Broker Fee When They Never Showed the Apt?

I was just approved for a studio in West Harlem and told me I would need to pay a broker fee. Normally this would be fine, but in this case, they literally didn't show me ANYTHING. I am taking over the lease of a friend, so I had already seen the place and they didn't show it to me. I also reached out to them about the apartment before they made a single listing advertising it. I haven't even met anyone there yet -- the appointment to sign the lease isn't until next week. Is this legal? My friend has lived there for 3 years and had nothing but good things to say about the place, plus it's extremely cheap for that neighborhood. The broker fee balances itself out in some ways, but still...can they ask for money when they didn't do anything?