Blonde's Eye View: Estate agents

It must have been tough in E14 over the last year, with half the bankers being laid off and the other half burying their bonuses in Switzerland rather than property.

And, they've had to keep selling the continuous conveyor belt of Tupperware boxes that pass for new build apartments round here.

But, it turns out I was cutting them more slack than justified.

My week has been ruined by some back-street dealing, shysters who impersonate decent working professionals.

Maybe it's my fault. I thought being a buyer, in the back end of a recession where purchasers have been sparse, might make me an attractive customer?

Nope, it didn't even grant me common courtesy.

I was locked in a windowless room for 30 minutes and given the hard sell on the estate agent's affiliated mortgage products.

It was like good cop, bad cop, with no good cop, and percentages.

I wonder what they make their commission on? I'm not a numbers girl - I have a little man who sorts out all my finances (he's called "my husband") - but I know when I'm being sold a dodgy deal.

I wanted the house, not interest rates as high as One Canada Square.

After days of talking to the estate agent's answerphone, and no response to my offer, my dream home was slipping from my grasp.

By not using their mortgage or solicitors, I became invisible. So, I hunted out the builder's direct number. Don't you love Google?

My new house is secured and I have decided that all estate agents are evil devil spawn.

Except of course the one who is selling my current flat.

He is efficient, charming, handsome, and quite possibly reading this column.