Complaint Review: FOXTONS REALTY - LYNDHURST New Jersey

I believe Mark Tremlett an agent with Foxtons lied to us when we wanted to put an offer in on a home. He told us there was an existing contract on the home, but still under attorney review so we could put an offer in and possibly get the home. We did end up getting the home.

After we closed we asked the sellers if there had been any other contracts on the house. They told us and we confirmed it with the selling agent that the contract that existed on the home was past attorney review, but had been contingent on them selling their home. There was a 48 hour right of refusal, which means that the other buyers could either remove the contingency and proceed or walk away. They walked away. It seems he manipulated the offer we made and the entire deal.

The offer we made and the conditions we agreed to through the negotiations we did so to make our offer more desirable than what the other buyers had already contracted for. The fact that we were non-contingent made us the one's they wanted to sell to. They needed a beginning of May closing to buy the property they wanted in Florida. This all happened the end of March, so the fact that we could close the beginning of May made the sellers very happy. Foxtons also got our listing and my parents listing as we purchased a mother/daughter house together.

I spoke with the Vice President of Sales, Philip Felice. I explained everything that had happened to us, told him we didn't trust Foxtons and wanted to be released from the contract. I also told him we filed complaint with the real estate commission as well as my attorney sending a letter to him telling him it was a conflict of interest for them to continue to represent us. He was only willing to give us a conditional release.

I said the only reason at this point to continue to hold our listings would be to be vindictive. I explained that my parents are in their mid-eighties and I had a heart condition, having had a tumor cut out of my heart (a rare condition called Myxoma) and this stress was affecting our health. He didn't care and still refused to release us.

I have also filed a mail fraud complaint against them. They send out a catalogue with pictures of homes and the interior of homes, giving the address. That's how I got involved with them. I called about a home in the February issue. I was told it was sold, but they had other mother/daughter houses they could show me. I believe they are using bait and switch tactics using pictures of homes that are decorated beautifully but are not on the market and might never have been. The same home I originally phoned about was also in the May issue that was mailed to my home.

My parents had talked to a real estate agent that goes to their church and put her in touch with me. We reviewed some of the addresses listed in this mailer. She went back 18 months and the following homes listed in this mailer are not on the market now, nor have they been for the last 18 months, and may never have been on the market at all. For all I know they could be pics of agents homes that are decorated nicely and photograph well.

Palsa Ave, Elmwood Park $724,900, Campbell Pl, Westwood $605,000, Hudson Pl, Fairview $525,000, Hopper Ave, Fair Lawn, $724,900, Pascack Rd, Westwood $499,900, Murray Ave, Englewood $474,900, Elm Ave, Teaneck $449,900, Oak Pl, Bergenfield $449,900, Henderson Blvd, Fair Lawn $524,900, Queens Court, Teaneck $499,900. One house was on the market but expired on January 30, 2006 but was in the May book, Fycke Lane, Teaneck $524,900. There's more they've done but I don't want to reveal everything I've found out about them just in case someone from their office happens to read this. I am currently using every resource at my disposal to make this story public to keep this company from hurting anyone else.

Lynda

NORTHVALE, New Jersey
U.S.A.