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Legal, pensions and money

90 year old Pressured to sell house

(14 Posts)
Concernedscot Mon 25-May-20 12:42:14

I need advice. My friends and old neighbours were pressured by a couple, who were actually both cops at the time, to sell their house to them. He made out they were friends and he promised to sell to them one day etc but he broke down a couple of times and admitted they were pressuring him and he couldn’t handle it. He turned down an offer of £16,000 MORE to accept this couples offer. It has never sat easy with me should I let it lie or should I report it. I hated seeing my friend lose out on thousands of pounds especially as him and his wife are both now early 90s

dragonfly46 Mon 25-May-20 12:54:19

If the sale has gone through I doubt there is much you can do now.

sodapop Mon 25-May-20 16:45:40

Not sure if your ex neighbour has asked for your help Concernedscot if he hasn't then you should leave it alone. If he wants your help then I think that at least the couple were using their professional status inappropriately. It's very sad this should happen to such an elderly person who placed too much trust in the fact they were police officers.

phoenix Mon 25-May-20 17:03:49

dragonfly is right, nothing that can be done know, if the sale has been arranged.

moggie57 Mon 25-May-20 17:08:58

i would report it to that man in the daily mirror .the one that sorts money frauds/scams etc. see what he says. after all you could report it to the police only preferably not to the couple who bought the house.

oldgimmer1 Mon 25-May-20 20:05:30

If the sale hasn't completed, it's possible to pull out still. You don't mention timescales in your OP.

I can't see evidence of fraud here. As long as the seller was of sound mind, and there's no suggestion that he wasn't, it was his choice to sell, even though he was "pressured" to do so.

Maybe suggest he contacts Action Fraud for advice ?

(They won't deal with you unless your friend has given his express consent).

Hetty58 Mon 25-May-20 20:11:54

Would it count as elder abuse? Putting undue pressure on somebody of that age is unforgiveable. The estate agent would have records of offers for evidence - that is, if it was recent.

Davidhs Mon 25-May-20 20:14:52

It’s not fraud, maybe there had been a better offer but there is no guarantee the buyer would complete the deal. As the seller had a buyer without paying an Estate Agent commission and expenses, it was not an especially bad deal.

Don’t get involved at the end of the day the cash will go care costs or inheritance at some time in the future.

Hetty58 Mon 25-May-20 20:17:31

Action on Elder Abuse helpline
Telephone: 0808 808 8141

Hetty58 Mon 25-May-20 21:41:27

Financial abuse includes:

'pressurising a person about their will, a lasting power of attorney, property and inheritance'

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/relationships-family/protection-from-abuse/

annep1 Mon 25-May-20 22:32:54

This happened to a friend. The buyers are now selling the house for a huge profit because they pressuried my friend into selling for a low price. I haven't told her. ( she moved away from the area so doesn't know). I doubt there's much can be done. It would be hard to prove.

annep1 Mon 25-May-20 22:33:34

Pressurised.

LydiaWilliams Sat 30-May-20 01:43:52

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BlueBelle Sat 30-May-20 07:27:50

That’s weird lydia

How long ago did this happen you say it never sat easy with me which sounds as if it’s in the past and a done deal
If so there’s seems nothing you can now do
Where are the elderly couple now?