Very incompetent - beware!
Summary: Unlike most agencies, a cash deposit is required for even applying to the owner. For us, it seemed we would not see our cash back, whether we got an apartment or not!!
Detail:
On paper, the deposit is to discourage you (applicant) from saying no AFTER the owner has said OK to your application. It apparently prevents wastage of the agencies' time/effort.
However:
1. No promises for us.
In return, we got no guarantee of when we would get a response from the owner. Only maybes, and "we'll try hard".
Will you pay a plumber who says he'll try hard, but cannot fix the leak?
2. Our need carried no weight.
Apparently we got a positive response from the owner. But the offer that was made (move-in dates, contract duration) clearly did NOT match what we said in our application. So much for rushing to get all the paperwork done and the application ready.
3. No logic.
After that, apparently we had to part with our money, since we were saying no to the offer.
4. More illogical.
On pressing, supposedly we were at fault. Our application was not clear apparently. Although we gave the application in writing, and obtained confirmation too. Can you believe that?
5. More still.
If we wanted our money back,
> We needed to prove who we were. Didn't we give our identities at the time of application?.
> We could get it back only by bank transfer. How can someone else decide how you get back your own money?
> We had to produce a receipt for the cash we paid. We got a receipt when we paid, didn't we? Haha.
6. There are a zillion other immos who do their business without needing cash deposits.
Finally, in the end,we got our money back, while we got an apartment from another agency. But it wasted 2 working days, and gave us a full month's quota of nightmare.
Now who wants to try their luck?