Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

groovy_mucker

I can't help thinking that allowing solicitors to form LLPs has opened the doors to charlatans and crooks opening solicitors practices with limited liability (rather than unlimited) so when it all goes wrong they can just walk away.

By no means am I saying that all - or even a substantial minority of - LLPs are dodgy: the solicitor who dealt with our transaction was at one.

Paralegal

I heard about this last week (I am a conveyancer in Plymouth and one estate agent mentioned one of their client's were using Wolstenholmes). Luckily none of my clients were dealing with anyone that had appointed them as their conveyancers.

I understand the frustration very well, especially in the light of the reducing of Stamp Duty threshold. However, I understand that the SRA have intervened. Whilst hearsay at present, I have been led to believe that Wolstenholmes have not voluntarily ceased trading - they have been compelled to do so by the SRA. For what reasons I don't know. Stirling Law are the intervening solicitors and files are available for collection as my father (a Bristol based conveyancer) has just had a new client drop them off.

As a general point of advice, local or recommended solicitors are always the best to use. Good conveyancers may (especially during the lean economic times) appear on one "cheap quote website" but rarely more than that. You'll find the 'bucketshop' conveyancers on most "best deal websites." Good solicitors rely on having a good local reputation and get their business by word of mouth. They won't be the cheapest (my firm aren't) but they're accessible and invariably will do a competent job for you. Some estate agents may try and point you in the general direction of a ‘bucketshop’ conveyancer, but you’ll almost certainly find there will be a referral fee for them…..the best bet is to ask them to recommend a local solicitor that they know and trust – remember, an estate agent won’t get their commission until the matter completes so it’s not in their interests to steer you in the direction of a duff ‘un !!

Best of luck to those who have been badly let down and hope the new year sees a change in fortune for you all.

distraught

cakinwande wrote: »

The SRA and LCS have had "an overwhelming number of calls" to investigate Wolstenholmes. They cannot disclose what they are actually doing but they tried to rest assure me that something is being done. They advised me to call back every few days to see if they can give me an update but they cannot disclose any information that my jeopordise their investigation which is understandable.

As long as you all have made a complaint to SRA and LCS then you are following the correct proceedure. Some of us have contacted Watchdog and thanks to moongate I found out The Mirror did the story on the Dial-A-Phone scam. There is strength in numbers guys

Just had email from LCS acknowledging my further emails and advising that they have had a large number of complaints and concerns regarding Wolstenholmes. Perhaps now something will be done at long last.

Distraught.

Simply_Me_2

I concur entirely about LLP's.

Simply_Me_2

My story is the same as everyone else. However, I do not agree about the comment made about Stirling law who is now denying any association with Wolstenholmes. Last week I received a call from Imran Hussain who led me to believe he was not a conveyancer but a family law, litigator which I now know to be incorrect along with other things I was told by members of his firm. Following this conversation I subsequently received an email from Stirling law telling me that they were acting on behalf of Wolstenholmes as their agents and had been asked to finalise the completion statement for those ready to complete. I was suppose to complete yesterday, 22 December ( I haven't my chain has now collapsed). Acting on the advice of Stirling law I transferred £42k last Thursday into Wolstenholmes account, I am assuming it was there client account although this does not seem to matter anymore as I understand cheques have failed to clear having being issued from the client account, anyway I have not seen or heard anything in respect of my money since last Thursday. When I contacted Stirling law last Friday having received a panicked call from the estate agent Stirling law basically told me politely to go away it was not there issue as my file had been passed back to Wolstenholmes last week for completion. Part of my complaint to the LCS also is in part against Stirling law so I doubt very much they have been appointed as interveners and you may just want to check with Companies House the date of their incorporation.

I am sick as a Parrott as to what may have happened to my money. I am grateful for the information that I am gaining from this site. I urge everyone if they have not done so already to contact their local MP so we can begin to lobby for an extension to the Stamp Duty threshold for thos of us affeccted by this "scam". As well as to contact all forms of media accessible to you to make ths national news.

mjmal51

My situation is that they completed for me early November and have not registered the property and I assume have not paid the 3% stamp duty.

The Cheadle MP is Mark Hunter and the Heald Green office of Wolstenholmes are in his area.
Please contact him
http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/constituencies/cheadle

groovy_mucker

If Stirling Law has been appointed by the SRA then they're likely to be competent.

If they've had work transferred to them by WH (and WH shouldn't be doing that, of course) then it may well be a different story.

suttonjon

Does anyone know if they were still taking on new clients during last week?

psyurmh_2

Does anyone know how to get any refunds processed?

Is the only way to contact Imran Hussain directly-and have people had success with that?

distraught

psyurmh wrote: »

Does anyone know how to get any refunds processed?

Is the only way to contact Imran Hussain directly-and have people had success with that?

If they are holding your money lodge a complaint with the Legal Complaints Service. In the meantime you could still keep trying any phone number or email address you have for Wolstenholmes. If any part of their business is still trading you might be able to contact someone through them.