Legal letters have been sent out this week by Agents’ Mutual lawyers to some agents thought to be in breach of OnTheMarket’s ‘one other portal’ rule.
Some of the agents are also thought to be in arrears with their membership fees.
The action concerns only a small handful of agents but comes as little surprise, after EYE saw one eminent London agent, a Gold member of OTM, listing on all three of the main portals last month – Rightmove, Zoopla and also OTM. The agent concerned had originally chosen Rightmove as its one other portal.
After we asked about it, the agent’s Zoopla listings disappeared. OTM said it never commented on individual agents’ contractual arrangements but that the ‘one other portal’ rule was robustly enforced. The agent itself told EYE it had “no idea” how the Zoopla listings had appeared.
Those agents who received legal letters this week and who are in arrears have been warned that they must pay up within 14 days to avoid legal proceedings.
An OTM spokesperson said it was standard practice for any company to seek outstanding payments from customers in arrears, adding: “We work to ensure that everyone in contract with us meets their obligations for the benefit of all members of Agents’ Mutual.”
At the start, Mr agent was told he is joining a mutual, told OTM will break up the duopoly, told with time good lead generation shall come. Signs to OTM for 5 years as a gold member at £500 a month.
The duopoly is not broken, in fact the leader (RM) is strengthened, told rival agents in his area are signing up for £50 a month for the same package, the lead generation does not materialise even after a year of waiting.
OTM kept none of the promises so why should he? In desperation he looks for other means to advertise his properties, he is told he will be taken to court. He is now being forced to advertise with a company he has zero trust for.
The word ‘mutual’ has nothing to do with OTM.
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