bit late. Thanks LG
  16. I think it's a not to bad idea, all but the alliance and leicester account insist that your salary be paid into the current account you have to open with them. So if you open one of the others and an A&L account you'll be laughing (well a little bit anyway).
  17. I think your main aim should be not to get the sack in the first month!
  18. I went to University in Salford (albeit 10+ years ago now) and it was a very rough area then. If I was forced to walk through that area alone (I rarely did) I would have a small can of hairspray to hand (to act as mace spray) in case I got attacked. I was never attacked but many of my friends were. Having said all that, it may have been regenerated now, but there were alot of problems there 10 years ago.
  19. What's all the fuss? Just posting it as info, if you don't like it don't reply and it'll soon disappear down the pages. Some people are never happy!!
  20. Jobs could be lost in UK and moved elsewhere. Only just been anounced don't have much in the way of detail. EDIT: Have some more info now... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4885426.stm Could have huge impacts on unemployment figures.
  21. Looks likely that the next meeting may result in a rise though. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4882802.stm
  22. Thanks Oracle, I'm no financial wiz and am on a steep learning curve here so your advise is greatly appreciated. I think I will go for it as it seems like the best option at this time (would have been better a year ago - darn!). I'm looking to diversify my ISA investments over the next few years and invest in the one which is the best bet each year. At the moment the UK ISA shares are too expensive for my liking, the FTSE may well rise, but I'd rather let what is in there appreciate and not put more money in for a few years. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you view it), I've got about another 30 odd year until I retire, so there's plenty of time for me gather a few funds/trackers. Thanks again for the advise much appreciated.
  23. Totally agree! I was disgusted by their attitude. They built what was effectively a second house and expected everyone to just roll over and accept it. There is no way they would have tried that in the UK, so what made them think they could do it in France? prime example of people with more (borrowed) money than sense. I'm glad they were made to pull it down.
  24. BoredTrainBuilder, Thanks, I never considered a SIPP, definately worth a thought. LG
  25. This is less about financing a house more about providing a little extra for my retirement. I have decided that even though I will keep my M & G UK index tracker ISA, I will not be investing any further money in this new tax year. Instead I was thinking about opening another stocks and shares ISA, maybe tracking the Nikkei? Does anyone have any thoughts?
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