Estate agents constant disturbance

Posted by gwaimui (412 days ago)

First off, not sure whether the topic should be posted here - but really, it's starting to get on my nerves and I don't know what to do!

Is it common practice for real estate agencies to call someone's home number every single day and ask them to sell their flat? Even when the homeowners have clearly stated MANY MANY MANY times that they do not intent to sell?

Is it also, another common practice for them to do whatever they can to get the homeowner's mobile phone number so that they can harass them to sell? Also, is it common for the agencies to disregard the request to stop calling and just call every day, even several times a day?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Claire (411 days ago)

"Sorry I didn't catch your name? And what company do you work for? Thanks, I just needed the information for the Police Telephone Nuisance Form. Now I can report your harassment to the authorities. Good bye."

https://secure1.info.gov.hk/police/epol-forms/ComplaintTelephoneNuisance.htm

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by gwaimui (411 days ago)

I did ask once who it was (my dad's the homeowner, not me) and this guy didn't want to give me his name and had the guts to lie to me saying he was a friend of my dad's and had arranged to meet up with him. He then asked for my dad's mobile number which obviously I wasn't going to give and said no. This guy then went 'oh' and hung up! All of this was spoken in my rather poor cantonese...

Thanks! Advice much appreciated.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by associates (410 days ago)

The remedies for this nuisance are either to complain to the Police or lodge a complaint with the Eestate Agents Association.

Weir & Associates
Solicitors & Notaries
2108 Gloucster Tower
The Landmark
15 Queens Road Central
Hong Kong
Tel : 2526-1767
Fax : 2868-3568
email : weirlaw@hongkonglaw.com
www.HongKongLaw.com/weirlaw

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldavy (410 days ago)

Problem is, how can you complain to the Estate Agents Authority if you don't have a name? Why not try saying "Yes, we're very interested in selling, please let me have your name and company name and I'll fax you all the information?"

Or, if they're speaking in Cantonese, just speak in English and pretend you don't understand a word. They might stop trying then!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by gwaimui (409 days ago)

They never want to give me their name, or which company they work for. I've started to speak in english now, because before they would just treat me like an imbecile when I spoke in cantonese.

What gets me really angry is how rude they are. There was this one time when instead of a man, it was a lady and I really thought it was someone who needed to speak to my dad. So when I said he wasn't in she said in a blunt tone: "Mobile phone." - I gave it to her and she didn't say thank you or goodbye and just slammed the phone down. Later that evening my dad told me a real estate agent called his mobile asking him to sell our flat. I was fuming!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Cruz (408 days ago)

How about changing your phone number - not ideal but it sorts out the problem rapidly

(I am based in Hong Kong)