Wolstenholmes, anyone heard about them?

siliconbits · 28 June 2009 at 6:26PM

I found on the net and their conveyancing quote appear to be quite competitive. See Wolstenholmes.co.uk

Edited : 2/7/2009

***** Bit the bullet and instructed them to take over the purchase procedure *****

I will report back in due time on whether they were timely and customer friendly or not. As of today, things seems to be going on fine.

lovemotown · 28 June 2009 at 8:32PM

I instructed them last week, based on price and that they only use solictors, not conveyancers. I haven't got too far down the road yet to be able pass judgment but they seem to have offices in quite a few big cities, (might not mean anything?).

I know their prices are competetive, I just hope cheap doesn't mean c5ap!

The problem I found with finding a solicitor is that unless somebody reccomends one, you haven't anything to judge them by.

Grz.26 · 29 June 2009 at 2:31PM

I too have instructed these guys, had a little trouble as the guy who was dealing with my case has left company, and has been given to someone else, and they have seemed to have lost the sellers HIP pack etc. I managed to speak to someone the other day and hopefully were back on track now. But v. cheap. I am paying £447 all in i think or thereabouts.

bluu2k · 29 June 2009 at 9:22PM

I also got their info and competitive quotes from the internet, but still am unsure if I should use them or not. The reasons are:

PRO:
1. They are registered with the Law Society, link here. Therefore, appears to be legitimate active business.

2. Their communication is fast and professional, and

3. Their price is competitive.

but CONS:

1. They claim to have presense in London W1J 6BD (2nd Floor, Berkeyley Square, Berkeley Square House -- a very posh office building). However, the front desk of that building carefully checked and said there was no such firm having office in the building.

We called and the firm said they definitelly have office in that building but clients need to arrange beforehand to see their representative.

The details they registered with The Law Society shows they have only one office in CHESHIRE.

Weird you think?

2. Their website says "Eshtablished since 1818".

However, The Company House website says that:

WOLSTENHOLMES LLP
Status: Active
Date of Incorporation: 05/06/2006
Previous Names: No previous name information has been recorded over the last 20 years.

and I am more concerned with this bit:
Next Accounts Due: 31/05/2009 OVERDUE

Weird? Is it abnormal for a law firm to let its accounts overdue? Is it an indication that the firm is not in sound and good operations?

Or am I just worried too much?

If I am using this firm, will my deposit money be safe once I transfer it to the firm's account?

Look forward to your advice

Jowo_2 · 29 June 2009 at 10:20PM

There's nothing awry with a company having an operating address that's different from the address given in companies house, using a serviced (virtual) office to receive documents rather than having a walk-in one.

It may be a practice used by rogue companies but it is also common to excellent companies too (note, I am planning to get a c/o address for my business via a virtual office to fully separate my business from my home where I work).

And yes, overdue accounts are awry, as a company will eventually automatically be struck off if they don't submit them after a certain period.

Having said that, I run a limited company and couldn't submit my accounts in a timely way because my accountant went awol and I had to submit all my new records to a new one, there are legit reasons.

Their web page shows their lineage of mergers and takeovers since their original incorporation - very impressive. You'd probably have to contact Companies House to confirm their previous incarnations, I'm not sure they've digitised much beyond the mid 80s.

http://www.wolstenholmes.co.uk/about-wolstenholmes-solicitors.htm

siliconbits · 2 July 2009 at 9:29AM

Edited : 2/7/2009

***** Bit the bullet and instructed them to take over the purchase procedure *****

I will report back in due time on whether they were timely and customer friendly or not. As of today, things seems to be going on fine.

lopsi · 2 July 2009 at 11:13PM

Good luck with the above company...my partner is currently using them and is having a nightmare with them!!

Im a believer that:mad: sometimes cheap isnt always best,,from what i have read on their web page they are not holding up to it...they said they emailed forms when they didnt,said they posted them,when they didnt,dont answer calls or return answer phone messages,were rude and when you eventually get to speak to someone they pass messages via the secretary !!
:mad:

Grz.26 · 3 July 2009 at 9:51AM

OK, i too am having a nightmare, they are not answering telephone. And the guy that I am using is a complete idiot! rude, but im not sure its his fault, his assistant has walked out so he told me and sounded totally dejected. Vender is getting more and more stressed. So I am going to bite the bullet and get my money back and move over to the venders solicitors, all beit 500 more. Ouch, but peice of mind i suppose.

bear.1973 · 3 July 2009 at 9:53AM

Good price quoted, inc search fees, then read this thread and panicked!
They have been ok up to now, instructed them approx 2 week ago.
am buying new build from persimmon, spoke to sales advisr and she confirmed she has been intouch with them and they seem efficient as everythng going ok and on time. They also provided a contact name, fax and direct tel number to her.
Had a few concerns though,
1) every email from thm is off a different person, nobody seems to have taken ownership
2) can never get hold of the person who has left direct tel number, always speaking to different people.
3) They have asked for original documents of proof, (passports, they even asked us to send our credit card!! and a utility bill.
Spoke to them again to say we are not prepared to send credit card, and why they do need original documants not photocopies?
They said they will accept photocopies if we get a professional to stamp thm, apparently its all to do with making sure there is no money laundering
going on. They confirmed that they would send all documents back within 3 days. Defo not sending a credit card though!

sorry its a long post, will post any further developments.

lovemotown · 3 July 2009 at 1:41PM

Must admit, I'm getting worried. It took them one week to allocate me a case worker, (or whatever they are called), and every time I ring I get a answer machine but the message is not my contacts voicemail. I send emails, some they answer, some they don't. There is a progress web site that says I have yet to send in my documents, but they have had them since Monday this week. What is the point of a progress bar if they are not updating it. I now worry that nothings actually happening with my case and I have a builder breathing down my neck for a quick completion.

I paid £400 (ish) up front by VISA and just wish I could get out of this as I don't have any confidence in them based upon what I have seen so far.

Is my only alternative to bite the bullet for £400 if I want to go to somebody else, or, could I cancel under the sale of goods act??? as it was paid by visa and get my money back?

I managed to get hold of the manager who must have kicked a5rse, because I got a call back pretty quickly, its just that I have a bad feeling about this lot.

Based on what I have seen so far, I certainly wouldn't recommend them

Grz.26 · 3 July 2009 at 3:14PM

im phoning up now, to get my 300 deposit back, found someone else that i have more confidence in.. wish me luck..

Wolstenholmes, anyone heard about them?

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