If you're dealing with an estate agent — or someone who is passing themselves off as one — there's now an easy way to check their credentials. Look no further than their e-mail signature: if it doesn't bear a PrivySeal, the agent is either not registered with the Estate Agency Affairs Board or has failed to register for their PrivySeal, the use of which is now mandatory. A PrivySeal is a digital seal that authenticates registered estate agents in real time. In other words, a PrivySeal will display only if the estate agent is registered with the EAAB and has been issued with a valid fidelity fund certificate. "As opposed to a static image embedded in an e-mail or on a website, the PrivySeal is dynamic and displays today's date and time," explained Stephen Logan, the CEO of PrivySeal. When the user clicks on the seal, a hyperlinked verification certificate opens on the PrivySeal site, which in turn checks against the EAAB's database every five minutes. Risk of loss is high "Most peopl...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.