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Solicitor not responding

17 replies

Squigglesonthebear · 01/10/2021 21:56

It's been nearly 6 months since we had our offer accepted on our purchase property. We're second from bottom in the chain and it did take a few weeks for the rest of the chain to get to established, although our vendors vendor are moving in with family to speed things up. The searches for our purchase were due back last week.

Apart from things generally being a bit slow (but within normal range I would say), our solicitor is being completely uncommunicative. We last had successful contact 4 weeks ago when she asked for answers to some of our buyers queries, but failed to acknowledge our previous emails up to that point regarding some of our queries on our purchase. Since then we have emailed and phoned several times to ask for progress updates (they have an online tracker but haven't updated since May) and also some other questions but haven't received a single reply or call back. We currently have no idea as to how things are progressing.

I know things have been busy with the stamp duty cut off, but am I being unreasonable in thinking this is poor service? Is there anything I can actually do about it other than switch solicitor, which u expect would be a lengthy process in itself?

OP posts:
Minster2012 · 01/10/2021 22:06

That's horrendous and not good enough. Are they within a distance you can go see them (and not leave til you've seen them or out in a formal complaint?)

Lightswitch123 · 01/10/2021 22:09

Agreed, not acceptable. I'd pop down to their offices in person tbh

Luzina · 01/10/2021 22:10

Email the senior partner/ practice manager

Squigglesonthebear · 02/10/2021 09:06

Thanks for the advice, and for confirming that we're right in thinking it's not on. They are local so maybe we will pop in. I just fully expect them to fob us off if we do...

OP posts:
languagelover96 · 03/10/2021 13:43

Email again to chase up.

CherryFenton · 03/10/2021 16:10

Are they actually solicitors or cheaper conveyancers?

Bostonbullsmumma · 03/10/2021 22:12

Are they based in Stockport by any chance??

spongebobscaredypants · 03/10/2021 22:34

I'm also having a bloody nightmare with a solicitor is Stockport. To the point now I've had to complete on my house sale and now staying with family until my purchase completes

lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine · 03/10/2021 22:40

We are dealing with one in Manchester. Could be weeks and 6 or 7 emails before we got a response.
I snapped and googled the solicitors superior and sent a stinking email (a bit full if rage) and threw in contacting the ombudsman. Lo and behold I had replies straight away and have been assigned a different solicitor. It shouldn't have to come to this. I'm not one to normally complain.

Squigglesonthebear · 04/10/2021 03:45

@CherryFenton

Are they actually solicitors or cheaper conveyancers?
Yes, they're proper solicitors - actually pretty well respected locally and we have used them for conveyancing before with issues. The solicitor handling our case is fairly new to the firm however.
OP posts:
Squigglesonthebear · 04/10/2021 03:46

Sorry, that should say without issues

OP posts:
Squigglesonthebear · 04/10/2021 03:48

Bostonbullsmumma and Spongebob, no they aren't based in Stockport, but sorry to hear you are also having solicitor problems.

OP posts:
Squigglesonthebear · 04/10/2021 03:50

@lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine

We are dealing with one in Manchester. Could be weeks and 6 or 7 emails before we got a response. I snapped and googled the solicitors superior and sent a stinking email (a bit full if rage) and threw in contacting the ombudsman. Lo and behold I had replies straight away and have been assigned a different solicitor. It shouldn't have to come to this. I'm not one to normally complain.
Thanks @lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine, I'm thinking this the way to go. Did you suggest a timescale for them to respond before referring to ombudsman?
OP posts:
Bostonbullsmumma · 04/10/2021 06:41

@spongebobscaredypants

I'm also having a bloody nightmare with a solicitor is Stockport. To the point now I've had to complete on my house sale and now staying with family until my purchase completes
I bet we are using the same firm- having an absolute nightmare with them too!!
lostmymarblesbutfoundthewine · 04/10/2021 06:55

Morning.
I didn't. To be honest I wouldn't really have a clue about contacting the ombudsman.
I was just at the end of my tether and thought if I threw that in the email they would react.
And they did.

SirYawnsAlot · 04/10/2021 06:56

The online tracker is useless, they only tend to log big events and even then 2 weeks too late.
Not ideal, but could you go through the Estate Agent for enquiries to the seller?

FFSFFSFFS · 04/10/2021 06:57

Email the managing partner

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