Meridian Property 

BE AWARE
Misleading, Unhelpful, Uncaring, Withdrawal from Agreement, Untrustworthy, Worst Experience, No Standards of Integrity and Business Conduct!

OUR EXPERIENCE IN SHORT
The agency made an invitation to treat by advertising the room, therefore, on 29 January 2021, we had a viewing of the room. Following that viewing we paid a holding deposit of £350, on 11 February 2021, after which we were promised that the property was secured for us and confirmed the receipt of the holding deposit (on 15th February). Additionally, on 17 February 2021, the Tenancy Agreement had been sent to us, which we immediately signed. On 23 February 2021 the Agency withdraw from the agreement*.

OUR EXPERIENCE IN MORE DETAIL (From 30th Jan to 4th March)

8th Feb • At first, we agreed to what seemed a good deal for a spacious apartment, with specious en-suite, specious balcony. Property Manager Sherry Jones and Samuel dealt with our inquiry. Sherry notified us that she’d checked with her manager who agreed to the deal we made. Both parties moved ahead closing the deal as outlined below.

9th Feb - Template of contract provided for review and in return we filled in the application form.

11th Feb • We transferred the holding deposit to take the apartment off the market.

15th Feb • Agency presented payment plan to us including confirmation that the holding deposit had been paid.

17th Feb • Rental agreement signed by us (4x documents via Adobe Sign) / From this moment in time we handed in our notice to the current landlord.

FOLLOW UPS
18th Feb • Follow up with Agency as they only signed/returned 2 of 4 of the documents*.
19th Feb • Further follow up’s – the Agency does not respond as frequently as before.
20th Feb • More follow up’s – still no response/contracts returned.
21st Feb • etc – everyone will get the gist by now .
22nd Feb • etc.

23rd Feb - 4th March
• Agency emailed claiming now that the room had been secured by someone else before we secured it. Allegedly they made an error on their end due to Covid and WFH etc. 12 days had passed since the holding deposit had been transferred. An alternative solution was offered within the same email – no call was made – no care – the alternative solution offered (at the same price) was not of the same value (half room size, half balcony size, smaller en-suite) We were shocked that the agency attempted to withdraw from the agreement at this late stage – and the way we’ve been treated. Such an inconvenience considering a whole month of work, investments and planning.
• All of a sudden Sherry Jones claimed not to have a manager any longer as we asked for escalation internally within the company; she wrote “I am the manager”.
• Furthermore, she previously confirmed (15th Feb) we’d been successfully setup on their system including confirmation of the holding deposit received; all of a sudden (23rd Feb), Allegedly Sherry tried adding us to the data base (12 days later) and realised a ‘clash’ with another client who secured the space beforehand.
• Sherry then advised that Meridian Ltd cannot sign contracts until they’ve seen our physical ID documents in person (never mentioned that prior to this date) which happens on key collection day. Therefore, Meridian’s intend to make an agreement with us was not legally binding.
It is appalling to have read that response after that agency made us an offer, provided us with the contracts, accepted our holding deposit and let us sign everything. It was so upsetting. Sherry continued to claim they offered us a solution (a cheaper room advertised at a lower price we have screenshots of)
• After all of the above we gave Sherry one more chance to rebuild our trust, do business properly, therefore agreed to see their alternative solution (as we were vulnerable, seeking for a place as the countdown to vacate our current home was running, the last day moving closer).
• The Agency did not restore our trust, they did the opposite. They confirmed an appointment after a day of consideration as they had to check with tenants, which they then cancelled again. Just more excuses came our way… and we knew we’ve reached the bottom of their Customer Service skills.
• After another attempt from us asking for Sherry’s managers contact details – finally she provided us with: Matthew Azubike 'info@ grandgroupco.com' Allegedly he is Head of Business Strategy, @ GRAND GROUP LTD on Linked In – I attempted to contact him there too!
• Our attempt to get in touch was never successful until today, and when we asked for a contact number or another “direct” email address, we have been ignored by Sherry.
• Finally, the deposit had been processed after multiple inquiries – we’ve received it on the 4th March with a note that we were the ones that were difficult to please.

I remember checking the reviews while I was in the process of renting a room in London with their help and I thought that I was lucky. However, that was not the case. Due to my experience with them I won't recommend them. This is just a short timeline for you: On the 29th of Jan 2021 I did a viewing with Samuel to 2 of their properties in Indescon Square, Canary Wharf. The state of the two ensuite rooms viewed were not as in the pictures so there were some back and forward emails negotiating the prices. My partner and I said yes to one of them once they dropped the price for a large ensuite that could be okay for WFH during lockdown. On the 11th of Feb 2021 we did pay the holding deposit, followed by signing 4 other agreements including contract on the 17th of Feb 2021. After that, just two of them bounced back to us as completed. On the 23rd of Feb we received an email from Sherry Jones saying that was a mistake due to Covid and someone else paid the deposit with a day before us and giving us another alternative half the size. No proofs or phone calls were made to apologise. Even thought at the negotiating process Sherry mentioned asking for an approval from her manager for dropping the price, she refused to put us in contact with anyone from management to discuss the inconvenience. We still tried to arrange a viewing for the other ensuite suggested, after confirming the date and time they came back with a cancelation email for the viewing with a non sense reason. So we have decided that the only way forward at that stage is to give us the initial ensuite (we signed for) or the holding deposit back. Sherry mentioned that the agency was not legally bound to us as they sign contracts on the day they hand you the keys. So if you are planning to go ahead with them, make sure you sign the contract and not to find yourself homeless on the moving day and that the room was given to someone else. Happy to provide with more info if needed. They gave us back the deposit on 4th of March saying that we are the ones difficult cu please :). I will say there is no honesty, professionalism or customer service, please be careful.