My wonderful wife, she is not feeling good this week. Back pain. However, she just informs me of a call from a well known relocation company that says they would like a referral fee. I have no problem with paying a referral if they give you a referral. However, I was never (when I was doing this real estate stuff) on any of the approved lists because I just did not know playground etiquette and my wife is not on this particular relocation companies approved agent list. Well now she has a pain in another part. The client who is in the middle of all this is great. Been a client of my wife’s for years, she sold them their house. They have signed a listing with her with an addendum that says the relocation company is excluded from the listing if it does not sell. There is already an offer on the property. Roll over you Relocation company calls and wants a “referral fee”. We said no thank you. Here is the nice sample of the letter that I would send, (she will never send) to the Roll over you Relocation company:
Dear Extortionist (add real name)
It would be unfortunate if you became involved in the tortuous interference of the listing contract between the sellers and myself. They listed with me because I earned their listing and your extortion of fees to pay for promised services is after the fact. It is a shame I am not on your approved list because of the service that I bring my clients. I welcome you to include me on your list and will be happy to pay a full referral fee on all business that you actually bring me in future transactions. In the meantime however, I gave you generous options on a piece of business that you did not earn in offering you a referral fee on a larger commission. Should you interfere with my contract with the seller and cause me any harm in regards to the relationship with my seller I will pursue my rights in all ways possible. Your threat of having the seller cancel my listing is not being taken lightly by me and I have asked my seller to forward all threats of a reduced benefits package available to them because of your inability to extort my proceeds. Have a wonderful day and I hope to be considered on all referrals from you in the future.
STOP GIVING YOUR MONEY FOR REFERRALS THAT ARE NOT REFFERRALS.
