Countrywide Conveyancing/HSBC - avoid like the plague if you want to complete

auroan

kingstreet wrote: »

Auroan - So you used O'Neill Patient because they were on the HSBC panel and you STILL got Countrywide? Did anyone explain to you why it was necessary for two panel firms to be involved in your case, when it's quite clear it's supposed to be one panel firm OR your solicitor plus a panel firm to act for the bank?

No, I used my own solictor. O'Neill Patient were acting for HSBC. But I couldn't give them a kick up the behind directly, because I wasn't their direct client. I had to go through CW to proxy manage O'NP. Eventually CW relented and gave me a direct contact in O'NP.

It was actually O'NP that caused a lot of the issues by "sitting" on documents which should have be refered back to the HSBC. But their excuse was that they we're only following HSBC guidelines.

Richard_Webster

Auroan - So you used O'Neill Patient because they were on the HSBC panel and you STILL got Countrywide? Did anyone explain to you why it was necessary for two panel firms to be involved in your case, when it's quite clear it's supposed to be one panel firm OR your solicitor plus a panel firm to act for the bank?

I read it as meaning that O'Neil Patient were doing the checking what Auroan's solicitor were doing instead of Countrywide Conveyancing.

but HSBC/countrywide are saying they don't accept personal searches still and haven't subscribed to the CML handbook?

Well HSBC's Part 2 of the CML Handbook is available for download so I think they have some explaining to do. I would certainly be asking HSBC to meet the SDLT because had they not thought up this stupid method of working and kept changing the goalposts over searches then the problem would not have occurred.

Mind you, if I had any separately represented mortgage lender I would always assume Murphy's law applied and do an official local search to avoid the argument occurring.

mkc2bad

HSBC/Country wide are a total joke. The CML handbook part 2 was updated yesterday and indeed, personal searches are acceptable providing they are a member of a certain group (sorry forgot the name) Phoned up countrywide, and there was a "memo" that went around this morning with the new info.Luckily my firm are, so there is still hope to complete by friday

jonas123

Are they still insisting on the 11 day exchange to completion timescales?

My seller is threatening to pull out if we don't complete soon, but the 11 day thing seems a bit of a joke (we're still waiting for permission to exchange)

pjcox2005

A day after kicking up even more of a fuss on phone calls and complaining to the financial ombudsman (copying in HSBC complaints and the individual who took our mortgage appointment), our file has been approved and money made available.

Perhaps it was coincidence. :beer:

lumines

If I go with First Direct will I avoid these CC muppets?

SuzieSue

It appears you will:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/51740573#Comment_51740573

dobydog

We are also caught up in this sorry Countrywide saga, supposed to be moving on Friday, our buyer using HSBC and first time buyer. Ready to complete but waiting for Countrywide to give the go ahead since Monday. I cannot blame our buyer wanting to save money on stamp duty but this company don't seem to realise that people need to make arrangements. They must have known the stamp duty holiday was coming to an end and knew there would be a flurry of last minute sales to complete by that time. If it does not happen today, I believe it will be too late.

AdamS_CivilServant

Proxy wrote: »

Oh and - absolutely no bad reviews to be found on this forum by my assigned solicitors.

Proxy - any chance you could send me a personal message me with the name of your assigned solicitor? It sounds like you had a good experience by using one of HSBC forum conveyencers (and avoiding countrywide).

AdamS_CivilServant

glastolover wrote: »

I hope I am not wrong, I think I will be completing my HSBC application tonight... please do come back and educate me more clearly if you can!

Glastolover - did you complete you HSBC application? I'd be very grateful to hear what happened - whether you were assigned a forum solicitor by CW, or whether you were given a choice?