Hello, Would really be very grateful if someone could help regarding this matter. Recently viewed a rental property. Two of the prospective tenants were present as were the landlord and Estate Agent (EA). It initially seemed like a good offer and because they said there was high demand, one prospective tenant (PT) made an offer. We were asked to provide a holding deposit equal to one week's rent (£288). One PT paid in cash and was given a receipt after requesting one. The holding deposit receipt contains no terms and conditions and no t's and c's were verbally agreed. One of the two named PT's also signed/initialled a tenancy agreement with the other PT to follow. However, we were not given a copy of this. After putting down the holding deposit, we were told that the full deposit (over £2k, one month's rent up front and a deposit equal to one months rent) would be needed the next day, the PT's agreed to this, but only after the other PT had seen the tenancy agreement. The next morning, we contacted the EA to check how we could pay (cheque, electronically) what Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) it would be going into. He said we had to pay the full amount as bank transfers to them, the EA. On asking about the TDS, the Agent said he did not know and would have to check with the Landlord. After getting a bad feeling, we started to check out their company information and website. They are not registered with The Property Ombudsman, their website has fake properties listed, their registered business address is also fake, and we found that the company only started up in the last two months when their letterheaded paper misleadingly says they have been going for 15 years. We also discovered that the holding deposit receipt contains the wrong information for the property - the address they said we would be renting does not exist. When the EA called back, he said the landlord did not have a valid TDS registration, so instead we would have to go through there's. He said this was The Dispute Service. We said we were not willing to pay the full deposit until we had seen the details of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and the other PT had signed the Tenancy Agreement. They said they "must have the money today" and that a same day bank transfer directly to them "was the only way" of doing it, or the landlord was likely to relist. With all the information we had found out, and the inaccuracies and unfairness displayed so far, we said, we were not happy to give the huge deposit to them under such terms, and were not happy to deal with them any further. They then refused to return the holding deposit on the grounds that it is "nonrefundable". We have now had email correspondence from them, they offered us half the money back (written email) as a gesture of "goodwill". We were going to accept this under the idea that they had perhaps incurred losses within the 48 hours since the deal was made. But after we agreed to this, they emailed again and withdrew their offer as they said they believe we are going to defame their company. We think they are in breach of Consumer Law and Office of Fair Trading standards, but really need advice. Please could someone help? Thanks very much in advance.

Hi Mossy, Thanks for getting back to me with that info. I'm not worried about a no claims discount - I didn't have one anyway as I've only been driving for two years and I changed insurers between the first and second and my NCD wasn't protected. My worry and query is the difference between a 'Non Fault' Claim (which is what I made in April last year) and an 'At Fault' Claim. If I put on an insurance form/ comparison website that I made a 'non-fault' claim (which I did) my insurance is £500, if I put that I made an 'At Fault' (which I'm not, it's only 'At Fault' apparently, because my insurer's haven't got their act together and reclaimed their losses yet from the other side) it apparently rockets up to £1400 - I just don't understand how they can possibly justify this type of increase on an accident which the third party has already confirmed was their insured's fault. I will definately be ringing my insurers directly on Monday (surprise surprise they're only open 9-5pm Mon-Fri), unfortunately my insurance renewal is up on Wednesday so I doubt it'll get resolved by then... Thanks for your input

Hello, I'm currently trying to renew my insurance and am having an absolute nightmare. Basically my insurance brokers sent me a renewal letter saying that my next years insurance was going to be three time as much as last years! This is because in April last year I was involved in an accident where a car went straight into the back of me whilst stationary in a queue, the third party insurers accepted 100% liability (and I have documentation as such) and I was given a payout for my written off car, claimed compensation for the back injury I sustained (which was settled) and as far as I was aware, my insurers were seeking recovery from costs from the other side. Now, my renewal letter has included an accidents details letter which says that I made a claim to the cost of 2500, on ringing my broker I've been told that this accident has been put down as an At Fault claim! When I went in to discuss this with them and show the proof of third party insurers accepting liability, I was told that it could be that my insurance company are still recoving their costs, and as such - I would have to put down on any form I fill in for an insurance quote that this was an At Fault claim. Can anyone tell me, is this right? If I put down I'm at fault for a claim where I'm not at fault - my premium will go through the roof and I honestly can't afford it. I hope I gave enough information there, and hope somebody can help! Thanks