Really unprofessional, rogue company?
I initially found the company online and the website appeared credible. Paul responded to my enquiry by email, signing off with his name, qualifications, a reference to the Property Care Association, and his company name “Adept UK”, though he used a personal email address. The only company I could find under the name Adept UK had been dissolved in 2019 and Paul Thomas is not accredited by the Property Care Association.
After speaking with Paul by phone, he sounded knowledgeable and friendly and booked my Damp & Timber survey for the following week.
My email quote stated that a BACS invoice would be issued for payment before the survey, or payment could be made in cash on the day. However, no invoice was ever sent. When I contacted Paul the day before the appointment, he said he had “left the office” and could only accept cash, insisting I bring £480 cash with me. When I politely asked if he could give me a receipt upon payment, he became agitated and suggested cancelling the appointment.
I was concerned by the lack of an invoice, absence of company details, and pressure to pay in cash without documentation so I emailed again requesting Paul to send me an invoice the following morning. Paul called back in an aggressive manner, stated that his business ran on “good faith and trust,” and said he would not proceed with the survey if I was “wasting his time,” refusing to provide an invoice.
Given his claim of 40 years in business, it was unclear why there was no verifiable company presence online and why issuing a simple invoice was met with such resistance. I did explain my concerns to Paul that if I never received a report from him for any reason, he would have had the £480 payment from me which I would have no proof of.
Really unprofessional and concerning and he’s wasted my time and the vendor who I am buying a house from.