Wolstenholmes!!!! Beware!!!

kmmr

Really feel for you guys. Shocking situation to be in, and so stressful. Hopefully the solicitors regulatory board will have some kind of compensation scheme in place, as it looks like these guys are seriously bad news and may not have complied with the client money rules.

There was a case recently (a few weeks ago) about client money accounts in Lehmans. They held that if the money wasn't held in a client account, then it wasn't protected, even if the firm had told the client that they would hold it there. Terrible decision in my opinion (means every client has to become a regulator of their banks!) but may have negative implications here.

Part of me doesn't want to tell you this... and the case may not carry across to Client money accounts in Solicitors, but it is worth knowing, so you can start to talk to the solicitors regulator about compensation schemes.

KinneyT

Hi Everyone,

I have managed to get them to transfer my file to a new solicitor since they apparently went into meltdown but they still have all my deposit and completion money in their client account (in excess of £75k) as we were meant to have exchanged and completed on 14th December.
I cannot get anyone to pick up the phone or respond to my emails requesting they give my money back and have been advised that this could be criminal activity, more than just negligence!
Any advice on how I might get my money back urgently would be gratefully received.
I am at risk of the chain collapsing and being homeless if I do not get it soon, not to mention all the wasted expense for everyone in my chain.

:eek:

Discovery

Sorry have been too busy to get back sooner.
There are a few issues that I am trying to get clarified.

The firm certainly has not been trading for over 200 years under the current owners and may not have been in existence until a very short while ago. The individuals are regulated and in this case only 2 solicitors , the rest are assistants.

This whole set up was to trade initially and then shut down and disappear. As stated earlier, this is not the first time these individuals have performed in such manner albeit in a different industry.
The SRA are aware of them , but its a case of chasing them now. Where the money is located is a question many are asking.

mjmal51

Discovery wrote: »

Sorry have been too busy to get back sooner.
There are a few issues that I am trying to get clarified.

The firm certainly has not been trading for over 200 years under the current owners and may not have been in existence until a very short while ago. The individuals are regulated and in this case only 2 solicitors , the rest are assistants.

This whole set up was to trade initially and then shut down and disappear. As stated earlier, this is not the first time these individuals have performed in such manner albeit in a different industry.
The SRA are aware of them , but its a case of chasing them now. Where the money is located is a question many are asking.

If you have any evidence on this can you not send it by e mail to the SRA/LCS, anonymously if need be?
http://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/fraud-dishonesty.page



wolstenholmes_issue
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PJCampana

1. Just over two months ago, I purchased a flat using Wolstenholmes Birmingham's office'services. The purchase went through relatively smoothly. I have now received a demand from the Inland Revenue saying that they have yet to receive the Stamp Duty on that purchase. I have been completely unable to contact them. My advice is not to have anything to do with this company.

The exact same thing has happened to me, the IRS letter fell through my letter box on Friday. I thought i was in the clear and away from these people but clearly not.

Both the legal complaints service and law society recommend paying the IRS and then making a complaint and getting compensation that way. Just in case you have the same other issue as I did it is worth ringing the Land Registry to confirm they have registered the property - something else they failed to do for me...it seems there post completion strategy is to just do nothing.



Anybody got an idea what the Inland Revenue will accept on this? Will they accept that you have lodged an official complaint with SRA and LCS or demand the money now?

Catwoman8950

Discovery wrote: »

Sorry have been too busy to get back sooner.
There are a few issues that I am trying to get clarified.

The firm certainly has not been trading for over 200 years under the current owners and may not have been in existence until a very short while ago. The individuals are regulated and in this case only 2 solicitors , the rest are assistants.

This whole set up was to trade initially and then shut down and disappear. As stated earlier, this is not the first time these individuals have performed in such manner albeit in a different industry.
The SRA are aware of them , but its a case of chasing them now. Where the money is located is a question many are asking.

I posted this on another Wolstenholmes thread but will post it here too.

Wolstenholmes LLP was incorporated on 5th June 2006. Prior to that they were Wolstenholmes Rainer Macbeth and had been trading in various forms since 1818. However, it seems to be only this year from June onwards that major changes took place in their management structure. All the relevant documents are available from Companies House at GBP 1 each.

FraudBuster

Just a thought, but the SRA may ask this site to delete the threads. Interested parties may like to keep copies.

RRPhantom

Hi everyone

A call to the sra reveals that wolstenholmes has been "intervened", imem the sra have shut them down.

A pretty shocking story.

I am, however, struggling to feel sorry for the people moaning on this forum.

One of the highest-value transactions of most peple's lives, and carried out infrequently, and you choose your lawyer on the internet, and based solely on price.

You get what you pay for in life.

I am afraid that you have been very foolish, and now you are paying the price.

Yorkie1

What unhelpful comments to those people who are in some distress and worry. At least one person I have read about, has nowhere to live as they have given notice on their rental property, new tenants are moving in, and the onward transaction has fallen through as a result of the Wolstenholmes situation.

You have no way of knowing exactly the reasons for each individual's decision to use these solicitors. Cost may well have been a significant factor, but all consumers are entitled to rely on the probity of a long-established firm of solicitors which are regulated in several ways by professional conduct and other rules.

I was always told that if I couldn't say anything constructive then to keep my trap shut. You appear to have joined purely to rub salt in peoples' wounds.

Seasonal greetings to you too.

And no, I have no vested interest in Wolstenholmes or any transactions related to them.

distresses

When you go onto Wolstenholmes website you believe you are dealing with a long established (since 1818) law firm. In fact the solicitor I am currently using also said that Wolstenholmes were a long established firm and had a very good reputation. Unfortunately this has changed recently, and has resulted in other law firms also having problems dealing with them.

Yes it may have been a little cheaper but not much more than the other quotes I obtained. I went for the long established law firm....which apparently means absolutely nothing now. Take a look at the Solicitors from Hell Website - there are numerous solicitors listed on there.

opinions4u

RRPhantom wrote: »

One of the highest-value transactions of most peple's lives, and carried out infrequently, and you choose your lawyer on the internet, and based solely on price.

Which is what sites like MSE are all about. Seeking out value.

I am afraid that you have been very foolish, and now you are paying the price.

No. The have been exceptionally unlucky.

When Wolstenholmes was a small business they were a highly respected firm locally. I used to refer clients to them and never received a complaint about their service.

The nature of the business has changed for the worse and it's not good news for clients caught up in it through no fault of their own.