Arc Property Solicitors

NewlySingle

After 10 years of marriage my hubby announced that he doesn't want to be with me any more. Things have been very amicable and we arranged a separation of finances (so I'm a cash buyer). I found a place in my budget (so far so good).
I went onto reallymoving.com and chose Arc property solicitors.
As I had cash and the seller had no chain and will be moving to a rental property I thought things would progress quite smoothly.

I discussed the service they'd be able to give me with their quotes team and explained that, although we're a very amicable couple, it's important that I move ASAP as until then we can't rent this our house out and we'll have to live together (uncomfortable)

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]
After a promising start things are almost at a standstill
Here's the timeline so far :~
Oct 13th Paid my initial deposit to engage their services & received electronic confirmation. (5 days no contact)
Oct 18th E-mailed supplying my details, indicated that I'd like to complete before the end of November and asked what info they needed from me.
Oct 19th - Arc sent my conveyancers contact details, terms of business and Property Purchase Questionnaire.
Oct 20th - I sent my completed questionnaire back & some of the my funds aren't proceeds of crime bank paperwork trail info.
Oct 21st - Sent the rest of the bank paperwork, ID forms etc back.
Oct 22nd - Arc sent thanks for the paperwork and asked me to chase the estate agent for a copy of their sale memorandum.
*Chased Your Move and they sent it to me on the same day
Sent off the Copy of the sale memorandum to Arc
Oct 25th - Rather than bug my conveyancer I thought I'd check online to see how the case was progressing. Couldn't get into the system so phoned their help-desk and was told they'd send a password.
Oct 26th - No password had arrived to e-mailed asking for an update
Oct 27th - No update - so chased for password (got password Hoorah) No details had been input into their system
Sent the following
I hadn't heard from you so to save you time I got online access
(to see if there was anything else I needed to get for you)
There is nothing filled in on the key dates ~ I *think* that the items below are up to date but please can you confirm if there's anything needed to progress things further and where we are in the process.
Took the time to go through the whole of their online "update" form (below):

Hopefully you have these
Address And Identity Checks Passed
Source Of Funds Verified
Home Information Pack Received
Estate Agent Particulars Received

Is this where we are now?
Contract Package Received
I don't think I have any extra searches - unless there are some I don't know about?
Additional Enquiries Raised
Additional Searches Requested (if applicable)
Additional Searches Received (if applicable)
Are there any enquires we're waiting on a reply to?
Other Solictors Replied To All Enquiries

Mortgage Offer Received - N/A Cash Buyer
Reported To Client & Completion Statement Finalised Any idea on timescales?
Contract & Deposit To Exchange Received What do I need to do to get this ready for you?
Funds Requested From Lender How do you want these? Cheque, Bank Transfer how does this part happen?
Exchange Date ASAP please
Replies To Requisitions Received Is this applicable to me & if so what is it?
Final Searches Received Are there any searches to be done?
Fixed Completion Date Preferred date either Mon 22nd or Mon 29th November
Transfer etc Received From Sellers Solicitors ~ is this the title deed transfer or something else?
Stamp Duty Lodged ~ I understand I'm under the threashold is there still a the land transaction return and if so, is this done as part of your standard costs?
Land Registry Application Lodged
Evidence Of Discharge Received
Updated Title Sent To Lender ~ I don't have a lender so is this be sent to me instead?

Oct 28th - Got copied in on an email to the sellers solicitors
(asking for various changes to a doc they'd sent)
Nov 3rd - I went to the online case info but there was still nothing there...e-mailed the conveyancer to see if they were still waiting on info or if we'd progressed further. Once more mentioned how keen I am to exchange contracts asap as the seller needs as much notice as possible to get a rental property sorted.
Also Spoke to seller who spoke to his solicitor & was told all the info requested had been sent that day.
Received an automated response:
I am now out of the office and will return on 8th November 2010
Matters have been allocated to my colleagues. If you have any queries please call our Client Services Team on 084xx xxx xxx
Called the client services team to be told it would be followed up...

Nov 10th - Sent the following:
Hi xxxxxxx
My seller said his solicitor sent everything back to yourselves on the 3rd Can you update me please?
Nov 11th Received
Hi Nicola,
I am in the process of reviewing these replies and will revert back to you and the other side shortly.
Nov 12th - Hi xxxxx
Has there been an update yet?
Sorry if you've sent me something by post I've been in the hospital for the past 5 days so am only able to receive electronic mail.
Nov 15th - (today) Checkedonline still to updates on their electronic system & no e-mail updates from conveyancer......

As things get nearer to Christmas it will make it not only more difficult for my seller to find a place and move in time, but also for myself too (I run a shop and it's our busiest period).
The shop closes for the first week in January and I really need to use that time to make a head start on renovations. (It was in my budget as it needs a little work doing) . If we don't exchange soon I'll never get a delivery kitchen install slot for Jan.

Doesn't look like we're going to hit the 28 day Premier Completion Service deadline and it's really difficult for me emotionally (with the split etc).

Not sure whether I should give my conveyancer another e-mail or to go to the "customer service" team and escalate it. She was initially really fast to respond ~ things just seem to have gone off the boil.
More than anything it's the not knowing where things are, or even if things are happening at all / what's holding things up

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Nic xx

caeler

I think you need to get on the phone either to your contact as they are back now or to the main help line number you've got. Sit on the phone until you have your answers and call every day if oyu have to. Follow up by email but try and speak to somebody too. [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]
Keep going, your nearly there. You are being so brave doing this as well as what your going through.

Richard_Webster

Is this where we are now?
Contract Package Received
I don't think I have any extra searches - unless there are some I don't know about?
Additional Enquiries Raised
Additional Searches Requested (if applicable)
Additional Searches Received (if applicable)
Are there any enquires we're waiting on a reply to?
Other Solictors Replied To All Enquiries

Mortgage Offer Received - N/A Cash Buyer
Reported To Client & Completion Statement Finalised Any idea on timescales?
Contract & Deposit To Exchange Received What do I need to do to get this ready for you?
Funds Requested From Lender How do you want these? Cheque, Bank Transfer how does this part happen?
Exchange Date ASAP please
Replies To Requisitions Received Is this applicable to me & if so what is it?
Final Searches Received Are there any searches to be done?
Fixed Completion Date Preferred date either Mon 22nd or Mon 29th November
Transfer etc Received From Sellers Solicitors ~ is this the title deed transfer or something else?
Stamp Duty Lodged ~ I understand I'm under the threashold is there still a the land transaction return and if so, is this done as part of your standard costs?
Land Registry Application Lodged
Evidence Of Discharge Received
Updated Title Sent To Lender ~ I don't have a lender so is this be sent to me instead?

So you were confused with this load of stages in the transaction weren't you? So is there any real point in them having the stages there if they don't explain their significance? It all looks impressive but does it help you understand the process? It leaves you with lots of questions about things that are sometimes irrelevant to your situation.

You didn't make it that clear what you were doing at the beginning - I assume you buying a property cash.

[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] No solicitor can guarantee to get you moved in 28 days simply because the seller might not agree your date, there could be legal problems that would take longer to resolve, or the seller's solicitors might not co-operate [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

NewlySingle

Bluefuzzybug ~ Thank you, you've reminded me that I can give myself a break. It's already a stressful time and I need to stop thinking about not hassling the conveyancer and start pro-actively getting the service I should be receiving

Richard - Yes you're right there's no point in it being there if I don't know what they are or if they apply (back to communication again). There's even less point if the form isn't filled in as their part of the process ~ hmmm :think:

Yes I'm buying a property cash [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]


I'm going to call the conveyancer and see if I can get through to her...

Thank you for your help :A
Nicola x

timmyt

my advice - only because I do not solicit - is to ask Richard Webster to take over your file [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM]

NewlySingle

I phoned the number and asked for the conveyancer
but the "update team" just read the notes out to me and then
said they'd ask the conveyancer to contact me.
Received this earlier today:
"I have reviewed the correspondence and there are still quote a few things outstanding. I have emailed the seller’s solicitor today and copied you in for reference.

In the meantime, the seller’s solicitor has brought to my attention that there are some major works planned for the property. Please see information attached. Please note that if the works are carried out after you buy the property, you will be responsible for the costs as you will be gaining the benefit of these."

I read through the doc but the costs are quoted for multiple blocks
£954,838.55 (+vat) :eek:
I need to contact the housing association and find out how much each flat will have to pay....

Will phone again tomorrow to try and find out exactly what info we're waiting on, the seller has said they're happy to chase their solicitors (once they know what it is) *sigh*

Nic x

NewlySingle

At the moment though they are not being too bad -
the sellers solicitor hasn't sent the info they need and Arc
are now copying me in on the weekly e-mails requesting
info AND I've had a customer services person phone me today
to check everything is OK.
Fingers crossed the paperwork comes thorugh soon as I really
want to exchange contracts!

Nicxx

chrismocock

Please Help!! , Anyone have any advice

We instructed ARC Solicitors back in late March and we are now in May, well Mid may! and ARC are saying that they have not even recieved the search results back yet and have been telling me for the last couple of weeks that they have been waiting for the search results.

I have been called several times by the estate agency on the sellers behalfs showing concerns about the time it is taking so i tried to call Matt Dickenson with no joy, sent an email to him and he has only just started the search process off!

Matt as been made aware of our concerns.....hopefully things will get moving!

So I will update this forum to let you all know how things are panning out!:(

chesneyoctopus

I think that you need an explanation as to why the application for the searches has only been submitted. It may be because ARC have only recently received the contract papers from the seller's solicitors, but if the seller is chasing, this does not sound likely. Keep us informed!