Real estate agent stole my deposit

[Lee Rimmer]

Me and my girl friend went to look at a property in Independence Mo. After we looked at it we asked if we could put in an application for it. The agent said yes, but we would have to put half of the deposit down also. She said it was refundable. We put down 70 dollars for the 2 applications, and 430 for half of the deposit. We got approved and the agent asked when could we move in. We said a month from now. 2 weeks later we decided not to move in and the agent said our deposit is not refundable because they took the house off the market when we said we're moving in. (Which is not true because we seen it still up while we were looking for other homes). I went to their office and pretended to be interested in another home and the front desk women told me that all i had to do was fill out the application, and pay 35 dollars for the fee. I then asked if i had to put down a deposit also, and she said no thats not required. We never signed any document's other than the application. We never committed to buying this home. We would have never put down the deposit if the agent wouldn't have told us it's required just to put the application in. I spoke to her boss and he said he require's people to put the deposit down also. I then informed him that she lied and said we had to do it, and that that's not their policy, he then got mad and hung up on me. Is there any way I can get my money back?

Name of the place is..

US Real Estate Equity Builder.

Kcmo

[Account Closed]

@Lee Rimmer I work at USREEB and know this story to it's entirety. 

You submitted your applications, application fees ($70) and half of the deposit ($430) on February 22nd. We always require a deposit to hold a property. This is standard in the real estate industry. 

We contacted you all on February 26th and told you that you were approved for the house. Your move in date was set for March 22nd. We did not take any other applications during the time that you were waiting to move in. You contacted the leasing agent on March 20th to tell us you didn't want the property anymore and we had been holding it for almost 30 days at this point. Our deposits are only refundable if your application is denied. This is stated in the application that you signed. 

You did not come into our office. When you called we told you that you can submit an application but we require a deposit to hold a property. You forfeit your deposit if you back out, which again, is very common in the real estate and leasing industry to protect an owner if you were to walk away.

Our criteria is very strict and we hold all applicants accountable. I'm sorry. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us!

Thank you