Daylight robbery ID check fees. Called the Folkestone branch to enquire why ads for properties they are selling contain a note that all buyers must pay £60 plus VAT for anti money laundering checks before a memorandum of sale can be issued. The girl I spoke to simply said that this was a policy set by their head office. These checks cost pocket change and most estate agents in the area (I checked with at least 8 of them) told me they cover this as a normal cost of business. Charging this sort of price is nothing more than utter greed and profiteering off of people who don't realise they're being fleeced. When I told the girl that this would prevent me from buying a property through them she was unconcerned. I hope potential sellers realise that their business practices will put buyers off. Absolutely unacceptable.