Letter: Auctioneer's advice

Sir: I refer to your article 'Gone for a song, you sucker' (9 October) regarding fraudulent auctioneers.

The Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 and The Sale of Goods Act 1979 most certainly do apply to the sale of real property at auction. Indeed, the Sales of Goods Acts, the Auction (Bidding Agreements) Acts 1927 and 1969, the Misrepresentation Act 1967 and the Consumer Protection Act 1987 are just a few of the pieces of legislation which define the auctioneer's legal and professional responsibilities when selling goods or real property at auction. The qualified auctioneer will be aware of these responsibilities and comply with the requirements of the law.

I am pleased the article cited membership of the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers (ISVA), denoted by the letters ASVA or FSVA after the name, as a means of identifying a professionally qualified auctioneer, distinct from those exposed in your article. However, it is unhelpful to alert your readers to the pitfalls involved in using unqualified auctioneers if no further advice is offered to assist them in avoiding the unscrupulous practitioner.

Details of the society's member firms which hold auctions throughout the United Kingdom and whose auctioneers abide by strict rules of professional conduct, may be obtained from the membership department of the ISVA headquarters. The society also publishes guidance for members of the public on buying and selling chattels at auction and is due to publish similar advice in the New Year for those seeking to purchase residential property at auction.

Yours faithfully,

RICHARD COURTENAY LORD

Chairman

Auctioneering Committee

Incorporated Society of

Valuers and Auctioneers

London, SW1