Anyone had dealings with Birchall Blackburn sollicitors?

Angelswife

I feel it's important for anyone looking to use them to understand just how utterly useless and rude/unprofessional they are. Do not go with them. I'm currently using them and it is horrible. I'm doing this alone and it is the first time I purchase a flat so I made it clear in initial conversations with their sales team that I needed someone that would explain the process and pick up the phone.

It started with them assigning to me a kid with no experience - I know this because I googled him. I had instant doubt and then saw they suddenly has assigned my case to someone else as they had realised the property needed a bit more experience. Was a little shocked that they hadn't realised this from my initial comms...

They it just went downhill from there... They are uncommunicative - don't answer phones and never reply to emails. I shouldn't have to chase someone that is supporting me to buy a 500k property!! They refuse to update me on the process and keep saying that I am just one of the many customers they have so "they would get to my applications in due course"...shocking customer service...

I have been hassled multiple times by the Estate Agent because Birchall was unresponsive to the Sellers' solicitor too. When I asked them about it they said they were "moving as fast as they could" - there was no apology.

Oh and god forbid they work after 5pm. When asked on a Monday afternoon if they had read emails from me dated Friday they replied that they don't read emails arriving close to 5pm as that is when they switch off! customers clearly mean nothing to them.

I asked them specifically to make certain enquiries and they didn't do them when I asked them to so I had to ask them twice to get it done.

I've not even gone as far as exchanging contracts so who knows how many more problems I'll have with them...

In conclusion: STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

Taylor2902

I know its a long time from this thread, but I wish I had seen it before using BB. I have had a horrendous issue with them. Us and the Estate Agent could never get them on the phone. On the day of completion we had trouble getting the deposit monies over (bank & internet) they had not told us until 17.10 the day before how much we needed to pay over (stamp duty just changed). The solicitor we were dealing with went home early - with no communication - the vendors solicitor was trying to get hold of them to complete via a licence. They would not take the phone call and delayed the completion until Monday - this cost us another £400+ - not at all happy!!

pickles13

I almost used them but my lender (Bank of Ireland) said they were not on the approved list so I had to call back and cancel. I have to say that the receptionist was very nice on the phone and gave a lot of advice.

Aunty_Jean

I used reallymoving.com to get a quote. I was happy with the quote from Birchall Blackburn, phoned them up with some questions about how it would work doing the conveyance long distance and was quite satisfied. I was told that they could do most of the to-ing and fro-ing by email, which sounded good. The majority of reviews on the comparison website were good.

A few days later, I sent an email asking what to do next as I was about to accept an offer and needed the name of the person who would be dealing with my sale. Later that day I received a reply stating that a file had been opened and setting out who the conveyancer and their assistant would be – with their contact details etc.

The estate agent sent out the Memorandum of Sale on Monday by email and also by post direct to the named person. It was a simple transaction – a freehold sale to a first time buyer. I felt confident.

On Wednesday, not having heard anything back, I found this site and my heart sank. I phoned the contact at Birchall Blackburn and was told that they had received the details from the estate agent on Tuesday and that they had sent out their information pack that same day.

Also, I sent the firm an email with a link to this page and asked for their comments. A member of their staff phoned me just before 6 that evening and explained that their business model was such that they turn over huge numbers of clients and they expect to have some unhappy ones and that they have a whole department to try to sort out complaints.

It was then that I realised that they have no real incentive to keep me, personally, happy - so long as the majority of their clients were happy. Also, should I be disgruntled, it probably wouldn’t affect the volume of any future work. A local solicitor on the other hand would want to keep the local estate agent happy and a local seller and buyer happy, to safeguard their reputation.

Since there was nothing in the post from Birchall Blackburn that Wednesday evening when I got home, I decided to change tack and go with a local solicitor. I downloaded the TA10 and TA6 from the internet and filled them in that evening. The next day (Thursday) I took them, along with my ID, to a local solicitor – who then made sure that the contract pack was with the buyers solicitor by the close of play that same day. I emailed my contact at Birchall Blackburn and explained that I no longer wanted to use their services. I got a reply within minutes saying that they would close the file.

The information pack from Birchall Blackburn eventually arrived on Saturday. I had been told that it was posted to me on the Tuesday, but it was postmarked Thursday.

In every dealing I had with the various staff, they were always courteous; and I’m still confident that they would have completed the process – eventually. If I had a transaction to do in future that was 'in the family' and that I knew could not fail before exchange then I would probably consider using them in order to save some money.

However, the risks of an unknown buyer having a change of heart are always there before exchange of contract - and the longer this takes, the greater the chance of something happening to derail the deal. So, in this instance, I was happy to pay the extra to use a local solicitor.

I was not impressed by being lied to regarding the day that the welcome pack was sent out.

RBaldry

We have used them for our current ongoing purchase and we wish we had pulled out from them at the first signs of uselessness. We stuck with them as they were on the list of recommended solicitors from our mortgage advisor.

They have sent out information based on a previous failed purchase several times causing panic from our current vendor and now delaying our exchange date.

They have posted various info to the vendor of the failed property!

They've been rude, difficult to get information from, difficult to get any sort of support as we are first time buyers.

We will be complaining as soon as we have completed.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Shanti0912

I wish I had read this thread before selling my apartment and using BB in Southport.

I found their detiails on a referral site and from the outset they have been dreadful ... not replying to emails, not being able to talk to the lead conveyancing exec, his secretary/ assistant also not replying to calls and emails. All necessary documents, information and details have to be provided at least twice, then they do nothing! It is simply infuriating. I have already complained to the branch's senior partner but nothing came of that either.

Now been waiting over a week to exchange on 2nd purchaser. BB have my instructions and permission to deal with exchange and completion, provided in writing via email. Now conveyancing exec and his assistant have gone MIA.

The sale is simple - the buyer has his mortgage and there is no chain. Once I have completed I will be complaining and will also be in touch with the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Sarahbonnie

I would like to add a comment for anyone looking at using this firm....DON'T!
It took 6 months to complete with no chain on my property, caused stress to myself, my financial advisor and all parties involved. I never once spoke to the solicitor dealing with my case on the phone and she rrfused to take my calls or ring me but had no problem calling my financial advisor (not her client) as well as the fact she did not read my documentation causing confusion and stress on the day of completion. I put a complaint in and they have made me an offer but still do not accept responsibility. They are incompetent and do not care about their clients. I have friends and family buying at the moment using other solicitors and they are not experiencing the trouble I had. For your sanity and a relatively stress free sale/purchase do not use this firm.

Wonmar

I have just lost a purchase thanks to Birchall Blackburn. They were absolutely useless. Nothing was done unless you chased them up at every stage. As a result my vendor pulled out and remarketed the property at a much higher price. They may be cheaper up front, but their incompetence has cost me at least £30,0000!!!!!

darryn_a

I used the Southport branch for a purchase/sale in Oct 2015 seeing as they were the cheapest on comparison sites. They successfully took inefficiency and procrastination to a new level.

I had repeated assurances of timelines being adhered to but numerous things kept popping up at the last minute which delayed exchange. This is in spite of my initial sale falling through giving them ample time to get their act together.

The senior contact assigned to my case went missing in the middle of the sale leaving me with a Simon Taylor who basically lost the plot. Absolutely horrible at chasing the other side for crucial documents, failed to highlight key points (e.g. no chancel repair liability insurance on purchase), pretty much rude when pushed for answers or asked to explain anything. If it wasn't for another senior contact intervening, I'm pretty sure the whole thing would have fallen through.

I would stay clear.

maggiesu

This is the most frustrating law company I have ever dealt with.. I am a retired mortgage adviser and have never known legals to take so long to complete on a property. I am helping my son to buy his first property. Before we appointed them, he had his finance in place, no property to sell, not part of a chain so we never thought that 4 months on we are still nowhere near completion.!
I can't imagine how they acquired the good reviews we read before we appointed them. I would never use them again..