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

jonas123

just to add some more evidence of generic Countrywide incompetence...

We have been waiting for a few days for a fax from Countrywide. I phoned HSBC to get them to chase Countrywide up, who said they had sent the fax several times. Yesterday my solicitor finally got through the phoneline and managed to speak to someone on the case. After a lengthy discussion as to why we hadn't received the fax, Countrywide realised that they had been sending the fax to their OWN number.

I had to laugh

SuzieSue

betmunch wrote: »

Or do they just want to push all their mortgage business through First Direct? I bet the First Direct Sale Team are loving it!!!

Well, my friend tried to get an agreement in principle from First Direct and the first appointment they had was almost 4 weeks away. He then rang HSBC and was able to get a AIP immediately. The difference in wait time could be for any number of reasons, but could also be because people are voting with their feet.

betmunch

I think its voting with their feet. Would be interesting to see the sales figures for both routes since the start of the year.

I hope whoever is in charge of FD maintains their stance that they will not get involved in this idiotic system.

elecious

just had my conveyors form though and guess who its from hope they arent as bad as it would seem from reading this thread

Thrugelmir

mischief2012 wrote: »

I am buying a new house where I have a deadline to exchange within 28 days and complete 10 days after that.

That's your issue. As was stated earlier average time for a house transaction is 12 weeks. What you agree to with the builder cannot be imposed on other parties involved.

Richard_Webster

just had my conveyors form though and guess who its from hope they arent as bad as it would seem from reading this thread

If they are acting for you - not just for HSBC - you have the other 38 in England & Wales to choose from - change to one of them!

seagull-kev

How on earth can you trust a company who faxes something to themselves?!

This HSBC/CW problem just seems to snowball day by day - just look at how many more people keep joining this discussion - myself included.

I was due to complete on Friday 23rd of March. CW are now saying that they had done everything necessary to complete and they were waiting for a response from my solicitor in order to complete the sale but didnt hear anything back - in other words, it was my solicitors fault, not theirs - Of course this is complete rubbish and my solicitor has confirmed that.

We're now approaching 14 days since we were due to complete and since CW were apparently ready to finalise everything, yet the sale STILL hasn't gone through. I don't know how we can go from being touching distance to completing one second, to needing an extra two 2 weeks & counting the next!

My complaint to HSBC is now being dealt with by one of their Complaints people - they told me that they'd speak with CW and find out why the process has taken so long.
I asked whether they would like my solicitor's details so that they could get his side of the story (no doubt CW will be completely bias in their account!) - but HSBC told me that they do not want to speak to my solicitor and they will make a judgement on my complaint (& therefore claim for compensation) based on what CW tell them. Hardly seems fair does it! Doesn't take a genius to figure out whose side HSBC are going to take.

steevo_h

My official complaint is going in tomorrow. I'm in a similar position to you seagul-kev. From what you say its clear countrywide will make any story up to avoid having to admit wrongdoing, knowing full well that they don't need to convince you they're being honest (they're getting your money anyway) they are just banking on you not being able to prove their lies wrong. Countrywide have been saying we can complete the day after tomorrow since last Tuesday. Now they are saying tomorrow, and as we all know, tomorrow never comes especially in countrywides case.

Don't despair if HSBC don't accept your version of events. If you don't accept their resolution you still have the option to take it to the financial ombudsman who, I imagine, would be interested to hear your solicitors side of the story.

Richard_Webster

So yesterday instead of my usual phone call to HSBC I phoned First Direct instead and made a new mortgage application.

I believe the only way to show HSBC what a huge mistake they've made with Countrywide is to vote with my feet and take my business else where.

You do know that First Direct is part of HSBC and you will be signing an HSBC mortgage deed in due course - just different admin procedures. At the moment First Direct isn't a problem as far as solicitors are concerned, but one wonders whether HSBC will extend this nightmare to First Direct in due course.

simonocean

We all see bad reports from people disgruntled on web sites because they have had a bad experience but often either they are one offs or the complaint is a bit unfair. I can honestly say that the comments on Countrywide are totally fair and honest based on our own experience.

I am amazed that HSBC work with such an amateur organisation who aren't even overseen by the SRA (only the CLC). My only hope is that HSBC see sense and end the contract with Countrywide as I am very fond of my bank, and it seems a shame to divorce them over such a slow and uncommunicative conveyancing company.

Avoid at all costs.

PS. Their registration number is 2066827 to help with complaints to the CLC.