Good afternoon Shaffan. We are unsure what the advance fee you paid is? Is this something you paid to a solicitor to engage their services? We are sorry to hear that you missed out on a property and understand how disappointing this can be. Unfortunately we are unable to find your details on our database so are unable to comment on your individual case. We will however address the issue as a whole. We actively discourage the practice known as 'gazumping' as we know the distress and upset this can cause. However we have a duty, by law, to put forward any offer that is submitted to our clients for them to consider. We act solely on our vendors instruction if they decide to proceed with a higher offer than one previously made. Our role as estate agent is to secure the best sale price together with the strongest purchasing position for our vendors. The market is exceptionally busy at the moment and many of our listings are selling well above the asking price within very short time scales, sometimes with upwards of 15 offers. This significant demand for properties in the current market means that many buyers are being left disappointed at missing out on properties that they really want as there can only be one successful buyer for each property. If you could call the office on 01254 682470 we would welcome the opportunity to discuss your dissatisfaction and explain the reasons for our vendor's decision. Kind regards The Stones Young Team