Wolstenholmes!!!! Beware!!!

lyster101

I've read this forum with interest and would like to add my experience so that other people are able to fully consider whether the low pricing of Wolstenholmes is worth the misery. I would suggest that they are not.

I had hoped to use a local solicitor but was directed to a particular 'approved' list by my mortgage lender. I am not sure what firms have to do to get on lists such as these but they restrict free choice and I suspect that there are some covert agreements between lender and each solicitor on the list that may provide a conflict of interest. I first contacted the company in February and we finally completed at the end of April. The property was repossessed so there was no chain and it should have been a simple process. As a FTB, I did not know what to expect so I was hoping for a level of guidance and I also displayed a generous amount of leniency and patience.

Since February I have had to deal with fourteen different people in the organisation and I have been unceremoniously passed from one to another without reason and without explanation - similar to other complaints. I was given many excuses and false promises and I lost count of how many times I had to make follow up calls because prior calls were ignored. The whole company is confused and unprofessional. For example, none of the people I dealt with included a direct telephone number, they wrote sloppy and baffling emails with a plethora of spelling mistakes (including, on several occasions by a couple of members of staff, my name and my lender). Some even used email accounts and email signatures that do not match so I had no idea who was supposed to deal with me.

It is no compensation to me that this firm have now been removed from the solicitors approved list.

As an update, a couple of week ago, after emailing Nazma and the complaints email that I found on this forum, I have finally received the Title Deeds to the property I moved into five months ago, although I am still awaiting documents with no idea how much longer it will take to receive them.

I urge all purchases to look elsewhere for their conveyancing and all lenders to do as my lender did and remove the company from their approved list.

tbooth

I've spent alot of time looking into Wolstenholmes after my mother got really upset when it dragged on and on and I had to try and get through to them on the phone.
I will get the links together of all the complaints and all the information and let people decide for themselves. I think once you have finished, the only thing you will do with this firm is avoid them.

T.

cakinwande

leehammond wrote: »

Just because you send a letter and it doesnt get returned, doesnt mean the place exists! In another thread, someone went to one of the several London Offices listed only to find that there was no knowledge of Wolstenholmes trading from that specific address. They claimed to have an office in a building and the receptionist said there was no such company there. go figure

They now have two offices... eek! The evil is spreading!
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/choosingandusing/findasolicitor/action=lawfirmsearch.law

dr_david_macdonald

My dad Died in 1999 and in my opinion Wolstenholmes let our family down very badly

dr_david_macdonald

my dad died in 1999 and wolstenholmes let my famliy down very badly

cakinwande

dr_david_macdonald wrote: »

my dad died in 1999 and wolstenholmes let my famliy down very badly

I'm very sorry to hear this. What did you employ Wolstenholmes to do? Something to do with your fathers will, property...?

trevor_b_3

To try & set the balance; I am using Wolstenholmes & so far I have been very happy with the service & have had no problems with communicating with my appointed solicitor. The problem has been with mortgage advice & lenders.

cakinwande

I dont trust anybody with 1 post count to their name. Sorry.

trevor_b wrote: »

To try & set the balance; I am using Wolstenholmes & so far I have been very happy with the service & have had no problems with communicating with my appointed solicitor. The problem has been with mortgage advice & lenders.

1elleinad2

We have sold our house to someone who is using wolstenholmes as their solicitor. They have been an absolute nightmare. Our estate agents and solicitors are constantly chasing them and leaving messages whereby they never return. We were supposed to have exchanged contracts yesterday, and surprise surprise despite attempts to contact them no success. We are really strict on deadlines and I am my witsend with them.

Tell everyone you know not to use them.

grren

I wonbt be using them now lol.. i use my local people i find the service better and if you spending a lot on a house its worth it.