Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

Catwoman8950

mjmal51 wrote: »

I would love to find out the full story. There are a mix of clients caught up, some paid a deposit and got nothing, some completed a purchase very easily (me for eg!) but no post completion work done, some paid for exchange then saw their money frozen, some probate, no doubt divorce cases and others.
You have to be suspicious of a master plan by the owners to walk away with a heap of clients' money though. The fact that phone calls went nowhere in Dec, e mails unanswered, files sent to other companies without permission, Birmingham suddenly closing, apparently Cheadle was going the same way at Xmas, all seems to point to a plan.
As WH were an LLP what would have happened if they had declared going into administration at Xmas? I guess we would have been in an even worse position.
Hope it all comes out in the wash!

Your take on the situation is very much the same as mine, especially after the conversation I had with my former solicitor at WH at the beginning of January. What stuck in my mind were allegations of accounting errors which were never rectified despite those responsible being told about them time and time again! I gather their accounting department was a complete mess. There can be two reasons for this of course - shoddy accounting practices or deliberate fraud. The reasons given by the SRA for their intervention at WH would seem to confirm both.

Catwoman8950

LadyLawyer wrote: »

If anyone needs their ID certifying for DWF to release their files, try your GP who will often do it for free. Your bank may also be able to help although it is a pain to queue.

This is correct. I've had my passport certified twice by my bank and was not charged. GPs can also certify passports. You can also use a bank statement as proof of residence.

Horrified_Solicitor

LadyLawyer wrote: »

Simply_Me wrote: »

. But please also understand that the profession as a whole cannot stand these outfits for exactly the reasons you give above - they are giving the rest of us a bad name.

.

I agree totally. I bitterly resent having to pay into the compensation fund each year to cover the depredations of thieving ***tards. If I had my way, they'd be waterboarded in a basement until they paid up. A decision could then be made on whether they should be hanged from a lamp post.

Catwoman8950

Horrified_Solicitor wrote: »

LadyLawyer wrote: »

I agree totally. I bitterly resent having to pay into the compensation fund each year to cover the depredations of thieving ***tards. If I had my way, they'd be waterboarded in a basement until they paid up. A decision could then be made on whether they should be hanged from a lamp post.

Preferably by the Lynch Mob at the MSE forum :j

Betty123

WH accounts department were breaching accounting rules when they had a full operational accounts department this time last year, staff that had been there for a long time, who then one by one left, (wonder why!) so let's hope that they do not blame the problems on the fact that they could not hold on to staff. There are a lot of things about WH and the partners that will come out over the next couple of months, but I feel for the sake of this site it is best not to discuss them, as it is a lifeline and full of very useful advice. My only hope is that all that are responsible for this are indeed held accountable, some that at present are still in practice and that worries me, as they would not know the truth if it hit them in the face!!! and they seem to be of the opinion that they have done no wrong!! (what a joke).

:eek:

sue276

sue276 wrote: »

Hi,

Oure sale and purchase went through in december and I am now in my new house. However like many others Wolstenholmes haven't paid my stamp duty, estate agents fee's, registered my property in my name, sent deeds to my bank etc. About £20k of my money is still in limbo. We have
1)Filled in the SRA form to claim back our stamp duty etc
2)Written to the LCS to see if we can claim damages for all the additional costs, stamp duty late payment fines, money for my re-hab following the breakdown i am likely to have etc.
3)Written to the indemnity insurers to see if they will pay out for damages
4)Written to HMRC to see if they will waiver/freeze the interest.

We have heard back from the SRA saying they have our cliam and will be appointing a case worker. We haven't heard back form the other 3.

DWF say they can't find our casefile and my new solicitor says she cannot do anything for us without it? Is this true? We cannot afford/do not want to pay out for stamp duty and estate agent until our money had been returned, however could pay some of the land registration fee's etc again.

Does anybody know what my solictor should do?

Also is there anything I haven't done that I should have/any funds i haven't applied to that I should have?


Thanks in advance
Sue

Hi

I wrote about a week ago asking if if I had done everything I could to sort out the problems - i.e. filled in the all the correct forms and complained to all the correct people etc. I am feeling a bit more happy this week.

The SRA are now processing my claim - and I have been in contact with my advisor. She is submitting our claim for £20k this week and then the Wolstenholmes partners have 9 days to disagree (I am assuming they wouldn't dare) then it goes to adjudication where they look at all the evidence (i.e. my bank statement) then they pay. My advisor is hopeful i will get my money back by the end of Feb.

My case file is still lost and although DWF have been very nice they still haven't found it. My new soliciter has done her best to recreate our file. The soliciter of the people we bought from have been fantastic and sent her all their entire file without any complaints.

I did ask my advisor on friday how many people the fund had paid out and she said she thought just 2 so far!

Sue

mjmal51

sue276 wrote: »

Hi

I wrote about a week ago asking if if I had done everything I could to sort out the problems - i.e. filled in the all the correct forms and complained to all the correct people etc. I am feeling a bit more happy this week.

The SRA are now processing my claim - and I have been in contact with my advisor. She is submitting our claim for £20k this week and then the Wolstenholmes partners have 9 days to disagree /QUOTE]

Out of interest as I am in similar circumstances, who is the advisor, somebody from the SRA or LCS? My LCS advisor closed the file as the complaint had been dealt with!
Also what was the Inland Revenue's stance on fines, etc?

anotherproblem

Originally Posted by LadyLawyer

There has to be, and is, competition in the legal industry and just in the same way you can buy a second hand car as a 17 year old without really knowing what a bucket of rust it.
have every sympathy with people who have done this, nobody wants their legals messed up and then to hear "I told you so". But please also understand that the profession as a whole cannot stand these outfits for exactly the reasons you give above - they are giving the rest of us a bad name.
If anyone needs their ID certifying for DWF to release their files, try your GP who will often do it for free. Your bank may also be able to help although it is a pain to queue



This is not the car industry and dont foget WH were regulated the same as every other solicitor. That was the fist thing I checked before I used them.
I am disgusted with my new solicitor who constantly reminds me that everything has a price (thats another one I will never use again!!!!!)
The DWF told me that only an accountant or a soliciter could certify id ( ? so have they not informed me correctly) Does anyone actually now what they are doing!!!!!!!
The last CONVEYANCING solicitor I used made a mistake with our property and I ended up with a 7 year battle with the Land Registry about land that was supposed to belong to the property that we paid for and after the 7 year battle it ended up being given to the other party. And yes he was very expensive.

Mr_kerr

I got a letter from DWF yesterday.

''We have been instructed by the solicitors regulation authority to ...

We attach information sheet for clients which sets out the details of the intervention and the steps which are now necessary. The firm of EH LLP is now closed and can not longer act for you. Accordingly DWG LLP hold all client files and papers recovered from the film.

Unfortunately at this time we do not have a record of a file in your name being recovered on intervention. We are making enquiries as to the whereabouts of the same and will revert in due course. If you have not heard further from us by 19 February, please contact xxx.
We would recommend that you take independent legal advice with regards to the completion of any outstanding matters relating to the purchase of ....

If you believe WH LLP held money on your behalf please complete the attached SRA compensation Fund Applcation Forum provding details of the SUM and attach any documentary evidence you have in support. Please submit the complete Application forum to the SRA Claims Management Department at the address sated on the front page of the Application form. ''

Why does DWF say they do not have a record of file in my name being recovered on intervention? I am quite confused about the highlight part. I paid WH LLP 300 pounds as deposit. Before the closing, WH solicitor agreed to give the money back to me. The purchase was actually aborted in the end. I have already sent a Fund Applcation Forum to SRA for one momth. Until now I didn’t see any money back.

Horrified_Solicitor

Mr_kerr wrote: »

Why does DWF say they do not have a record of file in my name being recovered on intervention?

It seems that a lot of the WH files have simply disappeared. One interpretation is that this was to get rid of evidence against them. However, there will be records (bank/credit card) of you payment to them and this should enable you to recover your money from the Compensation Fund.

My view is that the police ought to be called in and all the staff questioned as to what has been going on. Staff who have left and set up other firms ought to be questioned as well.