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Original poster

Can you tell me about your awful solicitor experiences to make me feel a bit better?

123 replies

waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 13:53

Went into sign paperwork on a new flat today. Female solicitor who has done all the work has been fab, but was on holiday this week.

Male solicitor clearly hadn't opened my file before my 12pm appointment. He noticed some forms were missing - which he would have spotted before I came in if he had bothered to read the first page. Then proceeded to explain that because it was leasehold, I'd struggle to sell in 30 years time 'but hopefully you wouldn't still be living there'. He was just a totally arrogant, unprofessional, incompetent arse weasel.

When he told me I'd been asked to come in too soon, I just said OK and left.

I don't want to complain - there's no point. I just feel so insignificant and disappointed. I was bought out of my previous home by ex-DH. I know this flat isn't amazing, but I was excited about my next chapter. I have dealt with many solicitors over the past 4 years and, without exception, the women have been excellent and the men shite.

I'd love some solicitor horror stories to cheer me up.

OP posts:
DeeplyMovingExperience · 14/08/2020 14:00

What an arsehole.

I had an absolute cracker with one of the houses I bought. The solicitor clearly hadn't checked the paperwork and I ended up buying a house which was subject to a massive boundary dispute. I sued the solicitors firm, which was nice.

Mumsnut · 14/08/2020 14:26

Mine murdered his associate mid sale

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:28

@Mumsnut

Mine murdered his associate mid sale
Bloody hell!
OP posts:

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Legal issues
Pippapotomus · 14/08/2020 14:31

I once had my solicitor place my just signed paper work into a cardboard box with 'Crap' sharpied on the side of it.

lemonsandlimes123 · 14/08/2020 14:34

waytheleaves - I am not sure quite what the issue is. If there is a shorter lease then he is right to bring that to your attention. Doesnt mean he is an 'arrogant, unprofessional, incompetent arse weasel' Your reaction seesm to be a bit strong based on what you have reported as happening.
Mumsnut - no one is going to top that!

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:34

@Pippapotomus

I once had my solicitor place my just signed paper work into a cardboard box with 'Crap' sharpied on the side of it.
Wow. Did you mention this to them?!
OP posts:
Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:36

@lemonsandlimes123

waytheleaves - I am not sure quite what the issue is. If there is a shorter lease then he is right to bring that to your attention. Doesnt mean he is an 'arrogant, unprofessional, incompetent arse weasel' Your reaction seesm to be a bit strong based on what you have reported as happening. Mumsnut - no one is going to top that!
It was his comments about 'hopefully you won't still be living there', and lots of other things - he asked me to show him the flat on rightmove so he'd know which one (!), clearly didn't know anything about it, and when I said that I'd prefer to come back when he had read the contracts he told me I had to stay and read them with him! Mad!
OP posts:
lemonsandlimes123 · 14/08/2020 14:38

Well he is right, hopefully you wouldn't still be living somewhere that has a very short lease as you would then likely be in financial dire straits! Your reaction seems very OTT. How long is the lease incidentally?

WeirdlyOdd · 14/08/2020 14:40

Ours got the new address wrong on all the paperwork! I know plenty of really competent lawyers in other legal fields, so have concluded that conveyancing work is perhaps attracting the less bright.

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:40

@lemonsandlimes123

Well he is right, hopefully you wouldn't still be living somewhere that has a very short lease as you would then likely be in financial dire straits! Your reaction seems very OTT. How long is the lease incidentally?
The lease has 150 years left!

I totally understand what you mean that if it was a short lease this is important to point out, but it is basically a new build. The comment about not still being there was more along the lines of 'of course you would want a bigger property by then'. Which may be true, but not very professional, and combined with everything else that he got wrong did not make a good impression!

OP posts:
Sanch1 · 14/08/2020 14:41

My DH sold a place and there was a delay. Enquired as to the reason fo the delay and was told it was the other solicitors fault. Turns out the 'other' solicitor was from the same firm - just blaming themselves for being shite basically!

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:42

@WeirdlyOdd

Ours got the new address wrong on all the paperwork! I know plenty of really competent lawyers in other legal fields, so have concluded that conveyancing work is perhaps attracting the less bright.
Completely agree. I have used some excellent solicitors in house purchases before, so I'd like to think I know a good one when I see them.
OP posts:
MinnieMountain · 14/08/2020 14:42

Pointing out the length of the lease is one thing but "hopefully you won't still be living there" is not very helpful. What advice did he actually give about it?

MinnieMountain · 14/08/2020 14:45

Cross post. Well he is an arrogant toss bag then.

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:46

@MinnieMountain

Pointing out the length of the lease is one thing but "hopefully you won't still be living there" is not very helpful. What advice did he actually give about it?
He didn't give any advice. The lease is long enough that I don't need to worry about it unless I am there for 40+ years.
OP posts:
lemonsandlimes123 · 14/08/2020 14:46

150 years is unusual for a new build. It sounds like he just rubbed you up the wrong way. Agree that conveyancing does not always attract the highest flyers!

pumpkinpie01 · 14/08/2020 14:49

I got divorced years ago and the solicitor asked me to swear on the bible then produced the yellow pages .

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:50

@lemonsandlimes123

150 years is unusual for a new build. It sounds like he just rubbed you up the wrong way. Agree that conveyancing does not always attract the highest flyers!
I just double checked - it's 125 years.

Interesting, do you mean unusual as in, that's short or long? Most newbuilds around use are 125 years. I know some are 999 years though.

OP posts:
LegoCardSwapper · 14/08/2020 14:50

@Pippapotomus

I once had my solicitor place my just signed paper work into a cardboard box with 'Crap' sharpied on the side of it.
This made me laugh a lot. Not so funny for you, granted, but it tickled me. Like the professional facade was too much bother to keep up!
WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 14/08/2020 14:50

@Mumsnut - Mine murdered his associate mid sale.

I think we've all felt like doing that mid-sale.

TokyoSushi · 14/08/2020 14:50

We were selling our house and found that there was a pretty big anomaly with the paperwork that had been messed up by the seller's solicitor when we bought.

When we were selling, our buyer's solicitor wouldn't proceed with the sale because of this mess up with the paperwork and it cost us £5K to fix.

The infuriating thing was that the solicitor who had messed up the paperwork, and now refused to accept it, was the same bloody person who had made the mistake 5 years previously!

I still feel absolute rage when I walk past their offices!

listsandbudgets · 14/08/2020 14:52

I had an appointment to sort out my will. They kept me waiting 40 minutes saying the previous consultation had overrun and finally the solicitor came out with a massive nose bleed and appeared to be utterly drunk at 2pm Shock

I made my apologies saying unfortunately I'd run out of time now and went elsewhere.

HeartZone · 14/08/2020 14:53

pumpkin
This made me laugh, thank you on a gloomy day!

MinnieMountain · 14/08/2020 14:54

I've noticed that leases on new builds are increasingly being granted for 150 years as lenders change their requirements.

Original poster
waytheleaveswork · 14/08/2020 14:55

@pumpkinpie01

I got divorced years ago and the solicitor asked me to swear on the bible then produced the yellow pages .
Ha this is amazing!!
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