Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

KB1_2

jockey74 wrote: »

My experience of Wolstenholmes like most others is terrible but I don't blame the people doing the job, it's obvious the conditions must be terrible, how else could I have got through so many assistants and solicitors in 6 months! Anyway big problem now is that I've completed my sale about a month ago and they still haven't paid my Estate agent!! The estate agent have been quite good but have now issued a 7 day notice of legal proceeding. Wolstenholme claim to have sent a cheque on the day of completion, but and there's always a but they can't check if it's been cashed! They probably never sent it. I can't get hold of anyone to complete this transaction and this is just more worry. I've asked them to pay me directly and I'll sort it but they are ignoring the e-mails and calls as per usual.

Can I ask if the estate agent will take legal proceedings against you or Wolstenholmes? If it is you, take legal advice immediately on this matter.

groovy_mucker

and at the very least keep in touch with the estate agents - though if it's got to this stage, their patience may have worn out

Catwoman8950

On the other hand, I wouldn't trust Royal Mail at the moment. A relative collected the post from my late mother's house last Friday and found it all in a plastic bag with a letter from RM apologising that the mail had been "withheld" by one of their employees!

This was in reply to the post by jockey74. Sorry, I forgot to quote it.

Catwoman8950

jockey74 wrote: »

My experience of Wolstenholmes like most others is terrible but I don't blame the people doing the job, it's obvious the conditions must be terrible, how else could I have got through so many assistants and solicitors in 6 months! Anyway big problem now is that I've completed my sale about a month ago and they still haven't paid my Estate agent!! The estate agent have been quite good but have now issued a 7 day notice of legal proceeding. Wolstenholme claim to have sent a cheque on the day of completion, but and there's always a but they can't check if it's been cashed! They probably never sent it. I can't get hold of anyone to complete this transaction and this is just more worry. I've asked them to pay me directly and I'll sort it but they are ignoring the e-mails and calls as per usual.

On the other hand, I wouldn't trust Royal Mail at the moment. A relative collected the post from my late mother's house last Friday and found it all in a plastic bag with a letter from RM apologising that the mail had been "withheld" by one of their employees! I'm therefore not surprised that a cheque could go astray.

Dobloyerdosh

hoverdonkey wrote: »

Has anyone spoken to Homes solicitors, the apparent heirs to Wolstenholmes? I called them this morning before I realised the two companies were linked on the off chance they knew where my file had been sent. They said they knew nothing about it but were very helpful on the phone.

Now I have realised the two are linked, that phone call feels very disingenuous. Surely they know where my case file was sent. It's probably in their office. In fact, now I think about it, I suppose I should expect a call from Homes Solicitors saying they have taken on my case.

I think I'm going to call them back and see where I get. It's going to be difficult not to get angry though...

The Homes solicitors have a definite connection with Wolstenholmes, strange how Daniella Gonzalez appears on the Homes website and also on the Wolstenholmes website. Could it be another person with the same name in the same proffession? No, her picture is on both sites, unless of course the Gonzalez family had twins and called them both Daniella:huh::huh::huh:. Even their website bears an uncanny resemblance to Wolstenholmes, maybe they are following the Wolstenholme mould more closely than everyone realised.

groovy_mucker

Hmm I wonder

Anyways, my transaction was completed today and the money's in the account. So whatever arrangements are being made, something's happening.

Hope yours all go more smoothly than heretofore.

higda202

Very interesting following thread. Completed very recently after similar experience as posted.

Now will wait with crossed fingers to see if land gets registered and if stamp duty is paid. Any advice from those who have completed with regard to encouraging them to do this?

Spent most of my life on the phone to them prior to sale, seems to have paid off or have been lucky.

May still be stuck with a bill from inland revenue.

Will read on with interest

cedgin

We drove to Birmingham from Northampton yesterday as we are meant to exchange contracts next week and we could not get any answer. They didn't want to speak to us so we waited in the Regus waiting area until they could with our two kids, when we finally did manage to talk to someone they told us the office is closing and they moving all the cases, we've been told we need to get other solicitors, so it looks like we going to lose our house.

It is so frustrating.

minijcp

I too have been completely let down and mucked about by Wolstenholmes.

I appointed Wolstenholmes to sell my flat in early September with an estimated completion date of end of Oct, short because there was no chain. Sept, Oct, Nov passsed then in Dec my solicitor [TEXT DELETED] failed to answer any of my emails and I could never get through to his telephone, I started getting a message from [TEXT DELETED] voice mail saying that "he was experiencing technical difficulties and would get back in the next 24 - 48 hours" Tel: 0161 4981652. For over 3 weeks I couldn't get through to [TEXT DELETED] to find out what was going on, no doubt that message is still on his phone!

Eventually I got through to Imar Hussain who said he would get [TEXT DELETED] to call us and still no response. After 3 weeks of failing to get in contact with someone just to find out what was happening, I got told our files had been transferred to Stirling Law.

I understand that the Birmingham office has closed and that they have been inundated with files, but it would have just taken a sort phone call and they could have transfered the files to us so we could have started the process with another solicitor.

I pray we have more luck with Stirling Law. We have been paying two mortgages since Oct and have a baby on the way!

barracuda1979

Hi All,
Just wanted to add my experiences with Wolstenholmes. I do regret ever choosing them, I was buying a home cash and had a 14 day turn around so went with them because they promised they could complete within 14 days and were very competitve.
I paid a premium rate to guarantee a 14 day turn around.
They took the 300GBP deposit and set me up with an online account where I could tack the progress, they then assigned a solicitor from the Birmingham office to act on my behalf.
The first day I got my info pack which I signed and completed and returned immediately. I also sent them my ID documents which they returned to me after a few days - it seemed they were atleast doing something! After about 5 days I checked the online status, it was still at 6% (where it was on day 1) and still had an incorrect address, despite me having written to them and asked it to be changed.
My solicitor then phoned me to ask for the info pack, I explained I had sent it several days ago by fax but he claimed he had not recieved it. A few minutes later it appeared on his desk and he finally made a start.
Three days later and just days away from my supposed completion my online info was STILL incorrect, I sent them my house survey and I had an email back to say the Birmingham branch was to close permanently and my account had been passed to the Cheshire office. This is when I checked online and found this forum and started to panic, I tried to call Wolstenholmes but all numbers were unavailable.
I contacted the vendors solicitors and asked if they had heard anything from Wolstenholmes and they had not. I tried phoning Wolstenholmes again to get some info but every single number was going to voice mail (not just conveyancing ALL numbers) I assumed they had gone out of business.
The next day I was able to get through and spoke to my asigned solicitor, I vented my frustration and asked what I should do, he said that he did not know what was happening with the company and if he were me, he would use a different solicitor!!! His honesty is the only reason I am not naming him in person.
I have now changed solicitors and am chasing my 300GBP but so far still cannot get through to Wolstenholmes on any number and no one has contacted me to explain what is happening.
Atleast now it seems they have gone out of business no one else will be taken in by them.