Another legal type query
My boyfriend's brother's girlfriend recently moved from the Czech Republic to the UK for a few months, on a uni exchange program. she somehow ended up with a placement at Nottingham Trent, and was delighted at the opportunity.

However, before she moved over, the university were, let's say, next to fucking useless regarding finding her some accommodation.
Since I had just moved to the USA, and my boyfriend is living in London, we couldn't offer her much help except to not send money before she'd seen a place, and to hassle the uni acommodation office for help.

So, she found a place advertised on gumtree, sent them 400 quid for deposit, and duly arrived in Nottingham last week. where she found that the address she'd been given didn't actually exist (was an actual BUILDING SITE). So the 'agents' put her in another place, but not before demanding more cash. Luckily she kept her wits about her, and said she had none, so they could wait, but even so - she was placed in a property that was built, but had no gas, electricity, or running water...

After 3 days there (3!! I'd have lasted 20 minutes) she went to her uni help desk, and they gave her a room in halls.

So my question is this - how can she claim back the cash she handed over? Her uni accommodation office told her she'd never see it again, and there was nothing they can do to help, but when she called the 'agent's and threatened legal action they sent a man over on a bike with 100 quid in used notes, and told her that was the end of it. Is there anything else she can do?

Like I say, I'm not in the UK, so can't do a huge amount - I've recommended that she go to the CAB, but can't think of anything else except DO NOT SEND CASH OVER THE NET FOR A FLAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN. which may be too late for her.

ta in advance, helpful b3tans :-)
( ascorbate, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:38, 12 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

she'd spend
far more pursuing it than she'd ever recover. however, she can try:

telling the agent she'll report them to the university and get it blacklisted so no students ever use it again;

telling the agent she'll go to the local press;

checking if the agent is registered with a body like ARLA and threatening to report it, if so.

otherwise, it's an expensive lesson......
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:42, Reply)

@vitamin C
Agree with everything rachelswipes' said, but I'd double-agree with the going to the media.
(Eds Meds Mathskillz=1,Socialskillz=0, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:45, Reply)

thanks
I will pass it on to her - I do agree that it is an expensive lesson though, as both my boyfriend and I independently warned her not to send money over before she'd seen the property. Don't want to say I told you so, but we both feel it.
( ascorbate, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:53, Reply)

I'm not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure she's allowed to go kill-crazy and fuck people's shit up for that

( Gilgamesh gazed in wonder as Frampton came alive, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 18:56, Reply)

Gilgamesh, the voice of helpful reason, as ever :)
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 20:10, Reply)

I'm pretty sure that's the law
someone pisses you off, you're allowed to get mediaeval on their ass
( Gilgamesh gazed in wonder as Frampton came alive, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 20:37, Reply)

Try
2 big blokes, suited and booted with briefcases sitting in their reception for a whole day demanding to see the owner every 5 minutes. Just sit there, informing everyone that comes in that the reason you're there is that the agent is a thief.
Worked for me.
(Captain Placid 24/7 ball gags, brownie mix and clown porn, Mon 13 Oct 2008, 23:29, Reply)

call the police?
surely if the property isn't built its fraud, and a flat without water, electric and gas isn't fit for habitation
(Rich T has a clever and witty sig, Tue 14 Oct 2008, 0:22, Reply)

not sure of the legality of this but......
if you were to post the actual name of the "agents" onto a website that is read by hundreds of people each day (most of which have a "mischievious" nature) perhaps anyone living near Nottingham could pretend to look for a flat thru the same agents only to tell them to go stuff themselves at some oppurtune moment.

just a thought!
(smells-like-victory-v's, Tue 14 Oct 2008, 10:20, Reply)

Expensive legally
But small claims is free from costs if you fail for claims of less than £5k.

Sometimes a formal letter asking for the money, then a letter before action saying the next thing they'll hear is a court summons will probably work.
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Tue 14 Oct 2008, 10:37, Reply)

Trading standards?
Citizens' Advice Bureau?
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 14 Oct 2008, 12:08, Reply)