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Property/DIY

How to deal with extra slow/careless solicitors?

14 replies

workingonitagain · 01/06/2015 16:48

Just that really. Everyone is ready waiting for us even above in the chain and just realising solicitor is not the best and missing things out. I don't want to shot myself in the foot but really getting to a stage when i want to have a big go at them. Do i have any rights. I know we could technically change them but at this stage i don't know if that would end up being longer ?

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cooper44 · 01/06/2015 18:06

You have to be on their case all the time to keep things moving but also if they are useless I would find out within the firm who deals with complaints and talk to them - or formally complain in which case the partner that deals with complaints will most likely be all over it like a rash.
In my experience that's what happened anyway - although I just went and found another solicitor but it wasn't conveyancing which is a bit different and you just need to get it wrapped up asap.

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Want2bSupermum · 01/06/2015 19:29

I have gone into offices in person to get things moving before. Nothing like speaking to a partner to get things moving.

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workingonitagain · 01/06/2015 20:45

Thanks all to to top it off person dealing with us gone on annual leave for 2 weeks. Secretary doesn't seem to be all there. I am absolutely fuming and frustrated so i decided to write a letter of complaint to head partner so will see what happens now

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specialsubject · 01/06/2015 21:47

phone on the hour, every hour. Turn up at offices. Complain on any social media.

going on holiday - fine. Not delegating property transaction - sackable offence.

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QuiteLikely5 · 01/06/2015 21:52

Do you have a completion date?

Look up the professional standards of solicitors and see how he is failing in his service.

Quote this when you email.

Failing that ring the practice tomorrow and request that you speak directly to theanshing parter regRding a serious issue you have with a member of his staff. If the receptionist asks you who etc tell her you are not at liberty to say.

I'm certain you will get put through. Mention professional standards too.

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workingonitagain · 02/06/2015 12:30

Do i have the right to ring up our seller's solicitor for an update as i have their details and ref number on our law society property information form?

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specialsubject · 02/06/2015 17:35

well obviously you can phone but they are unlikely to talk to you. The only people who talk to you are the solicitor that you pay and the estate agent.

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beardeddragon174 · 02/06/2015 17:58

Mine are being similar. I sent a concise email detailing all their failures and cc'ed in everyone else in the chain.

Surprise - next day things got moving! Although we still haven't exchanged yet.

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Spickle · 02/06/2015 20:00

Do not change solicitor - you will effectively be back to square one if you do that. Are you absolutely certain that it's your solicitor who is slow or is it that he is waiting for responses from various third parties? If he is waiting for information to come in from third parties, you cannot hold him responsible for being slow - he has no control over how long that will take.

At work today (conveyancing assistant), we had a client phoning us every half hour because we hadn't exchanged, everyone else was ready and he was not amused (and had gone on holiday). Turned out he only returned his signed contract two days ago after having it for a month, and we haven't received it yet. He thinks he has a valid cause for complaint (as many do), errr no, just sign and return documents in good time.

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workingonitagain · 02/06/2015 20:11

Thanks all. I have a feeling they sent off requests for local search very late so wonder if that had slipped through the net but i can not prove uit as i do not have dates etc. my estate agent called them but all we get to speak to is the secretary and apparently she is doing everything she can only found out from our buyers that their solicitor is waiting for a reply from us. However my solicitor forgot to advise us this.... Frustrated big time!

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Want2bSupermum · 02/06/2015 22:16

Call the buyers solicitor and ask them what they are waiting on from your side and how long it should take to complete these tasks. Write an email to your firm and tell them you expect everything to be done by those dates. Follow up with a visit ASAP. A secretary shouldn't be doing 'all she can'. That makes me think there is inadequate supervision which is a big red flag for something going wrong in the 11th hour.

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Spickle · 02/06/2015 22:21

The buyer's solicitor won't talk to you, let alone pass on information. They act for your buyer not you.

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Want2bSupermum · 03/06/2015 02:49

As the buyer I have had the sellers solicitor step in to expedite which involved giving me the list of what they needed to happen and estimated times for it to be done. While they do indeed represent the seller and not you, it's hardly conducive to not speak to the buyer of it helps their client. My solicitor went into early labour so my transaction was assigned to the office goon.

As a seller I have in the past instructed my solicitor to speak to the buyer of it helps move the transaction along.

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workingonitagain · 03/06/2015 13:36

I called the designated solicitor this morning. Apparently everything has come back (within a space of 5 hrs ????) and the the secretary is typing up the final report for me to pick up later on today! i sent my complaint email in 2 days ago to the partner so wondering if that is the result of that?! Either way im glad things are moving along. Does anybody know what happens now?