Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

vfmfca

Google44 wrote: »

EVERYONE


I've sent a letter to IR to check if my SD was paid. The IR called me today saying that WH have instructed another company to report that house was a lot less so they can avoid paying SD. They have correct it now and will send it to me in writing.


So it looks like WH (Mathew Roberts) was trying cash on paying SD.


Warning. All of you who legaly own the house bought via WH and if the house cost over SD bracket of 175K - I suggest check with IR. Otherwise, you may get suppriced when you try to sell it at some point.

Hope this helps.

Anybody finding suspicion of fraud regarding stamp duty or anything else should contact the SRA email [EMAIL="fraud@sra.org.uk"]fraud@sra.org.uk[/EMAIL] or see contact details on my post 863

Don't forget in addition to claiming for your loss, make a separate complaint about fraud to prevent this happening again. The SRA cannot prevent solicitors setting up in practice again without evidence for them to take action against solicitors they regulate.

Catwoman8950

anotherproblem wrote: »

Hi What I fail to understand is where are these missing files - some one some where must have them. I did not realise that there were so many of us with missing files. I have said this before though and it still worries me greatly - why has no one thought to check out the computers. There must be such a lot of information on them that we need.

My thoughts too, although thankfully my files (all 5 of them!) were with Stirling Law and have now been passed to DWF. I do remember seeing a post in this thread saying that clients' files had been sent by WH to more than one firm. Dar & Co. were mentioned. They are in Rusholme, Manchester. I wish a former employee of WH reading this thread could enlighten us, although I know that the solicitor involved in my case just remarked that the files had "disappeared" one day in mid-December and didn't know where they had gone.

Catwoman8950

anotherproblem wrote: »

I have said this before though and it still worries me greatly - why has no one thought to check out the computers. There must be such a lot of information on them that we need.

DWF must be checking the computers because they have to reconcile the accounts. They can't do that without access to the computers. Another poster suggested that the computers may have been removed or the data destroyed before the SRA intervened. If so, then this is becoming very serious indeed.

Catwoman8950

sue276 wrote: »

My partner asked them why they hadn't checked the computers and he was told they couldn't/didnt have access

I can't believe this. I would have thought that in a case of this nature, a forensic examination of WH's computers would have been necessary.

Horrified_Solicitor

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

I can't believe this. I would have thought that in a case of this nature, a forensic examination of WH's computers would have been necessary.

This jumps out at me as well. Rapid access to the computers of an intervened in firm is regarded as one of the essential first steps.* Even if someone attempts to delete data files, the information remains on the hard drive until it is overwritten and can usually be recovered. Is anyone in a position to ask DWF directly if the computers have been removed from the offices?


*If I had my way, I'd keep the partners locked up in a cellar on bread and water until all money was recovered.

Catwoman8950

Horrified_Solicitor wrote: »

This jumps out at me as well. Rapid access to the computers of an intervened in firm is regarded as one of the essential first steps.* Even if someone attempts to delete data files, the information remains on the hard drive until it is overwritten and can usually be recovered. Is anyone in a position to ask DWF directly if the computers have been removed from the offices?

*If I had my way, I'd keep the partners locked up in a cellar on bread and water until all money was recovered.

I would hope so because if not, they will have been nicked by now!!!! And this is coming from someone who had her foreign registered car nicked by machete wielding thugs in the Heald Green area last September (fortunately we got it back undamaged, minus the machete the police found on the back seat).

anotherproblem

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

My thoughts too, although thankfully my files (all 5 of them!) were with Stirling Law and have now been passed to DWF. I do remember seeing a post in this thread saying that clients' files had been sent by WH to more than one firm. Dar & Co. were mentioned. They are in Rusholme, Manchester. I wish a former employee of WH reading this thread could enlighten us, although I know that the solicitor involved in my case just remarked that the files had "disappeared" one day in mid-December and didn't know where they had gone.

Hi Have you any further info on Dar & Co Please. I have not had an oppertunity to nag them yet.

anotherproblem

anotherproblem wrote: »

Hi Thanks for that I will ring them and see if they insured my property and let you know how i get on

No Luck I tried to find out today who WH used for indemnity Insurence - So far I contacted 5 firms. All came back the same dead end. I also got in touch with DWF again and they just rung and said they would try to find out by tomorrow. So another day - no progresss.

Catwoman8950

anotherproblem wrote: »

Hi Have you any further info on Dar & Co Please. I have not had an oppertunity to nag them yet.

This information is from the Law Society's website:

Dar & Co.
Solicitors and Estate Agents
171 Wilmslow Road
Manchester M14 5AP
Tel: 0161 225 3777
Fax: 0161 257 2375
E-mail: [EMAIL="darandco@tiscali.co.uk"]darandco@tiscali.co.uk[/EMAIL]

anotherproblem

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

This information is from the Law Society's website:

Dar & Co.
Solicitors and Estate Agents
171 Wilmslow Road
Manchester M14 5AP
Tel: 0161 225 3777
Fax: 0161 257 2375
E-mail: [EMAIL="darandco@tiscali.co.uk"]darandco@tiscali.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Hi this firm was very helpful but they do not have conveyancing files from WH - they only have immigration files. Another dead end I am afraid.