Quote:
Originally Posted by dave99
Getting more tricky
If no written contract then the only possible authority that may be thought to exist is going to verbal.
This would seem as though it willcome down to who said what to whom and who is going to be believed.
Are there any e-mails that would support that you stated that no money should be released.
What about anything that you may have e-mailed about reserving a specific apartment - this would indicate your likely (but not absolute) wish to proceed to at least the first stage.
Why did you actually pay any money - was this a request by the agent, the lawyer, or the developer.
Was the money a deposit or a reservation FEE, do you have anything that states that this payment is fully refundable if not proceeding.
Sorry for all the questions - maybe you might want to go PM if not happy to make all this too public.
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I fear that in Egypt a verbal agreement is enough to exchange contracts on. We did have a conversation with the lawyer saying that everything was generally ok with contract and once the few issues we had were rectified we would sign. I cant see what the point is in having a contract though if you dont have to sign it.... ??
We recd a letter from our agent asking us to pay the first stage deposit monies totalling 40% of the purchase price into the lawyers account as soon as possible - the agents KNEW at this stage that we had no contracts.
We did choose a specific apartment with the agent and it was confirmed which one we were proposing to buy via email. We were told verbally in a meeting with the agent that the monies were paid into the lawyers client account for safe keeping until contracts were signed and youwere happy with everything. We do not have anything that states that the monies would be fully refundable - again we were told this verbally by the agent.
I think the sticking point is that the lawyer has actually exchanged contracts without us being aware he had done so and without us signing the contract. It is whether he can do this legally under Egyptian law or not....
Also, there has been some deception on his part as he is portraying himself as a member of the UK Law Society and has done so to us, the agent and a room full of people at a recent seminar!