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

mistrihelen

Eeep, we've just pulled out of one horribly awkward purchase and have had an offer accepted on a new house - just found out today that the vendor is using Countrywide... Does this mean my hope of a quick purchase will go down the drain?

elliebobs

Charliechin: I'm very near you and I have used Napthen's (the Chorley branch) and they were fab. Totally on the ball and I never had to chase them up. You will probably find that their fees are on the expensive side but I felt it was worth it.

I remember a thread on here some time back where someone was asking about Napthens; try doing a search and see what you think.

Good luck anyway

sunnysea83

I would never ever recommend countrywide to anyone ever even as a last resort

Our vendors sold there property with one of the estate agents in the countrywide group and used the countrywide solicitors.

When we offered we said we needed to move quickly as our buyers needed to be out in about 8 weeks and vendors said yep thats fine we have had an offer accepted blah blah

so we had our survey done, mortgage sorted and everything and the vendors solicitor countrywide had answered all our queries bar a few but kept saying ready to exchange on x date to my solicitor, so it gets to the monday of the week due to exchange and still some outstanding queries, solicitor contacts countrywide told yep will be there tomorrow.

On the thursday day before due to exchange countrywide confirm all okay to exchange and we call our mortgage money ready...

on exchange day we are told by countrywide

1) vendor hasnt had there mortgage sorted
2) no survey but not having one done
3) Countrywide havent even started there queries with the vendors vendor (who were end of the chain)

So for the next 6 weeks my solicitor, mortgage broker for vendor, vendor, vendors agents chase Countrywide who still havent done any queries. They were soooo slow it was unbeliavable, the vendors told us they regretted ever using them and wont again

Brownie1970

if I were you, I would find a good local solicitor, preferably one recommended by a friend etc.

make sure that they specialise in conveyancing (that way they wont be out in court for days on end) and that they are available to talk to on the phone when you need to.

english_patient_1

From bitter experience what I've learned about some conveyancing solicitors..
1) When your estate agent recommends so called "our team conveyancing solicitors we work with" it means they get commission from your conveyancing fee..it does not neccessarily mean you will get a better- faster service
2) "Local conveyancing" lots of rubbish..it does not matter where they are located as long as they are a good one..because if you walk into their offices or make a phone call they will charge you for it providing they have got time for you..so the best way to get in touch with them is by email(some even will charge to read-answer your emails)
3)In these days of emails,fax,phone..the conveyancing solicitors only use the post,so a simple question -enquiry about the size of your dustbin might take days maybe weeks
4)They are a law to themselves..they are not consumer tested-quality checked or competative
5)Read the small print in their contract..fixed fee ? no buy-sale no fee ? what is extra ?.."free HIPS with our conveyancing" (nothing is free especially from a solicitor)..so on
6)when they say "it will take minimum 6-8 weeks" it may take months in some cases years..so no maximum time limit there !
7)Most of the job is done by office clerks,secretaries,junior solicitors..if he-she goes sick,holidaying or leaves the job you are in trouble !
8) Some buy-sale chains break because of frustration with conveyancing
9) By making it long winded process they try to justify their extortionate fees
10) MPs expenses,wheel clamper's,rogue traders...it is time government looked into conveyancing too which hasn't changed for centuries
11) In most civilised countries conveyancing normally takes one day..both parties go to the land registry office,pay the tax-stamp duties,present the bankers draft,land registry officer checks the purchase contracts approved-signed by the noter,approves and registers it in national registry data..it is done:beer:
ps; my sincere apologies to car-double glazing sales persons,estate agents...for calling them incompetent in the past

LisaLou1982

Agree with all of the above. I used to work for Countrywide on the EA side and for the 4yrs i worked for them we did get paid commission for referrals. However, i might add, we only got paid when the property completed so it was usually a long time coming.

They certainly werent the best, however, i found them to be on par with many of the other conveyancing firms which made me want to tear my hair out. That said, there were also local solicitors that went out of their way to be unhelpful too so its all much of a muchness.

For my 2p worth - if the EA recommending cwpl has a regular contact there then it should all be ok. If not, then steer clear....

Richard_Webster

10) MPs expenses,wheel clamper's,rogue traders...it is time government looked into conveyancing too which hasn't changed for centuries

Government did - that's why we have Home Information Packs....

racecar

can any one tell me if they have had dealings with gmac or webb resolutions
i am dealing with them at the moment and finding it a nightmare

MiserlyMartin

I can confirm that Countrywide surveyors are awful. I had 2 surveys done on two different houses yet the report was virtually word for word identical. Cut and paste rubbish. The guys turn up in suits do not make any effort looking at loft space when I was selling and the buyer was using them on a homebuyers report. The report contains tooo many ifs buts and maybes rather than facts. And you can't contact them either very easily. NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN!.

I,_Geek

A bit concerned now...

OH has used them to arrange the mortgage (Mortgage Services part of the company). Conveyancing and all that stuff is being done by a solicitor not connected to Countrywide. He's ringing Countrywide today to find out where things are with the mortgage. It's just to check things are on-track, rather than because of a delay or problem we've noticed.