Our experience with John Payne Greenwich, specifically with the agent Chief, was one of profound dishonesty and unprofessionalism. From the intial viewing, we were met with conflicting information regarding interest in the property. Different agents provided wildly different figures for the number of viewers, ranging from "17 in one day" to a significantly lower number. This immediately felt like an attempt to create false urgency. Despite initially being told they wouldn't take holding deposits until all offers were in (to avoid "many refunds" – a telling statement in itself), we were pressured into paying a holding deposit very quickly after expressing interest. This push, coupled with their earlier comment, now seems to hint at their willingness to act illegally by potentially taking multiple deposits. After paying our holding deposit, communication ceased entirely for a full day. We were then informed that another offer had been accepted, directly contradicting their assurance that our offer would be prioritised because we had paid the holding deposit. When I called for an explanation, the agent's account was incredibly muddled and evasive. They initially claimed another holding deposit had been taken, then quickly backtracked, admitting this would be illegal under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 – a fact I had to highlight. This interaction alone exposed their profound lack of transparency and integrity. The entire process felt manipulative and deeply dishonest. We are still awaiting a clear and honest explanation for these actions. Based on our experience, we strongly advise extreme caution when dealing with John Payne Greenwich. UPDATE: We have since secured a flat with Conran and they have been excellent. I would urge customers to use their service if you are looking for a place to rent in Greenwich!