Property Agent Decided to Direct Debit My Account 1.5 Years after Moving out and after The Property Got Sold

A Banana4scale on 29/06/2021 - 20:08
Last edited 29/06/2021 - 22:52

Just checked my account and found out at my old Property agent has decided to direct debit my account 2 years after I moved out! WTF?

This is probably the result of some long standing issues I have had with them since moving out. I get all the inspection emails and updates about the property since I have moved out. I have emailed back multiple times to let them know I am not on the lease anymore, and have already received my bond back.

But now they have decided to direct debit from my account without permission or and signed documents, the amount is the fortnightly rent and is a substantial amount of money.

I am not sure when I will be able to get my money back, and if I taking this money signifies theft and if I should get the police involved so this doesn't happen again.

I will of course name and shame - Independent Property Group in Turner, Canberra

EDIT:

Called my bank and blocked any future direct debits. Given the shambles this company has been so far, I imagine they will bill me again in a fortnight even if I do get a refund.

The shitshow so far, this is only the stuff that happened after I moved out
1. Sending inspection emails to me and other ex-tenants who are not on the lease anymore (they left 3 years ago)
2. Sending emails with the current tenant's billing details to me and other ex-tenants who are not on the lease anymore (to confirm set up of rent)
3. Changed the property manager 3 times after I left, and all of them of course called me up to introduce themselves after I left
4. Repeated emails to take me off the email list, since the actual tenants were not getting the emails and I was.
5. Booking the smoke alarm checks under my name and of course I get a call from the company knocking at the old property's door asking for access.
6. Called up by prospective buyers who were waiting for the agent to show up the property and wanted to check it out and were given my number if they wanted to have a look inside earlier.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2021 - 20:12
    +3

    Report it to your local police station, and your bank.

    Did you try calling the office or going there?

  • thatonethere on 29/06/2021 - 20:19
    +2

    Too late now but always cancel direct debit arrangements with your bank once you are done with them. Eg gyms real estate agents etc.

    • A Banana4scale on 29/06/2021 - 20:23
      +1

      How can I check what direct debits I have set up?

      • Settero on 29/06/2021 - 20:31

        depends on the bank , when was the transaction ? some direct debits can be stopped by your bank on the 2nd day.

      • thatonethere on 29/06/2021 - 21:04

        Depends on the bank and the account. You may have to ring and ask them.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 29/06/2021 - 20:38
    +2

    Civil matter

    • [Deactivated] on 29/06/2021 - 21:03
      -4

      So if I stole from you, that would be a civil matter too?

      Say I used your debit card to make a cash withdrawal, or an online purchase?

      • Quantumcat on 29/06/2021 - 22:36
        +1

        OP originally gave them permission to direct debit his account, which they are using outside of what was agreed. Different to finding a debit card on the street or stealing it from their bag as the owner never gave it to you. Similar to sending money to someone you are buying goods from who never sends you the goods. You voluntarily gave them money but they are reneging on their side of the agreement. It is the fact there was an agreement (that is not being held up) that makes OP's case a civil one.

      • vikvance on 30/06/2021 - 00:11
        +1

        The "civil matter" is actually a polite way of the Police telling you to get lost, because they don't want to, and are not going to investigate the matter.

        In general, the Police only get involved if there is a clear-cut evidence of a crime having been committed, for example, a burglary involving forced entry, or an assault with an injured victim.

        In cases like the OP's, there is only the word of one person (OP) against the word of another person (Property Agent), and no physical evidence of a crime. There is no easy way to tell which person is telling the truth. How are the Police supposed to be confident that OP didn't actually owe unpaid rent, and the Agent was just collecting the owed amount ?

        The only way to resolve matters like this is to take the matter to court and a Judge then listens to both parties, and literally comes to a judgement about who is right & who is wrong.

        The Police don't have the authority to make such judgements. Only Judges have this authority.

        The only authority of the Police is to detain a person when they are reasonably confident that the person has broken a law, and that a court is likely to find the person guilty of a crime. In cases like OP vs Real Estate Agent, there is no way for them to become confident that Real Estate agent has actually broken any law and will be found guilty of a crime.

  • treekangagaroo on 29/06/2021 - 21:13
    +1

    I had similar issue with my agent but this happened one week after I moved out. Agent continued to DD the rent. I talked to the bank as agent did not respond and bank told me that I could raise a dispute if DD was unauthorized. I gave the agent 1 day and they came back and refunded the money in full as it happened it error so did not create a dispute

  • mrvaluepack on 29/06/2021 - 21:16
    +1

    Did you ask them what was it for? Ask for an itemised list of debited amount.

    They might have made an accounting error and will refund you the money if you ask.

  • MelbEng on 29/06/2021 - 21:29
    +6

    How about asking the agent. Chances are it was a mistake and they will fix it and refund your money.
    Not sure why you have gone to all this effort posting here prior to doing that first.

    • SF3 on 29/06/2021 - 22:23

      OzVent an alternate to productreview.com.au.

    • A Banana4scale on 29/06/2021 - 22:55
      -1

      they only billed it at the end of the day and of course it's a mistake.

      The property isn't even tenanted anymore, it's been sold (and they are the ones that sold it as well)

  • pharkurnell on 29/06/2021 - 22:28
    +1

    some long standing issues I have had with them since moving out.

    WTF? 1.5yrs? What are these issues exactly?

  • solidussnake on 30/06/2021 - 08:17

    What did they say when you called them to sort it out ?

  • Sleeqb7 on 30/06/2021 - 16:13
    +1

    I mean, it's the type of thing that would warrant walking into the office and having a chat.
    Much easier to ignore a phonecall or an email than it is a person standing in your lobby.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join