A woman has spoken out against a former director of an estate agent, who was found to be part of an illegal price fixing cartel earlier this year.

Christina Davis from Wokingham told the News how her late mother Ann Davis, (former Mayor of Wokingham and Town Stalwart)would have "taken up the baton" to claim a reasonable part refund after "failing to negotiate a lower commission rate" over the sale of her house in Arthur Road in 2010.

She claims her mother Ann was 'dismayed' at the fact she had to pay £11,421 in commission when selling her property with Michael Hardy Estate Agents, who Neal Mackenzie was director at the time.

READ MORE: Three estate agents fined more than £600,000 for price-fixing

After discovering Mr Mackenzie had been disqualified from being a director of Michael Hardy for his role in the illegal price fixing cartel, Christina was prompted to speak up so "other victims can come forward".

She also wrote to Neal Mackenzie and Barnaby Styer at Michael Hardy Estate Agents in July requesting a part refund to which she was refused.

Bracknell News: Bracknell News:

She said: "For several months it tore me and my beloved widowed Mum apart. I clearly recall my Mother's dismay at being unable to negotiate a lower commission rate for selling her house, she had valuations from Prospect, Richard Worth (as was the company then in 2010) and Michael Hardy Estate Agents.

"'As a family we had many disagreements over the sale and I told her not to agree as it was too much money but she just wanted a quick sale. Had she of known what was happening she wouldn't have gone through with it.

ALSO READ:Closure order for Bracknell house after number of anti-social behaviour complaints

"I just want to open the flood gates for other vendors and make him apologise for what he did. I ask Mr Mackenzie, you said you made a mistake but, it was in fact illegal action over the course of nearly 7 years? Where is your offer of refund, to those that suffered from his dealings and the cartel, after all millions of pounds must have been made during the seven year period. Are you happy?"

The former director of Michael Hardy Estate Agents, alongside Stephen Jones (former director of Richard Worth) and two other estate agents, ran the racket and set minimum rates of commission on the sale of homes.

A Government run Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation found the activity was kept up for nearly seven years.

Since being barred from working as a director, Mr Mackenzie has openly spoken about his involvement in assisting Barnaby Styer, the new director of Michael Hardy estate agents by working at Michael Hardy post-disqualification.

However, Ms Davis has questioned Mr Mackenzies' involvement in the business in assisting Mr Styer after seeing an online document sent on 3rd August this year by Neal Mackenzie as Managing Director of Michael Hardy Estate Agents, disconcerting as Mr Mackenzies' disqualification commenced in June this year.

Barnaby Styer, director of Michael Hardy estate agents, said: "The findings of the CMA are well documented as is the fine that was paid by Michael Hardy and 2 of the other 3 agents involved. Neal Mackenzie has resigned from his role as Managing Director and has publicly acknowledged and accepted the consequences of his mistake 12 years ago.

"It would not be appropriate to go into specific details of an individual transaction, which has been passed to our lawyers. However, it is my sincere belief, based on Ann’s comments after the sale completed and her numerous visits to our office post completion, that Ann Davis was very pleased with the service she received on what was a particularly challenging transaction.”

However, Ann Davis daughter claims she was "oblivious to the illegal price fixing Cartel that she had fallen victim of".

A spokesman from the CMA said: "A director disqualification undertaking does not prevent an individual from working at a business but does bar them from holding a company directorship or performing certain roles in relation to a company for a specified period.

"Official guidance about what activities a disqualified director is prohibited from performing can be found here. Breaching these terms may lead to criminal prosecution and personal responsibility for relevant company debts."