Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

shocked_solicitor

if your file has gone missing Wolstenholmes can be fined and forced to reproduce missing documents where possible. The SRA will have to do that. Contact DWF in the first instance - if they do not have the file try Sterling as i suspect they will have it. Give them 7 days in which to confirm possession and get your file to you or report them to the SRA.
Certain documents can be recovered depending on what they are - if you want to send me a private message saying what type of documents they are I may be able to give you an idea of whether they will be recorded somewhere else so you can obtain copies in the meantime - just in case the file does not turn up so at least you can instruct someone else.

I hope this helps - was HM acting for you out of interest?

Catwoman8950

sloughflint wrote: »

I was referring to the fact that you had not answered any of my questions. You were positive about Gavin Wall earlier on in the thread and clearly had much inside knowledge. You could have perhaps tipped the balance of negativity......or maybe not.

I support moongate in this and also have "inside information". Gavin Wall bailed out of Wolstenholmes in the middle of last year, like other staff, because they saw how things were going. Yes, Mr. Wall did set up in business on his own and took some ex-WH staff with him. This does not mean he is complicit in what has been going on at WH.

Librachick

distresses wrote: »

Hi

I was told that my file had been transferred from Birmingham to Heald Green - no luck there trying to get it even thought we were prepared to go in for it. Then advised it had gone to Stirling Law. Despite numerous calls to them they have never got back to me and could not actually confirm that they had my file. They just said they had lists of what they were supposed to have, promised to check the list and get back to me but never did. Even if I was on their list I doubt that they would have been able to find the file. After visiting Heald Green office to try and get our deposit back you could see what chaos they worked in - files and paper everywhere!!!!

This is an alternative number for Stirling Law, I was given this during one of my telephone calls - not sure if it will help - 0161-785-7847.

Use the numbers he quoted, I got through to both Stirling Law and DWF with these.

anxious_24

[was a question for sloughflint or shocked-solicitor thankyou!!

sloughflint

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

I support moongate in this and also have "inside information". Gavin Wall bailed out of Wolstenholmes in the middle of last year, like other staff, because they saw how things were going. Yes, Mr. Wall did set up in business on his own and took some ex-WH staff with him. This does not mean he is complicit in what has been going on at WH.

Perhaps not. But intrigued by this thread, I've picked up on similar themes from various posters and it doesn't look terribly positive for Home solicitors.

I still stand by what I put in my post. If that new firm is squeaky clean, it needs to get the SRA to make an announcement.

anxious_24

can anyone shed light on my post 566 and also the number referred to earlier as being ramsdens is also on the internet on google is also down as chartbridge and this is the number we have been contacting stirling law on today PLEASE as i am still new to this debarcle can anyone tell me who is DWF ? . I HAVE SENT MY COMPLAINT TO LCS RECORDED TODAY BUT DO NOT KNOW WHO DWF IS THANKYOU

Catwoman8950

shocked_solicitor wrote: »

if your file has gone missing Wolstenholmes can be fined and forced to reproduce missing documents where possible. The SRA will have to do that. Contact DWF in the first instance - if they do not have the file try Sterling as i suspect they will have it. Give them 7 days in which to confirm possession and get your file to you or report them to the SRA.
Certain documents can be recovered depending on what they are - if you want to send me a private message saying what type of documents they are I may be able to give you an idea of whether they will be recorded somewhere else so you can obtain copies in the meantime - just in case the file does not turn up so at least you can instruct someone else.

I hope this helps - was HM acting for you out of interest?

Thanks for your reply. Another poster says that Stirling Law has been ordered to send all the Wolstenholmes files to DWF. I did contact DWF by e-mail already and they have ackowledged receipt but have not answered me as such. The important documents in my file are the Grant of Letters of Administration and some share certificates which were being transferred into my name. I cannot even trace these because all the info concering the shares are in Wolstenholmes file. In addition there are some papers relating to my late mother which are personal to me and I wanted to have them back. On top of that, WH still owe me a considerable amount of money. I have not even received the final Estate Accounts and I just hope that DWF will be able to sort out the financial mess.

No, HM did not act for me. My solicitor left Wolstenholmes at the end of October and I was appointed another one, but not HM. I had precisely one phone call and three e-mails from her, and then total silence.

I also have a property to sell but fortunately took it out of their hands and instructed a new firm of solicitors in November, leaving WH to finalise the probate. I wish I had taken the whole lot out of their hands now.

An added problem for me is that I am not resident in the U.K. but another European (EU) country.

Librachick

shocked_solicitor wrote: »

Please see my post above - re DWF please be patient with them as it takes a huge amount of time to contact all the clients they have files for. Files with impending completions will take priority over other files. An intervention is a massive thing to deal with by they will be working closely with the SRA to ensure that you are all protected as much as can be - I know the process as I have been an agent for the SRA (formerly all under the Law Society).

I have just had a call returned by DFW, who seemed very nice. They are in the process of cataloguing all the files they have, they are still receiving more each day. They are trying to get through these, and if they have your file, you then have to have your new solicitor send a letter asking for the file (more money for writing a letter to them!!) and utility bill and certified copy of your passport. Then they will send it to your solicitor.

This will all take time, which some of you poor people don't have. I am fortunate, I was due to complete 18.12.09, so they only have my deposit.

Good luck to everyone.

shocked_solicitor

DWF are the solicitors appointed by the SRA to act on behalf of clients of Wolstenholmes in the intervention please see my previous post on page 28 which explains and gives their phone number - they will be able to help you

anxious_24 wrote: »

can anyone shed light on my post 566 and also the number referred to earlier as being ramsdens is also on the internet on google is also down as chartbridge and this is the number we have been contacting stirling law on today PLEASE as i am still new to this debarcle can anyone tell me who is DWF ? . I HAVE SENT MY COMPLAINT TO LCS RECORDED TODAY BUT DO NOT KNOW WHO DWF IS THANKYOU

Catwoman8950

sloughflint wrote: »

Perhaps not. But intrigued by this thread, I've picked up on similar themes from various posters and it doesn't look terribly positive for Home solicitors.

I still stand by what I put in my post. If that new firm is squeaky clean, it needs to get the SRA to make an announcement.

In one way I agree with you but in so much that low-cost internet conveyancing seems doomed to failure.