Anyone used Premier Property Lawyers?

grayme-m

My buyer looked into it when PPL were being incompetent before exchange. A smaller independent seemed convinced they could pick it up quickly.

Unfortunately, PPL moved enough with this threat that he stuck with them, but with hindsight this was a big mistake and he should have switched as they soon reverted back to incompetence.

My recommendation is to avoid them, and if you're with them to get away as quickly as you can.

TBagpuss

I think a big issue with PPL (and other 'conveyaer belt' companies, is that they have a large number of caseworkers who work on a case management system - they have very little ability to deviate from the system, so if you have a very straightforward transaction they can manage, but if there is anything which is not 100% triaghtforward, or where things happen in a diferent order than the one in the system, thye struggle

Most of the caseworkers are not legally trained so again, have very limited understanding of the legal background which means they tend to be very bad at knowing which issues are importnat and which are not.

When I sold my house, the original buyer (sale fell through as the buyer's mortgage offer was withdrawn) used them. My solicitor would have been tearing his hair out if he had had any - they could not be brought to unerstnad that my tiny, 20+ year old 'lean-to' conservatory did not have planning permission becuase it did not require planning permission, and that even if it had needed planning permission there was absolutely nothing which anyone could do about it now.
We got to the point where I was going to spend £50 on a totally unecessary indemnity policy simply becuase we were making no progress.
We also found them very... how shall I put it - conservative with the facts. For instnace, my solicitor had been waiting for some considerable time for some paperwork rom them. They finally sent it, and responded the same day. However, the buyer (who was presumably chasing them) was told "we're waiting for TBagpusses solicitors to respond" which was technically true as at tht point we had had the paperwork for, ooh, 2 or 3 hours and had not yet responded, but they didn't, of course, mention that they hd only just sent it, so that out of the 4 week delay, it was 3 weeks, 6 days and 22 hours down to them and 2 hours due to us!

My solicitor (who is also a friend) says that his firm is seriously considering increasing their charges for any transaction involving PPL as it creates so much extra work to be on the other side of a trasnaction from them.

Certainly, having dealt with the sale of my last house with one (abortive) sale wher ethe other party used PPL, and one (sucessful) sale where the other party used a real solicitor, the diference was staggering.

I would not even consider using them

j_yorks

Well, just to update this, PPL have finally confessed that between themselves and Searchflow, no searches have been ordered. We paid for the searches on 8 January and their T&Cs state that they order them immediately without waiting for draft contracts. They thought they had requested them via Searchflow on 1 Feb (so, already 3 weeks late).... and today (a further 3 weeks later), between PPL and Searchflow the realisation has dawned that absolutely nothing has been ordered. I"ve been telling them for ages that something is wrong if the searches aren't back yet, but they've dismissed my concerns and told me everything was fine.

So now we have to wait a further 10 days. They can look forward to me phoning them twice a day in the meantime to chase these up.

I no longer believe a word they say and would encourage anyone reading this to go elsewhere. An alternative cannot possibly be any worse.

grayme-m

Don't fall into the trap my buyer did and let them keep messing you about....!

TBagpuss's comment about conveyancers charging more where PPL is involved is understandable; i I wouldn't deal with a buyer or seller using them again.

j_yorks

Well, I have posted a negative review of them on Trustpilot, and they have somehow managed to block it claiming that I am not a real customer. Trustpilot have asked for proof of our transactions with them which I have sent. What awful censorship - I thought Trustpilot were a fairly reliable, non-biassed site. Clearly not.

I have the contact details for Jackie Orgill-Evans which they provided me with. Does anyone have any other avenues for complaining to this firm to try and get things done?

j_yorks

PPL have finally sent me one of the long awaited searches, 3 weeks late and after much chasing and hassling. Unfortunately - and after all this, not even all that unbelievably - it's for the wrong property. It relates to a random serviced office block a few miles away.

This conveyancing business is clearly very challenging for them.

bobothebear

My Seller is using them and I've had quite a fee dense answers to questions or they just avoid answering the questions my Solicitor has posed.
We hope to exchange this week but i'm not holding my breath

grayme-m

j_yorks wrote: »

Well, I have posted a negative review of them on Trustpilot, and they have somehow managed to block it claiming that I am not a real customer. Trustpilot have asked for proof of our transactions with them which I have sent. What awful censorship - I thought Trustpilot were a fairly reliable, non-biassed site. Clearly not.

I have the contact details for Jackie Orgill-Evans which they provided me with. Does anyone have any other avenues for complaining to this firm to try and get things done?

I don't think your issue is with Trustpilot here but PPL who don't appear to like what you have written; hopefully it gets sorted and published soon.

If I do have an issue with Trustpilot, it would be that PPL are only going to challenge the single star reviews, and nobody will challenge the five stars. Is it normal to see so many five star reviews for a company from so many people that have only ever left a single review? :idea:

ontoit123

We used this company to buy and sell a property last year. The were really incapable and now owe us money as we overpaid on fees but they wont even communicate with us.

j_yorks

Sounds about right.

Have you tried their complaints person? Straight to ombudsman if no joy.