Not happy with solicitor

[TremoloGreen]

We are finally close to completing on our sale but I have not been impressed at all with our conveyancing solicitor due to numerous delays, inability to read details properly (causing stress for us, our buyers and our freeholder) and I have had to seriously question on one occasion whether they were acting completely in our interests. The EA recommended them to us and they were on a no-sale no-fee basis... lesson learned there!

Wondered if I would have any basis for asking for a reduction in fees, either from them or from the EA fro recommending them? Is it worth a try or is it just not the done thing?

Have a look at your terms and conditions when you signed up in the beginning.

My firm has something like this in their terms and conditions:

Traditionally, professional services are charged by the hour and the more of your solicitors' time you need the more you will pay. This does not apply with our fixed-fee service. You have the benefit of a fixed-fee deal with us, knowing from the start how much you will pay. Because you are not paying us by the hour you understand that the work we do must be contained to what we originally agreed with you, namely to dispose of, or procure, for you a good and marketable title to the subject property with no "mission-creep". We will follow acknowledged best practice and we will not give poor service. The service we do give, whilst not necessarily perfect, will be adequate, with things done in a reasonable time (judged by objective standards)

Don't forget your solicitors may have been waiting on paperwork to be supplied by other parties and that may have contributed to delays. Whilst frustrating for you, this would not be grounds for a reduction. If, however, your solicitor did delay doing things that they could have done quicker, you may have grounds for complaint. Your solicitor will have documented all dates when documents were sent out and received. Can you remember how quickly you responded to sending back forms like the Fixtures & Fittings, Seller's Property Information Form, supplied documents (or copies) and responded to enquiries requested by the buyer's solicitor and supplied your ID? All this can have an impact on the length of the transaction. Was there anything that took more time to solve, i.e. waiting for a management pack (leasehold property) or any discrepancies with Land Registry or ID, or a delay in receiving a mortgage offer?

You can certainly try to get a reduction on fees but you'll need to put it in writing.

Well worth asking I’d say.