$20 for your personal information

[2BAD4U]

I recently received a letter from a real estate agent offering their services as a property manager. The thing that got me concerned was:

1. It was addressed to me personally
2. It listed the investment property they were referring to (address details)

So I rang them to enquire how they knew it was an investment property and secondly how they knew I was the owner. Turns out, all they do is ring the council and they can buy a complete list of all houses and who the owner is. They look for owners with a different address and they have you.

I then gave the estate agent a blast and told them they will never get my business through such tactics. Next I rung the council. I asked to have my name removed from the list that the agents can buy. Turns out only doctors, lawyers, police, etc can have their name removed, as for the ordinary person ..... tough luck. :mad::mad:

[Ricky Roma]

This is standard practice.. nearly every agent will subscribe to RP data, www.rpdata.com.au or the like which is just an electronic version of the landtitles office. This will show owners name, address, purchase price and phone number for the owners, plus any previous owners names and purchase prices... these days it is less and less accurate however for absentee owners and harder for agents to get the details because the solicitors will usually just leave the new owners details as the address of the property they are purchasing...

I havent found any councils who will give out information (for sale or not) however usually they would have an agents postal address as the absentee for council rates rather than the owners which isnt that useful if you post the current agents...

I am not sure of the big deal about receiving the letter.. you should probably use the agent as they are pretty proactive.. Generally agents will send out updates as to what has sold in your street or complex if they have you on there database.. Most people dont mind receiving this sort of info..
The details they have on you could almost be sourced from the local phone book...

[2BAD4U]

I am not sure of the big deal about receiving the letter.. you should probably use the agent as they are pretty proactive.. Generally agents will send out updates as to what has sold in your street or complex if they have you on there database.. Most people dont mind receiving this sort of info..
The details they have on you could almost be sourced from the local phone book...

There's no way I would use this agent or anyone who tries to get business in this manner. I detest this sort of approach which is why I also hate spam emails and those annoying calls from telemarketers. I have a silent phone number for this very reason. Costs me about $3 a month and worth every cent, no telemarketers ring me, and if they do my first question is how did they get my phone number.

I realise the information they have is freely available but it's more the use of the information I don't like. I find it an invasion of privacy.

[bluelabel]

I find it an invasion of privacy.

Get hold of the local leo's or some sort of ombudsman for the invasion of privacy. I agree totally with you Bad, I wouldn’t use these guys for anything. It is a total invasion of privacy and you should kick up an appropriate stink. :mad:

Another suggestion, get hold of the local rag and bad mouth the Agent. As they say, bad word of mouth is worth ten times more than good. Hit em where it hurts...reputation.

And Ricky, you can not seriously condone this behaviour. It is abhorrent.

Hey Joe, can we start a name and shame thread for dodgy, sorry, less than ideal Real Estate Agents?

:bier:

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