Countrywide Property Lawyers - are they as bad as I've read?

Yorkie1

In a couple of months, the number of panel firms will go up significantly - to the high hundreds, I think, because HSBC is expanding the list of firms which it will accept as acting for it.

Doesn't improve existing experiences, but at least it will give many purchasers a wider choice of solicitors without having to resort to CW - if they know enough to avoid them, that is.

Itchen

Indeed, we are 5 months into the purchase of an empty property. No chain. We are cash purchasers. The sellers unfortunately are using Countrywide as their solicitors. They do not seem to be able to carry out the simplest conveyancing duties and do not respond to any of our solicitor's questions. Why Countrywide are recommended by Austin and Wyatt apart from being part of their group, we do not know.... We would not recommend anyone using Countrywide solicitors for purchasing or buying.

Richard_Webster

If you work for Austin & Wyatt/Mann & Co/Morris Dibben I think it is sackable offence not to recommend Countrywide....

aless02

Not necessarily. My husband used to work for Bairstow Eves and as long as his manager wasn't listening (!) he would try and put people off CW wherever possible because it just gave him a major headache when trying to progress the sale!

Even the EAs know they're crap but unfortunately they are heavily targeted and can get disciplined for not meeting targets, so they have to at least get a minimum number of people to sign up per month. It's a catch-22 and not nice for unsuspecting buyers, which might be why DH didn't work there for very long as he's too nice!

Richard_Webster

Certainly I've known of Countrywide Estate Agent staff who have admitted that they are not keen on the recommend but had little choice....

foot1e

Empty property sold to first-time buyer, with mortgage agreed.

4 months from sale agreed to completion. Numerous STUPID questions, and delays. Countrywide even gave the poor guy the wrong figures for completion.

How do this bunch of amatuers remain in business. We are both going to complain about the dreadful service. I hope that the estate agents/mortgage advisers who recommend this shower are pleased with themselves.

If you want quick sale or purchase avoid Countrywide, as they do not understand quick or urgent.

Yorkie1

foot1e wrote: »

If you want quick sale or purchase avoid Countrywide, as they do not understand quick or urgent.

Or, even more importantly, accurate - according to your post! :eek:

JimW

Let me assure anyone who is not aware. Countrywide are incompetent, inefficient, ignorant and unprofessional in every way. This is not just my opinion but that of many professional solicitors and estate agents who have been involved with them. Steer well clear!! Our life has been a nightmare recently because of their inept approach to dealing with the purchase of our house by a first time buyer. Our chain is on the verge of collapsing because our vendor won`t wait any longer. We have answered the same questions time, time and time again and yesterday were still answering questions we answered weeks ago despite the need to exchange contracts urgently. We will lose our purchase later today and get an increase in our own solicitors fee due to him having to deal with this company and answering the same queries repeatedly. They cannot be contacted by phone and do not respond to emails. Keep well clear unless you want stress at a dangerously high level.

Ewok123

I am currently getting quotes for solicitors and having read the reviews for Countrywide on this thread I was just wondering if anyone had received a 'good' service from them? I am a first time buyer so need to watch my budget but I am not sure if it is worth risking using Countrywide for a saving of nearly £400? HSBC have advised me that the fee for using Countrywide would be £887, my cheapest 'local' quote is £1170 which would also need to include the £190 payable to HSBC.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated!

Yorkie1

Ewok123 wrote: »

I am currently getting quotes for solicitors and having read the reviews for Countrywide on this thread I was just wondering if anyone had received a 'good' service from them? I am a first time buyer so need to watch my budget but I am not sure if it is worth risking using Countrywide for a saving of nearly £400? HSBC have advised me that the fee for using Countrywide would be £887, my cheapest 'local' quote is £1170 which would also need to include the £190 payable to HSBC.

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated!

If you are going with HSBC for your mortgage you either have to use one of their panel solicitors for your own & HSBC's legal work, or use your own solicitors for your own legal work and pay £192 for the privilege of HSBC instructing CW to deal with their side of the transaction. Plus your own solicitors may charge you extra for the extra hassle factor involved in them having to deal with CW.

I believe that the fixed fee quoted by HSBC is also charged by their other current panel solicitors.

If you don't want to pay the extra for your own solicitor, ask HSBC for details of other panel solicitors in your area and see what they provide - they can't be as bad as CW and many are likely to do a half decent job for both you and HSBC.

HSBC are widening their panel of solicitors in August but that's too late for your transaction, I think - and I also don't think the fixed fee would apply.