Any experience with countrywide?

fuzzybear_4

We had our offer accepted on the house we're buying 11 weeks ago and everything has been done, to the point of us signing our contracts. However, the seller is using Countrywide and as much as our solicitor, mortgage broker and his EA have tried we cannot get any answer from them as to when we can exchange. Everyone says they're known for being slow but uncontactable too?

This has been going on for weeks now - we were meant to complete 3 weeks ago and we're still no nearer to a date. Any ideas or advise?

robwend

no advise hun but same boat so feel for you, apart from nag EA silly xxxwendyxx

fuzzybear_4

I've been nagging both the EA and our solicitor but they're pulling their hair out too. You'd think they'd want to get it sorted quickly so thay got their money!
I really don't know what to do. The other half is on the verge of losing interest completely we've had so many promises broken. The house better be worth it!

Jorgan_2

I had somebody buying a property thru me who was using Countrywide Conveyancing, all sounds very similar. He ended up speak to the Managing Director on a daily basis to get updates. Try & get your buyer to speak to someone as high up in authority as possible, get a direct number from them & speak to them every time something hasn't been done as promised. It will be a pain for them to do this but it seems to be the only way to get any action out of them.

Unfortunatley for your EA & solicitor there is nothing they can do if calls aren't returned or information isn't forthcoming. In my experience, Countrywide's conveyancing work in teams, you don't get a name of a pesron to deal with and you will be lucky to speak to the same person twice. Your buyer needs to put the pressure on them, he is the client & the act for him.

shykins

same here.. at work we groan when we see countrywide are acting for the other side,,, they are so slow it doesnt matter how many times u ring them

they almost lost a sale for our clients at one point, in the end my boss got hold of the MD and all of a sudden things moved

sorry i know this doesnt help u.. but try and go higher for a quicker response

good luck

hazeyj

Have you tried contacting your seller? Also threaten to call the deal off unless you have an exchange date specified and then name your deadline. Tell both your EA and Sols to inform the seller of this.

david29dpo

i had this with countrywide. the seller used a branch and used there legal services. i used my own solicitor. they are a total nightmare-!! and i will NEVER buy from ANYONE using them again. you live and learn!

adrianwood

Unfortunately I am in the same position also, I was meant to move on 31/3/06 but due to my purchasers using Countrywide property lawyers (all they are really is a CALL CENTRE, very few lawyers actually employed there!) I am still waiting to move and I signed contracts, etc at the end of March but my purchasers havent even seen a contract yet not alone signed it.

My advice is stay clear of Countrywide property lawyers as they always seem to be in the middle of a slow house transaction.

Wickedkitten

We are using countrywide as far as arranging the mortgage goes but we have steered well clear of their legal services.

I was quite amused actually as they asked if we had a solicitor (getting ready to suggest their own) and I started rabbiting on about going with a local one because its a pain in the !!!!!! having to deal with call centres and how if something is going wrong with the transaction there is a face that you can talk to.

Oh the expression on her face was comical really "oh, ours is in Manchester" "oh"

Bun

I used one of their legal services, and they were superb, got to speak to sam e person loads etc. I was told by the EA that they were the best they had, and I seem to be the odd one out. I have used other solicitors via Connells before though and they were atrocious, so I don't think I'd use any of these teams again, think it was a good one off.

Tassotti

Lesson learnt. Don't use solicitors recommernded by agents. Find a good one , pay £100 more and get a decent service.