Chass Everitt... Be extremely wary! Be wary of employing the services of Chass Everitt.

Using Chass Everitt Bluff as a letting agency has caused me so much grief. Lisa, the letting agent, who placed the tenant, seems to have been less than forthcoming on many issues, which created so much unpleasantness and issues. Chass Everitt held the rental agreement deposit in their account from March until June and even though the client paid the rent almost a month prior to occupation, the rent was still not paid to me by the 01 June when the client moved in... I eventually received the rent around 10 pm that night, after much unpleasantness. I then noticed that Lisa had also taken half of the money paid by the client for water and electricity, even though we had a firm arrangement in place (confirmed in whatsapp) that the monies paid for the utilities would not be commissioned since it was for the tenants consumption costs, of which involves actual usage and same utilities bill needs to be paid to metro... I noted that the lease which was brought to me at the 11th hour (just a couple of days before the client was due to move in, even though I asked for same to be handed to me to be reviewed and signed weeks before) indicated a rental sum inclusive of the utilities (contrary to our agreement) and I immediately pointed this out to Lisa, reminding her of the breakdown I had sent to her as per HER request after our telecom agreement. She asked me to change it accordingly and initial the changes, saying that it was an error. However, I was STILL paid LESS than due to me when I was EVENTUALLY paid since she STILL went ahead and deducted the utilities money, albeit having been REMINDED about it AND the old whatsapp messages being RESENT to her. I could not understand how an agency could function in such an ********* manner and STILL expect me to admit a tenant onto my property, when NOT A CENT had been paid to me by the 01st of the month (Lisa understanding that the rent is my sole source of income) thereby causing my debit order payments to bounce. When I approached Lisa about the discrepancy, holding her accountable to honor her word (since it wasn't the first time I had noticed irregularities in her practices) she then GOT PERSONAL with me, calling me a mammoth spirit... I guess I should have just accepted her being dishonest towards me, even though it was a matter of principle to me!!? I had already incurred penalties due to my debit orders bouncing and now she expected me to look the other way while they cheat, by giving me LESS than DUE to me? My question was, did she really take me for a fool, or do most people just have no sense of morals, ethics and principles today? After receiving a few other insults from Lisa eg, "it seems that I need the money more than she does", etc I eventually spoke to the principal, David, who elected to reimburse me for the fees paid to them, being in the sum of R 2850.00 of which he said is done when the client is not happy with the service received, provided I send written correspondence to that effect ie perhaps an email and THAT was the ONLY stipulation he made. I accepted same offer, thinking that it would assist towards my losses incurred due to the debit orders bouncing... Resultant of their failure to pay by the due date, which I have been led to believe is common practice. However, to this date, David has FAILED to honor his written undertaking to reimburse the monies due to me. I have retained all written correspondence with both Lisa and David and my whatsapp messages to him, indicate that there were NO terms attached to being reimbursed, but that instead, when I asked him to do so, he initially ignored my correspondence and when I pressed him to respond, he was very evasive, merely saying that Lisa would email me after they have received feedback from the tenant (their client, who was technically no longer their client, but mine, days after she had moved in and the monies eventually paid to me), so I asked him what feedback he was waiting for and he simply rep**** (being evasive) that I should understand that he is following procedure.. As said, the messages have been retained. Days later, I received an email from Lisa (copying David therein), stating that they would only reimburse the monies due to me once I have deposited the tenant's damages deposit into their account, in order for them to hold it. I could not believe this! Suddenly there were terms attached!!?? The reason that the damages deposit was put into my account in the first place is because it is for ME as the LANDLORD to hold until such time that the tenant ends the lease and damages (if any) are ascertained and remedied. Lisa and David now hold my money RANSOM in trying to extract OTHER monies from me, which are NOT DUE TO THEM, OR IN LINE WITH THE CONTRACT!? Since the contract does NOT oblige me to hand over the damages deposit to them and since this was NEVER agreed upon (further ********* practices) yet I DO however have a WRITTEN undertaking concerning the monies DUE to ME, I'd say I have a clear cut case to take them to small claims court as a matter of principle... ************ behavior should not go ignored! I also intend to take the matter up with the Estate Agents Board and escalate the matter however necessary. I had some issues with receiving ALL monies due to me, from Lisa prior to her employ with Chass Everitt and she blamed the company she was working for then, but now I am told that Chass Everitt has a tendency to do this to other clients too? Seems bird's of a feather flock together! Be very wary of leasing your property with agents who try to ***** you over, so that they end up with some extra cash in their pockets.