Agent exploited client's trust to earn higher commission
A former British Columbia real estate agent has been found guilty of professional misconduct for exploiting a personal relationship with a client to pressure her into selling her home and earning an “above-market” commission.
Ismail Jamal Jinnah, who was previously licensed with RE/MAX Blueprint Realty, manipulated his client to sell her home despite her initial reluctance, according to the British Columbia Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). The regulator said Jinnah failed to act in her best interest, violating multiple professional standards.
In 2015, Jinnah reportedly convinced his client to sell her detached home against her wishes. Jinnah continued to pressure the client, claiming that selling the house would be a smart financial decision. He also informed her that he would be charging a commission above the market rate due to the value of his services.
According to BCFSA, Jinnah’s actions went far beyond aggressive sales tactics. He failed to disclose his true role in the transaction and did not explain key details of the sale to his client, leaving her in the dark about essential contract terms.
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Further, Jinnah failed to advise his client to seek independent legal advice, even as he made significant changes to the sales contracts without properly explaining them.
The investigation also found that Jinnah provided false and misleading statements to BCFSA in an attempt to hide the extent of his involvement and the conflict of interest in the sale.
“The licensee exploited his personal relationship with a client, while being in a position of trust and influence, in a manner that can only be described as predatory,” said Jonathan Vandall, vice president of compliance and enforcement at BCFSA. “Pressuring or manipulating a client in order to sell a property or earn higher commission is conduct that falls alarmingly short of the professional standards that BCFSA expects licensees to uphold.”
Jinnah’s license to provide real estate services expired in March 2024. BCFSA has scheduled a hearing to determine the penalties he will face for his actions.
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