Solicitors messing me around?

Kinnairdy

Sorry it's longer than I intended but I have condensed as much as I can.
Hi am just looking for opinions to help me decide whether I am getting annoyed for a good reason or not.
Decided to sell my BTL's, asked Solicitor in May 2005 for a pre sale valuation, he visited properties but never got back to me, I phoned several times, recieved profuse apologies and promises that he would search the files and send valuation, never did, DH had some health probs so it got put to the side until March this year, made appointment witl Sol. told him I intended to sell now and would he issue the required NTQ's etc asap, had calculated that Tenancy's should end late May, wrong... chased Sol again and he finally sent NTQ to 1 property for 19 July termination, had to chase again for 2nd NTQ which was then late July before this Tenant would move out, he refused to market properties until all Tenants were gone, I got fed up waiting for him so put For Sale Posters in windows of properties, was approached by another BTL owner and finally negotiated an agreeable price, we both contacted our Solicitors to get the ball rolling, remember I still have not had the official valuation on the properties but knew roughly what they were worth from similar sales in the area so price agreed is fine.
Anyway finally got letter from my Sol. with offer details and entry date of 25 Aug, phoned him to discuss and he say's he can't do it for that date but the following week should be possible, I wait to hear from him the next week, nothing... so I phone again, he say's he is waiting for the other Sol (both work for same firm but different towns) to send him the final disposition for me to sign, I wait another week still nothing, I contact my buyer to see if there is a problem at his end, he say's they are waiting for deed's from My Sol, I phone him again, got his secretary who tells me they only sent the deed to other office last Thursday and are now waiting for the final Disposition to be sent back so I can sign, I am now becoming very angry, My Sol. lied about sending the disposition 2 week's ago, waited for him to call till mid day yesterday then phoned him instead, how are you say's he... wondering when this sale will complete I say, me too say's he I have'nt had any contact from the other Sol but I will go and chase him up now, please do I say and hang up... message from my Sol at 5.30pm last night... the buyers Sol has been in touch and 'all being well at their end' the sale will 'hopefully' be finalised on Thurs or Friday this week but he (my Sol) will know more tomorrow (today).
Now that's 3 week over the original date of 25 August and I am very annoyed :mad: I am wondering exactly who is giving me the run around here, the buyers Sol was ready to complete on 25th - my Sol said not poss - now buyers Sol is being blamed for the 3 week hold up but I know the buyer has been pushing his side to get on with it and I am beginning to think it is my Sol who is the problem, he's lied onece so why not again?. I've used this chap several times in the past and been happy with the service but not this time, it has been a shoddy effort from the first contact in May 2005, he's (My Sol) been off a lot due to illness in the family too and i am wondering if this is preventing him from doing his job properly although I bet it won't prevent him from presenting me with a massive bill:rotfl:
Am wondering if it is worth complaining about poor service once everything is finalised or just forget it, pay his bill and use another Firm for any future Legal Stuff?.
What do you think?

WestonDave

Not that well up on Scottish legal affairs but down here each firm has to have a nominated complaints partner. I would tidy up what you've posted into a letter and send it to the relevant partner. I'm assuming up there they operate the same system of deducting the costs from the sale proceeds in which case I would get the letter in now, and inform the relevant solicitor that you are making a complaint and that while you are content for him to retain funds to cover the agreed (?) costs in client account, you do not give permission for them to be taken until you have had a response to your complaint from the relevant partner. At the end of the day you are paying someone to do a job for you - if they have taken on too much work to do it properly then they need to see that this costs them.