Member since : | 16 Oct 2006 |
Manually reviewed : | 2 Jan 2024 |
Last updated : | 2 Jan 2024 |
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Myself and my partner applied for a house that we found on OpenRent, which is normally somewhere you go to steer away from letting agents and go directly to the landlord. However, we liked the house so much that we thought we would apply, even though we didn't really want to be managed by a letting agents due to previous bad experiences in Leeds. The amount of information requested from us was quite surprising, including bank statements, payslips, proof of savings and proof of contract (normally agents will just ask for one of these as a maximum). Given previous bad reviews regarding data privacy (below! ) we sent this in a password protected folder. The woman who dealt with most of our application was friendly and helpful. When questioned as to why InterCity didn't use a credit check agency and needed so much information she said that they instead use a referencing agency. The problems for us arose when, after a week of to-ing and fro-ing asking for more and more information, they asked that I use a guarantor as couldn't provide proof of contract due to COVID and not being able to access the office. We were happy with this, and had actually suggested it several days before. On the guarantor form, which is riddled with spelling mistakes (not that bothered, but not reassuring either), they ask for card number, expiry date and CVC code (3 numbers on back of card). This is not PCI compliant, and we were advised by the citizens advice bureau and the bank of the guarantor to not send this information. John, who seems to be in charge of Intercity. Failed to reassure us on this and instead asked us to "comply or withdraw" and then told us that we had been sent the wrong form anyway! The guarantor has never been asked for this information in the past when acting as guarantor. This was also the case for other people we knew who have been landlords and guarantors in the past. There was no mention of online data privacy, only that the information (that included all the guarantor's card details needed to make any purchase online) would be stored in a locked filing cabinet and that the offices are in a residential area… Our application, excluding guarantor form, was passed on to the landlord and as far as we are aware never even went to a referencing agency. Throughout the process, we were told "we have been doing this for 33 years". Intercity need to wake up and realise it's the 21st century and that their ways of doing things are dangerous and against regulation.Moreexpand_more
In my opinion the best letting agent in Leeds. Professional service from start to finish, if you are wanting to let your property or need a place to rent give Intercity Accommodation a call, you will not be disappointed. I have used Intercity for the last ten years and never had a problem.
InterCity are a very proffesional company with good old fashioned values when it comes to treating their customers. They may not be the biggest Letting Agency in the North of England but you don't remain in business for the length of time they have without doing something right.