Countrywide Surveyors

grifferz

Ours was done by Countrywide. Mortgage broker tried to arrange the survey on a Tuesday, was told they were "unusually busy" and didn't know when they could do it. After some back and forth complaint they then said they could do it that Saturday.

We then heard nothing further until 12 days after the survey was done, when Countrywide phoned me to ask why I had not agreed to their terms and conditions. I told them I had. They said they had a new computer system and "everything is so slow" and "we can't find your agreement".

Eventually they agreed to email me a PDF of their agreement which I was to print out, sign, scan the signed page, and email back to them. This was a large amount of faff for a simple procedure, but I had already decided by that point that their own organisation was so monumentally screwed up that I would be best to rely on them to do as little as possible.

To their credit, the report was emailed to me the same day they received my scanned signature.

I knew no better before (though should have done more research), but based on this performance I would not use this company again.

Tabby

I severely regret asking Countrywide to undertake a HomeBuyers Report for me. It is a month since I have paid them and I am still awaiting the terms and conditions to be emailed through. I have learned that the surveys were eventually booked and done on the 8th May 2013 (only as the mortgage lender and estate agents called me) but I have had no proactive communication from Countrywide themselves about their appalling service. Avoid!!

grifferz

Tabby wrote: »

I severely regret asking Countrywide to undertake a HomeBuyers Report for me. It is a month since I have paid them and I am still awaiting the terms and conditions to be emailed through. I have learned that the surveys were eventually booked and done on the 8th May 2013 (only as the mortgage lender and estate agents called me) but I have had no proactive communication from Countrywide themselves about their appalling service. Avoid!!

As above, almost same happened to me. Phone them up and hassle them. They will send you the T&Cs in email, you can print out, sign and return.

PaulJM

cooky136 wrote: »

Just wondering if anyone has experienced these?

I was told on Tuesday I would have my Home Buyer Report by the end of the week via email.

I called them yesterday to be told that the report has been sent back to the surveyor due to mistakes and that I would have it by close of business Friday (today).

Called this afternoon to be told "yes, it will be today".

I didnt hold my breath. No email.

Will be calling again Monday.


Any one had this problem??

In my experience, the whole of Countrywide - all their mortgage, surveying, estate agencies (Bridgfords - urgh) are terrible rip off merchants that are too big, money hungry and process driven to actually care.

This is based on moving house 4 times, from all different aspects of their business. You can't even avoid the shower either, even if you try, your Mortgage people will want to use them.

As you can see, they're not my favourite. I suggest you badger them, politely but unremittingly, until they can't wait to get rid of you. That is the only successful way I've found with them.

SJHUK

This company is also used by LLoydsTSB. I wanted to port my mortgage to my newproperty and of course had to have a report done. The mortgage advisor at LLoydsTSB informed methat a Home Buyers Report would be needed so we signed up and paid the bank justover £600. As far as we were concernedwe had bought the product from them, only to find out that they had farmed itout to this company. The report neverarrived however be naive about these things as the mortgage had been cleared wethought that there could be no problems. How wrong we were, the house had numerous problems from day one. We contacted the bank ask about the reportonly to be told that it had been done by Countrywide and that we needed tocontact them. Despite contacting Countrywidethey refused to send us a copy of the report as we had not signed theirT&Cs. As we had not received any|T&Cs from them it was a little hard to do. They agreed that they had not sent any out for us to sign…they hadhowever sent a copy to the Bank. In theend they sent us an email link to sign their T&Cs they did not howeverattach them to it…yup we signed and returned them to them. We go the report 2 days later. The amount of stuff that was in RED was quitefrightening almost as bad as the amount of faults the surveyor had missed out.

We complained to Countrywide who carried out their owninvestigation and despite agreeing with us stated that as we had bought theproperty without seeing the report we had no legal claim against them. We complained to the Bank as they sold us theproduct…yes you have guessed it they have stated that we have no complaint againstthem as they only had a valuation report from them. Wonders never cease to amaze me.

grifferz

You bought a house without seeing the survey you had already paid for?

kingstreet

SJHUK wrote: »

The mortgage advisor at LLoydsTSB informed me that a Home Buyers Report would be needed

Did you ask why this was the case, or query it with the bank's compliance/complaints department?

A mortgage lender requires and receives only the mortgage report & valuation. I do not know why you would be required to have a more detailed inspection as part of the mortgage process.

sug172

There are loads of poor reviews on the reviewcenter, I cant put a link but it's easy to find.
I think there should be a change in the law so customers can choose there own surveyors. After all the customer is paying for it.

tommyd45

Hello. I was wondering if someone could help me. I had a Building Survey undertaken in December 2012 by Countrywide Surveyors and since purchasing the property have come across numerous items about the house that I am not happy with. I have written to Countrywide who says that these items were not inspected as agreed in the original Conditions of Engagement which I signed at the time of undertaking the survey. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of these and they will not provide me with a copy. I do not suppose anybody out there would have a copy they could provide to me. If you would be able to send to me I would be really grateful.

Tommy

PaulJM

tommyd45 wrote: »

Hello. I was wondering if someone could help me. I had a Building Survey undertaken in December 2012 by Countrywide Surveyors and since purchasing the property have come across numerous items about the house that I am not happy with. I have written to Countrywide who says that these items were not inspected as agreed in the original Conditions of Engagement which I signed at the time of undertaking the survey. Unfortunately I do not have a copy of these and they will not provide me with a copy. I do not suppose anybody out there would have a copy they could provide to me. If you would be able to send to me I would be really grateful.

Tommy

I don't have Copy, but what kind of things are you not happy with, and what level of report did you buy ?