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Setting a new bar on being anally retentive

RogerS

RogerS

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And off to pastures new
We're currently dealing with a vetting agency for a rental we're taking for a few months following our house sale end of March. They are intent on setting a new bar. It is not helped by their lousy IT systems that are incapable of handling even the simplest upload.

But this all pales into insignificance after this recent exchange...

"We can't accept this letter from your solicitor because it is in Word and therefore editable. It needs to be a PDF"

"I've got a copy of that letter. If I send it to you as a PDF will that be OK rather than wait for my solicitor to do it"?

"Yes, that will be fine"


DOH :unsure:
 
Just covering themselves against any possible accusations of malfeasance. Seems reasonable to me - the letter they get from the client can't be altered easily
 
You missed my point Duncan. I have the Word document. It is alterable. I could alter it. Then create a PDF. What they should have insisted on was a PDF from my solicitor.

Besides, a two-year old with the right software which is easily obtainable could take that PDF, convert to text, alter it then save as a PDF.
 
+1

You just need one of the Adobe offerings available and there are others as well as some free on line.

As far as I'm aware the only ways you can tell if a pdf has been edited is to inspect the metadata if available, copare it with the original document or digitally sign it which leaves a date stamp. I might be wrong but these days it's not difficult - it can't be when I can do it. ;)
 
RogerS said:
"I've got a copy of that letter. If I send it to you as a PDF will that be OK rather than wait for my solicitor to do it"?

"Yes, that will be fine"


DOH :unsure:
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I don't want to make assumptions on behalf of the agent, but I would interpret your statement to be you have a printed copy of the signed letter from your solicitor and can send a scanned copy.
 
Mike said:
I don't want to make assumptions on behalf of the agent, but I would interpret your statement to be you have a printed copy of the signed letter from your solicitor and can send a scanned copy.
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No, an electronic copy ie I was copied in by my solicitor.

The thing is that both my wife and I are in exactly the same boat vis taking a pension. We both had to be vetted. I had offered to pay the whole six months in advance. The letting agent lied and implied that vetting was a formality and that even if it didn't go through, six months payment in advance was fine.

So one day when we're clear of the rental and got any monies back, I will go back to her in the office and suggest loudly that lying is simply not the way to do things. She crucified us because the reality is that until the vetting agency say OK then they will not rent a property. All the way through whenever I expressed concern re the vetting I was assured that 'it was not a problem'. I record all my telephone calls. I will go for the jugular as I do not wish anyone to be put through the same mill. We have come very close to the wire on this in that we'd have nowhere to stay or store our furniture at completion.

Now compound this with the total and pathetic lack of consistency by the vetting agency. Both my wife and I had to be vetted. We are both on a pension. But the way each vetting was carried out was inconsistent and contradictory. It should be the same. Duty of care and all that.

If there is a regulatory body then that is where I will go. No one should have to go through those contradictory hoops.
 
Perhaps you have picked a bad time to rent Rog. Bridges legislative change and landlords and their lenders are suddenly extra risk averse. Private landlords have been busy issuing S21's at a rate of knots. Possibly an own goal from the labour party, we shall see. Hope you get it sorted. You can rent a room from us inexpensively as long as you do the garden and plumb in a bathroom :cool:
 
I think you're right there, ADrian. All these changes seem to have spawned a whole host of issues, dedicated 'insurance' companies being set-up it seems to protect landlords from 'difficult' tenants.
 
Don't forget to add a "digital signature" In other words a scribble with a mouse that bears no resemblance to your actual signature.
 
Raymedullary said:
Don't forget to add a "digital signature" In other words a scribble with a mouse that bears no resemblance to your actual signature.
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Except that is not what digital signature means. Microsoft:

Signing certificate and certificate authority​

Signing certificate To create a digital signature, you need a signing certificate, which proves identity. When you send a digitally-signed macro or document, you also send your certificate and public key. Certificates are issued by a certification authority, and like a driver’s license, can be revoked. A certificate is usually valid for a year, after which, the signer must renew, or get a new, signing certificate to establish identity.
 
AJB Temple said:
Except that is not what digital signature means. Microsoft:

Signing certificate and certificate authority​

Signing certificate To create a digital signature, you need a signing certificate, which proves identity. When you send a digitally-signed macro or document, you also send your certificate and public key. Certificates are issued by a certification authority, and like a driver’s license, can be revoked. A certificate is usually valid for a year, after which, the signer must renew, or get a new, signing certificate to establish identity.
Click to expand...
I know! but I have lost count how many times I have been asked to do this with no other authentication.
 
RogerS said:
You missed my point Duncan. I have the Word document. It is alterable. I could alter it. Then create a PDF. What they should have insisted on was a PDF from my solicitor.

Besides, a two-year old with the right software which is easily obtainable could take that PDF, convert to text, alter it then save as a PDF.
Click to expand...
They could, but they couldn't as easily alter the last amended date which is hard coded into the file (doable, but not by your average Joe). I get your point, but I understand why they asked. They don't necessarily care who it comes from so long as it's un-editable at their end so they cannot be accused.
 
TrimTheKing said:
..... They don't necessarily care who it comes from so long as it's un-editable at their end so they cannot be accused.
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Correct but that is only one side of the equation. They are a vetting agency and so have a duty of care towards their customers ie lettings companies who are paying the vetting agency to check out potential renters. It's all very well the vetting agency asking for a non-editable document but if the original content has been amended prior to it being made non-editable, by say the person applying to rent a property ie me, then from that point of view, demanding a non-editable document is pointless.
 
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