Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

baldmosher

I first used Wolstenholmes (Heald Green) in 2004 to buy a property. Despite it being a 3-way split with two friends, I found them to be very helpful, informative and they made the process quite simple on their part, were very good value, and completed 2 days after exchange - all holdups throughout were on the part of the various delays from Northern Rock, whom I swore never to use again. They were truly awful.

I then sold my stake to my friends in 2006, and bought another property with my then partner. My dad helped us out with a 10% deposit and so he needed a Deed of Trust. I naturally went back to Wolstenholmes, and they kindly agreed to do the conveyancing for the same price, but this time they did seem a lot busier and were harder to get hold of throughout the process, although they did seem keen to exchange as soon as possible, but this time completion took a month. A number of issues were not resolved in good time, notably the Deed of Trust which was never even drafted despite many promises.

After a year we eventually got in the mood for badgering Wolstenholmes to finish the Deed of Trust, but we had to involve the Legal Complaints Council just to make them do anything. They eventually (after more stalling) drafted one under duress (free of charge, as 'compensation' for the extensive delays), but it was full of obvious mistakes - and I'm not a solicitor! My Dad spotted even more inconsistencies. We didn't sign it, of course, on the premise that it would be redrafted.

However, my partner and I eventually split up soon after that in early 2008 (still without a valid Deed of Trust!) so I borrowed more money from my Dad to buy the 45% stake from my partner, and changed the arrangement with my Dad to a private loan (15% of the property - he trusts me). Thankfully it was all very amicable. And, it turned out that as part of the Title Deeds, I also owned the freehold to the house 3 doors down. This was never even mentioned when we bought the property! This caused untold delays (everything had to be redrafted by the new solicitor) but I must say that after I rang to complain and sent a strongly worded letter, the lady solicitor who became involved with our case did sort all the issues out forthwith, and free of charge. Quite right too. And, in the end, I had a bonus freehold that I wasn't expecting. Needless to say I no longer have any contact with Wolstenholmes.

It seems that this trend of poor, disinterested service has simply worsened since 2008, and I am not really surprised that they have now closed.

robtheboywonder

I eventually received a phone call today, from Stirling, asking if I wanted them to continue with my conveyancing. After monitoring this thread for the last 10 days or so I had already decided to start again from scratch (at double the price!) and for them to return my deeds. I was told that they would have to return them to DWF and I should contact them. After speaking with my new solicitor, who advised that it should be possible to receive the deeds as they are my property. A further phone call failed to resolve the matter. 'Rubbing salt into the wound' springs to mind!

MrWhizz

I have only just become aware of this forum and have briefly scanned previous postings - very helpful.

I had a phone call from Victoria Sharp from Stirling Law yesterday saying that she had my file (my late fathers probate) and that she could complete the probate and estate administration for me at the price originally quoted by Wolstenholmes. She assured me that Stirling Law had no connection with Wolstenholmes.

She then sent me an e-mail asking me to confirm that I am happy for Stirling Law to complete the work.

This appears to be an easy way to get the case completed providing that Stirling Law are reputable. Does anyone have any feedback on any work carried out by Stirling Law?

The other option is to ask DWF to take the case on. Have DWF offered to complete the cases for anyone?

Presumably if I do not respond to Stirling Law then they will be required to pass my file over to DWF. Is this correct?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Simply_Me_2

MrWhizz wrote: »

I have only just become aware of this forum and have briefly scanned previous postings - very helpful.

I had a phone call from Victoria Sharp from Stirling Law yesterday saying that she had my file (my late fathers probate) and that she could complete the probate and estate administration for me at the price originally quoted by Wolstenholmes. She assured me that Stirling Law had no connection with Wolstenholmes.

She then sent me an e-mail asking me to confirm that I am happy for Stirling Law to complete the work.

This appears to be an easy way to get the case completed providing that Stirling Law are reputable. Does anyone have any feedback on any work carried out by Stirling Law?

The other option is to ask DWF to take the case on. Have DWF offered to complete the cases for anyone?

Presumably if I do not respond to Stirling Law then they will be required to pass my file over to DWF. Is this correct?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Unfortunately you only scanned previous posts as they would tell you all you need to know and more. Perhaps take the time to look back a few pages over what people have written.

Stirling Law should not be contacting clients unless you gave them permission to have your file in the first instance they should be sending your file to DWF.

Stirling Law's behaviour in all of this has been unethical in my opinion however if you are happy to continue with them then you should. However you should bear in mind that Wolstenholmes passed a number of files to Stirling Law before they were intervened Stirling Law must of known the state of some of those files and Wolstenholmes reputation or lack of one. They are seeking to profiteer from all of this. You should take the time to thoroughly read previous posts and then make your own mind up.

shocked_solicitor

MrWhizz wrote: »

I have only just become aware of this forum and have briefly scanned previous postings - very helpful.

I had a phone call from Victoria Sharp from Stirling Law yesterday saying that she had my file (my late fathers probate) and that she could complete the probate and estate administration for me at the price originally quoted by Wolstenholmes. She assured me that Stirling Law had no connection with Wolstenholmes.

She then sent me an e-mail asking me to confirm that I am happy for Stirling Law to complete the work.

This appears to be an easy way to get the case completed providing that Stirling Law are reputable. Does anyone have any feedback on any work carried out by Stirling Law?

The other option is to ask DWF to take the case on. Have DWF offered to complete the cases for anyone?

Presumably if I do not respond to Stirling Law then they will be required to pass my file over to DWF. Is this correct?

Any advice would be appreciated.

read past posts from page 28 onwards - it will give you all the information you need to draw your own conclusions as to whether you want Stirling Law to do your work - don't forget to check the qualification of those with conduct of your file - Victoria Sharp is not a solicitor as she is not listed on the Law Society website under the Stirling Law entry - beware!!

MrWhizz

Simply Me - Many thanks for your help

omen666

cliff notes please

Catwoman8950

JellyBeans wrote: »

Hello

They asked me if I'd had any calls from other solicitors, i hadnt, but they mentioned Sterling Law and said that they are finding it difficult to retrieve the files they have. So the files were indeed passed to Sterling before the SRA intervention.

In my case DWF said they would obtain a court order to get my file back from Stirling Law if necessary.

Catwoman8950

MrWhizz wrote: »

I have only just become aware of this forum and have briefly scanned previous postings - very helpful.

I had a phone call from Victoria Sharp from Stirling Law yesterday saying that she had my file (my late fathers probate) and that she could complete the probate and estate administration for me at the price originally quoted by Wolstenholmes. She assured me that Stirling Law had no connection with Wolstenholmes.

She then sent me an e-mail asking me to confirm that I am happy for Stirling Law to complete the work.

This appears to be an easy way to get the case completed providing that Stirling Law are reputable. Does anyone have any feedback on any work carried out by Stirling Law?

The other option is to ask DWF to take the case on. Have DWF offered to complete the cases for anyone?

Presumably if I do not respond to Stirling Law then they will be required to pass my file over to DWF. Is this correct?

Any advice would be appreciated.

MrWhizz - I am in the same position as you. I received an e-mail from Stirling Law earlier this week to say that they had my file and wanted me to sign a consent form for them to take over my case (also probate). Their attached letter to me was dated 17th December, so before the SRA intervention at Wolstenholmes. I immediately fowarded the e-mail with attachments to the SRA and DWF (the intervention agent). DWF answered me within an hour and said they would retrieve my file from Stirling Law, by court order if necessary. I got the impression that DWF do not want Stirling Law to take over Wolstenholmes' clients and this may have something to do with their investigations.

Because of the way Wolstenholmes transferred my file to another firm without even telling me (which is illegal by the way) and even denying that they had done so when I called them on 15th and 17th December, I smell a rat here. There is a connection between Wolstenholmes and Stirling Law which I am very uncomfortable with.

Consequently I have written to Stirling Law (with a copy to DWF) to refuse their offer and to tell them that DWF will collect my file. I then have to decide who will finish off the estate administration for me. As DWF's fees will be rather high, I will probably instruct the local high street solicitors who are handling the sale of my property. Actually I wonder if we can claim compensation for additional legal fees incurred due to Wolstenholmes' incompetence?

It also depends on how much work is still to be done. With me, it is very little and I may be able to finish it myself. My main problem is that Wolstenholmes were still holding around GBP 10K of my late mother's assets and I will have to claim this through DWF and the SRA.

In any event, I would advise you not to let Stirling Law take over your case. I simply don't trust them.

Tracie-x_3

Hello everyone i would like to say it's nice in a way to know your not on your own in all this although sometimes it has felt like it!!! I would also like to defend stirling law. If you have read the news papers or listened to the radio about all this unbelievable mess we are all in I am Tracie from East Sussex the lady who had £455,000.00 (not 445 as reported buy some of which £215,000 of that is my own personal money) stuck in wolstenholmes bank account since 21.12.09 although mortgage was drawn down for thd 15.12.09. The boss at Stirling law and his employees are running their ar**s off for me at the moment to get our completion finalised and I speak to him sometimes at least 5 times a day he even recognises my phone number instantly now!!! Even if it is that we've had no news back I am kept informed every inch of the way. Our claim was sent to DWF 3 days ago but only now have they come back with needing MORE information, I am annoyed that these so called URGENT funds arn't being released urgently enough!!!! Stirling law even had proof as to where my funds were in the bank account I mean how much more proof do you need!!!!! Anyway I am very happy with Stirling laws service and hope to be able to give you all some hope on the claiming system very soon (if I don't I think I'll go bl**dy mad!!!!!!) obviously please do think long and hard as to who you now wish to represent you but I just wanted to input that I have had nothing but good things to say about Stirling law. Cheers Tracie :beer: