Online Solicitors - Help + advice needed!!!

Teebo_2

I would steer well clear of Joslin Rhodes Conveyancing:

Although they're cheap you get what you pay for. Despite what the web site says, I found that you never got called back and rarely got replies to letters. They were sometimes rude on the phone.

They forgot to complete the land registry paperwork, resulting in a fine and interest charge from HMRC.

I have no idea if I was correctly charged because the final invoice was missing lots of detail and didn't add up properly (e.g. estate agent fees not listed). They ignored the letter I sent asking for a proper breakdown and ignored my requests to talk to the MD to complain.

They did not send all the paperwork on and it took about 6 phonecalls over a 4 month period before I got the missing forms. (The land registry issue is still not sorted 6 months on).

Another poster added the link to http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/. Worth reading before risking your purchase!

T.

Richard_Webster

You really need to look very carefully through the website involved and the written quote when you get it. It is very so easy to have a headline figure like "£200+ VAT for conveyancing on a purchase."

They don't tell you they are going to charge nearly as much again for dealing with the mortgage and some more for the SDLT form and for "Professional Indemnity Contribution" and for this and for that etc...

So it is often not as cheap as it seems!


As a conveyancing solicitor I believe the information given in the post to be useful but I accept no liability except to fee-paying clients

lukegeorge

Whether to use an online service or not really depends on what you expect to receive for the service.
Online conveyancers are often quick and swift but very impersonal but if you are a natural worrier and need reassurance a high street conveyancer who can talk you through everything may be worth the extra pennies!

airhostess

Very interesting topic! I am selling my flat for £124,995 and the cheapest quote I have had was £264.38 inc VAT & disbursements (the same quote from from 2 different law firms through https://www.reallymoving.com.) I must admit, I would only use type of online solicitors for selling, and not buying. My buyers is a FTB and there isn't a great rush to complete if the solics turn out to be slow.

The quote actually states inc VAT & disbursements - I have just fired emails off to both the 2 firms asking them to confirm the quote and asking if they do no sale no fee also. It's handy that Really Moving passes on the email addresses of the actual solicitors who will deal with the case so I can ask them the questions direct. Anyone gone though Really Moving before, and if so, which solicitor did you use?

Richard_Webster

HAVE SIGNED UP WITH https://www.legalmove.com WHO COST £247.00 + VAT FOR PURCHASES UNDER £500,00.
CONTACTED THEM AND THEY STATED THAT YOU REGISTER ONLINE AND THEN 24 HRS LATER THEY CONTACT YOU WITH A PASSWORD AND SEND A CONVEYANCING PACK OUT TO YOU. PART OF HAMMONDS DIREST WHO ARE APPARENTLY A WELL KNOWN CONVEYANCING FIRM.

AM GIVING THERSE A WHIRL AS £170 LESS THAN QUOTED ELSE WHERE

Their website says that they charge £115 + VAT for dealing with the legal work on the mortgage and £75 + VAT for completing the SDLT form but the cost on the purchase is apparently on £197 + Vat - this makes £387 + vat for real comparison purposes!

trixammaco

We used https://www.joslinrhodes.co.uk for our purchase and as first time buyers we were really nervous about using an online conveyancer.

It took six weeks for our purchase to go through and although it was stressfull with all the agents and surveyors joslin rhodes were no problem at all and everything seemed to go smoothly.

There was an issue with the boundary but they explained it to us and it completed on time.

I would recomend it to anyone and it only cost around £300 compared to £750 we were quoted elsewhere!

RONNIE43CATS

TamTam72 wrote: »

I agree with Jenni - I used Lambert Pugh recently for a VERY simple transaction, basically my (mortgage-free) parents bought our house from us (we also had no mortgage) and we then rented it off them, so a straightforward purchase with no upward or downward chain. When I first instructed them they said it would only take 2 weeks but actually took 2 MONTHS. I could never speak to Mr Lambert - he was always conveniently in meetings/at lunch etc. - and they always claimed to have sent things but we continually had to chase them up. They were certainly cheap (only charged me £200 + VAT) but were frustratingly USELESS. Be warned.

We instructed Lambert pugh back in Jan and whilst yes they were initially very slow and never replied to you, or always seemed to be in meetings... when things did finally start moving with the house sale( we had someone pull out and ended up doing a PX with the developer we had bought new from) they pulled their fingers out. I am in communication via email with them on a daily basis and they seem to be doing everything asked of them, in fact we are due to complete on Friday. Plus very surprisngly we have ended up paying less than the orginal quote. I was worried with them being miles away and not in our local town .Friends who had used the same internet search had said they had had problems even instructing the sol they were told to use via the net ( they could not get hold of them)so had just given up and paid more for a local one. In the end they ended up spending all their time chasing them anyway and in their words they were useless. So to sum up I would recommend Lambert Pugh as they have touch wood been great, course after a little kick up the backside!

rammster

abode conveyancing guys. I am going with them no probs so far. No completion no fee. fingers crossed

livalicious

Rammster,

I am considering using Abode, and so far their quote, including searches etc. was still the most competitive by far, and i checked them out on the web and they seem to get very good reviews for price, efficiency and having an online service to see what work has been done, etc.

I am a first time buyer and a bit nervous about the whole house buying process, so im constantly trawling the internet for any information. So an update on your experience with abode would be much appreciated, as well as anyone else who has had dealt with them before. Ta

wearside_2

I am using Lambert Pugh to carry out my sale and purchase. The reason that I started to use them as they are miles from me, is that they offered online case tracking, "track your case online using our online case tracking system" as it said on their website. This has not yet been set up but still appears on their web site. Is this legal?

I cannot say that I am happy with their service. They are slow, do not respond to emails or telephone calls and I have to continually chase them up. I have never spoken to Mr Pugh as he is never available. Unfortunately it is too late for me to change firms but had I known at the beginning what I know now, I would have gone elsewhere.