An estate agency and one of its directors have been charged with a total of 22 offences under unfair trading regulations, and will appear in court next month.

Illsley and Son, which trades as Meridian Estate Agents in the Bournemouth area, and company director Matthew Illsley, 34, will appear before Poole magistrates.

The charges relate to the sale of seven properties.

According to the local newspaper, the business is charged with five counts of trader engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading action containing false information; three of trader engaging in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission; and two of trader engaging in a commercial practice which was aggressive.

The two latter counts allege that threats were made to withhold a buyer’s access from a property until a purchasing fee was paid.

Illsley is charged with six counts of trader engage in commercial practice which is a misleading action containing false information; three of trader engage in a commercial practice which is a misleading omission; and two of trader engage in a commercial practice which was aggressive.

Prosecutors allege Illsley permitted an employee who had a prior interest in an address to value the property themselves and make a false statement regarding the payment of a commission fee.

Some counts allege that buyers of properties were told they had to pay the commission fee because the vendor didn’t want to pay it, when in fact Meridian had offered a zero per cent commission deal to the vendor.

Meridian, which has two branches, remains open for business.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/17493573.meridian-estate-agents-due-before-poole-magistrates/