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

PZH

Elfbert wrote: »

Well, I've been homeless since the end of March because CountryWide and HSBC are incapable of answering any question in fewer than ten days....

Oh, and no, still no exchange or completion date in sight, despite my original projected completion date being the 24th March....

But if you read the answers (and my assumption) - I would not hand notice to landlord until AFTER exchange at the very least.

Metals

PLEASE TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW If their mortgage provider use Countrywide Surveyors they should walk away. DO NOT USE THEM!

Countrywide produced a Homebuyers Survey for us. It was riddled with inaccurate information. We only found this out when we had received the keys. This has proved to be costly for us to fix them problems. DSC Protect, CW's insurers refused to acknowledge that there were problems with the survey.

I took my complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Property.

This organisation acknowledged that there was a shortfall in the standard of the Homebuyers report. I was offered a derisory amount of compensation. This did not cover the problems that I had to fix.

I refused to sign the letter sent to accept their recommendations in full and final sentiment.

MIKE770

Metals wrote: »

PLEASE TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW If their mortgage provider use Countrywide Surveyors they should walk away. DO NOT USE THEM!

Countrywide produced a Homebuyers Survey for us. It was riddled with inaccurate information. We only found this out when we had received the keys. This has proved to be costly for us to fix them problems. DSC Protect, CW's insurers refused to acknowledge that there were problems with the survey.

I took my complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Property.

This organisation acknowledged that there was a shortfall in the standard of the Homebuyers report. I was offered a derisory amount of compensation. This did not cover the problems that I had to fix.

I refused to sign the letter sent to accept their recommendations in full and final sentiment.

i HAD BEEN PUT IN TOUCH WITH THEM A FEW YEARS AGO, GLAD NOTHING TRANSPIRED IF THAT IS AS BAD AS THEY GET.

Ooooppppssss Caps Lock

Buyers were time wasters, so no further action taken.

robatwork

Blimey they attract a lot of CAPS.

If there are factual inaccuracies in their survey then that's actionable (assuming they aren't caveated to hell and back).

What are you actual losses as a result of the incorrect survey?

Lavendyr

Metals wrote: »

PLEASE TELL ANYONE YOU KNOW If their mortgage provider use Countrywide Surveyors they should walk away. DO NOT USE THEM!

Countrywide produced a Homebuyers Survey for us. It was riddled with inaccurate information. We only found this out when we had received the keys. This has proved to be costly for us to fix them problems. DSC Protect, CW's insurers refused to acknowledge that there were problems with the survey.

I took my complaint to the Ombudsman Services: Property.

This organisation acknowledged that there was a shortfall in the standard of the Homebuyers report. I was offered a derisory amount of compensation. This did not cover the problems that I had to fix.

I refused to sign the letter sent to accept their recommendations in full and final sentiment.

Countrywide do not provide a surveying service. They have a network of surveyors nationwide who complete survey work. Therefore the poor quality of one surveyor in your area does not mean that all surveyors in the Countrywide network will be equally poor.

bullett

Is this countrywide the same countrywide I have been pointed towards?

The ones I have are based in the Wirral.

I'm asking because I wanted to contact them with regard to a few questions before I sign on the dotted. I've not been able to reach them and my spider sense is tingling. It's all been little things but enough to make me want to look elsewhere.

We are not with HSBC for the mortgage.

JimW

14 weeks ago a short chain commenced with the buyer of our house using Countrywide solicitors. I am just about to lose our purchase because Countrywide, despite the purchase of my property is a first time buyer with no complicated upward chain, have messed around so much. Right up until yesterday we are answering questions we answered 8 weeks ago and in some cases have answered the same query with documentary proof 4 times. Our buyer forwarded a text she received from them yesterday at 9.30am stating all searches were complete and yet we are still being chased for questions relating to searches up until 5pm yesterday.
My advice to anyone involved in any move is that if Countrywide are involved at any point, leave well alone. My solicitors bill has already increased by £600+ because of them. We have been ready to exchange for 6 weeks and as yet are still no further forward. It looks like this will all collapse later today when our purchase is re marketed. Unacceptable on all levels.

LEP

I am stuck in a chain and need to complete on Friday. HSBC is my mortgage provider and CW are representing them. Christ I wish I hadn't made this choice.....anyway.

The thing is contracts have not been exchanged yet but hopefully should tomorrow.

Does anyone have experience of contracts being exchanged and completion going ahead 2 days later with the dreaded HSBC/CW combination involved?

My solicitor told me they needed 5 working days a couple of months ago but trying to get hold of her this week is impossible. The best I have had is a message relayed to me this afternoon that she is awaiting confirmation from CW that contracts can now be exchanged.

I am sick with worry and feel like blowing my brains out :mad:

Only joking about the last bit before any refers me to the Samaritans!

Homebuyer2_2

Proxy wrote: »

Also, just to give you a happy story, I have just completed with HSBC and one of countrywide's panel firms. The process has been smooth, quick and easy. Pow.

which of the panels solicitors did you use? would be keen to hear from good experiences (for a change) so that we can actually make the right choice amongst the 43 panel solicitors (it's limited choice but if there are some better solicitors amongst them, then at least we can pick those). thanks

PZH

Homebuyer2 wrote: »

Originally Posted by Proxy
Also, just to give you a happy story, I have just completed with HSBC and one of countrywide's panel firms. The process has been smooth, quick and easy. Pow.

which of the panels solicitors did you use? would be keen to hear from good experiences (for a change) so that we can actually make the right choice amongst the 43 panel solicitors (it's limited choice but if there are some better solicitors amongst them, then at least we can pick those). thanks

I completed on Friday with Premier Property Lawyers :j

Case opened 4th May - so 10 weeks

To be fair - a lot of this was waiting for the Sellers to respond (Gas checks, Electricity checks, Building Regs, etc..)

In my experience, they were good at answering the phone and answering questions verbally. They were a bit slow with emails and not all of them where answered - so I called them instead.

Getting them to call back was very poor - I did most the chasing between them and the estate agent (acting as interface to the Sellers Solicitors) - although they did call back on some occasions

They had an efficient eWay Web portal that accepted most documents to be scanned and loaded - although a few needed to be signed, witnessed and then posted back to them. All of the posted documents were loaded to the portal within days of return.

They also accepted online payments through their portal (upto £15,000 per transaction.) Free for Debit Cards - a fee for Credit Cards. They also accept online banking transactions from your own online bank (They provided sort code and account number)

So - as long as you keep at them then things should run smoothly.