If an agent wants to 'own' a client that they refer . . . for all time . . . that needs to be clearly outlined in the original referral agreement. To me a referral is a one time, one client, one transaction thing. Unless it's specifically stated that multiple transactions would be involved? I would not honor that second non-referral. And I would be too annoyed to accept a referral from that agent again. I have had agents come after the fact and try to stick their hand in my pocket for relatives of clients that they have referred. Like Wayne said, this ain't Amway.

Agent B in y opinion. Real Estate is not Amway!

NO.... Agent A got her one time referral fee,... this is not perpetual income... unless it's in writing that all future transactions with that client have a referral fee attached !!!  unheard of... that's my take on it!

Gloria Valvasori, ASA The client belongs to Agent B. Agent A is not entitled to another referral fee unless they have a written agreement to pay future referrals for this buyer.

Agent A would not be due a referrals unless the first referral stated they would get referrals for lofe, and agent b accepted by signing. Where this would be highly unusual, I xy Agent A is no longer due a referral without a written agreement to get one

Agent A got the referral already.  End of the gravy train.

Gloria,

Agent A is not entitled to a continuing referral in our opinion.  A

Agent A is wrong. Unless Agent A set something up in writing, SOL and greedy as I see it. 

It's Agent B's client now.

I never pay a referral fee on the second generation sales as I'm the one that maintained the communication and my effort got the next deal.

I would like to see the referral agreement to see how it reads and if it mentions referral payments for future transactions.

 This is an 'age-old' issue with agents. Agree with Michael Setunsky

That is clear to me.  What was in the initial referral agreement.  No mention of future referral fees then the buyer is Agent B's client. The client also feels Agent B is their agent as they went directly to Agent B 2 years later asking for help. Done and Done.  Agent A can go fly a kite. 

This answer depends upon the referral agreement. Our typical agreement is for the first transaction. Subsequent deals with the same party are not subject to the referral. Good for Agent B to have done such a good job that the buyer wants to use him/her again.

Agent A is not entitled to yet another referral fee. The typical referral agreement distinctly provides information as to what the referral fee will be for.

Client relationship ends when the contract is signed.  

Roy Kelley gave a great response... This isn't a 'one size fits all' - read the fine print and know what's in the referral agreement and then there's no misunderstanding. 

Boy, I wouldn't want to get near Agent A. It's Agent B's client plain & simple.

Lifelong referrals don't exist in my book and that is explained prior to acceptance whether giving or receiving them.

I agree 100% with what Candice A. Donofrio said.  If they wanted to refer them for all time, they should have said so. 

Agent A loses.

The client belongs to Agent B, and Agent A needs to take up kite flying.

IMO belongs to Agent A if the buyer is looking in Agent A's area, otherwise there is no ownership and the buyer can use anyone they prefer

IMO the only way Agent A would be due a fee is if the original referral contract included a "forever" clause - which if given to me I wouldn't sign anyway

Follow the terms of the referral agreement. 

I agree with Candice A. Donofrio but if the buyer had contacted the originally referring agent and that agent then referred them to the SAME or a different agent now they would be entitled to another referral. Gloria Valvasori, Accredited Senior Agent 

Depends upon the original referral agreement - nothing more, nothing less. If the referral was in perpetutity, it should have been noted on the original referral agreement. Period.

Referral expired at first transaction when Agent A got paid.  Agent A is NOT entitled to any additional referral fees, sorry.

If it's not stated in the referral agreement then Agent A is not entitled to another referral fee.

I'm with others.  If the original referral agreement outlines that a second referral fee is due then it is.  If the terms of the first referral agreement were met and no other transactions are part of it then I think it's just silly that agent A is trying to get part of the pie.

We did just have one where there was a specific time frame in the agreement and when the buyer came back to purchase a second home a year later we checked the agreement and we did owe a second referral based on the time frame and terms of the first agreement.  But, we paid based on the first agreement, not a second one that was sent after the fact. -Kasey

Its a talkable point and supports the premise of the Real Estate business i.e. everything is negotiable

It depends on the initial referral and what terms were agreed to.  In CA our forms allow for detailing the referral. 

I have always believed you earn that client's business after the inital referral.  

Gloria - In my opinion, Agent B has full rights to work with the buyer again without any referral fees given to Agent A. That is how I would expect things to be.

The only way Agent A should expect any sort of referral 2 years later is if they clarified that in advance.

Two years is a long time, a new deal that would not have happened had agent b not kept up the relationship more than agent a did.

Tell agent a to mind their own business and stop trying to be a leech on others.

Agent A was already compensated

Go by the time stated in the original referral agreement. If it isn't stated or the time has terminated enjoy your client free from a referral fee.

I do not know.

In California the RFA has a 12 month timeframe by default and can be specified to all types of transactions or just one type.  You can modify the length of the agreement if you like.

In this instance, the client would now belong to Agent B and agent A at best should get a nice gift.

Agent A is not entitled to another fee.

Gloria Valvasori, ASA that would be a personal choice.  There is no obligation to pay are referral fee and if your client isn't pushing for it you need to ask yourself; "will I do future business with this agent?"  I have a deal and the client referred me a seller today.  I immediately called the agent that referred them to me and included him on the deal. That agent is a personal friend and I know that he needs the money.  We should work together in the future since he was in my company and area.  He moved an hour and a half away.  He'll refer future business too.  It really is all personal with no obligation.

Agent B did the work to cause this client to become a return client. Not agent A.  Not happening on my watch!