OpenRent taking holding deposits without landlord knowledge or permission!

Letting Agents

I have been using OpenRent for several years now, solely to advertise my properties and manage enquiries. I do not need nor use their premium "Rent Now" service as I handle all depsosits, documentation and compliance matters myself.

On two recent occasions, I have received a text from Openrent saying that a tenant I had just completed a viewing with had put down a holding deposit through Openrent. This happened without my prior knowledge or consent and on the first occasion, it was a prospective tenant I didn't want to let the property to.

I believe Openrent automatically message the prospective tenant shortly after the scheduled viewing and invite them to put down a holding deposit in an effort to coerce the landlord into using their premium "Rent Now" service. I think this is underhand and can put the landlord in an awkward and embarrasing position.

Has anyone else encoutered this or complained about it?