London & Country Brokers

Edinburgh1

I currently have a mortgage with Bank Of Ireland,last December i was put in touch with London & Country with a view to remortgaging.

They phoned me up and offered to see if they could find me a better deal than i'm currently on,during the coversation it was pointed out that B.O.I would pay me a £1k incentive to take my mortgage elsewhere(As long as it was completed by April 30th) and my legal fees would be paid too so i said why not if it's not going to cost me anything.

During the month i applied for a mortgage with Northern Rock and was accepted in January with the offer of loan coming through with no problems and the solicitor being arranged by L&C,it was Gordons solicitors based in Maidenhead.

At this point i was told i'd hear from the solicitor in due course once everything was sorted.

at the end of March i was starting to get a bit worried that i hadn't heard anything so got in touch with L&C to find out what the problem was,they suggested i phone the solicitor as they were now dealing with my case.

I gave them a call and it turns they'd never heard of me or my case so got in touch L&C again who said they'd give Northern Rock a call,they emailed me back saying it was now all sorted and I'd hearing from the solicitor within days.

I still hadn't heard anything by April 23rd so emailed L&C asking if Northern Rock and the solicitor were aware that i'd be losing my incentive if it wasn't completed by the 30th,L&C said they'd let Northern Rock know this.

Now into May and accepting i probably wasn't getting the money now i emailed Gordon's to find out what was going on,this is the reply they gave:
[FONT=&quot]It would appear that if you are remortgaging the property quoted that you have received our details in error. We only work on the panel for properties in England & Wales so it would seem that London & Country should have referred this to a Scottish panel solicitor to deal with your case due to the difference between the law in Scotland with that of England and Wales. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Therefore I would refer you back to London & Country to resolve this matter as would seem to be their error in providing our details.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Regards[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Gordons Property Lawyers[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Utterly stunned that after 4 months it's taken questions asked by myself that the solicitor appointed on my behalf doesn't actually deal with cases in Scotland,i forwarded the email on to L & C and was give this as a reply on 18th May:[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Hi Michael[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I have referred this back to Maxine.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Thanks[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Alex[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]I've heard nothing since,I don't know if it's incompetence or what but i'm totally gutted at how i've been treated with not even an apology offered.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]Anyway,just thought i'd put this out there to let people know about these shysters.[/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]B.O.I have just put their rate up too
[/FONT]

Dave_Ham

This is rubbish...

Only positive news I can provide is that there are better deals than Northern Rock out there, so potentially you could recoup the £1,000 over a mortgage deal term..

Good luck this time round, personally I do not think you should allow L&C to get away with this either. I am sure the Senior figures would rather know and put this right for you...

The_J

Ridiculous. Call up your original adviser and complain. Northern Rock offer free solicitors for Scottish remortgages precisely for this reason.

I don't share Dave's enthusiasm for better rates I'm afraid, things have worsened since earlier in the year. I'm a pessimist though.

kingstreet

What makes you think L&C is responsible for the solicitors?

If it's part of a free legals package, the lender instructs a firm of its choice. The broker has nothing to do with it.

Either way, it should have been sorted out weeks ago and reflects badly on L&C, Northern Rock and Gordons.

Leon_W

If you are taking a "free" legals deal then the choice of solicitor has nothing to do with L & C. Kingstreet is quite correct. The solicitor would have to be instructed by Northern Rock .

If, as soon as L & C were notified of a problem, and this was forwarded to NR I can't see what more they can do.

Dave_Ham

You would have thought L&C would have keyed property not in England & Wales firstly and secondly given they are only paid on completion you would have thought they may have spoken to the client and/or lender to see how things were progressing or not as the case was...

The_J

Edinburgh1 wrote: »

During the month i applied for a mortgage with Northern Rock and was accepted in January with the offer of loan coming through with no problems and the solicitor being arranged by L&C,it was Gordons solicitors based in Maidenhead.

Wakey wakey chaps :rotfl:. It looks like the free option wasn't chosen but cashback was.

edit: Bit hypocritical of me telling others to read the whole thread considering I never do :rotfl:

Dave_Ham

The_J wrote: »

Wakey wakey chaps :rotfl:. It looks like the free option wasn't chosen but cashback was.

edit: Bit hypocritical of me telling others to read the whole thread considering I never do :rotfl:

I am a terror at not reading it all as want to comment when I see it...

So it is back to L & C's door then if they arranged a solicitor for a property in Scotland with a Sols that does not deal there...?

Plot thickens...

Edinburgh1

Leon_W wrote: »

If you are taking a "free" legals deal then the choice of solicitor has nothing to do with L & C. Kingstreet is quite correct. The solicitor would have to be instructed by Northern Rock .

If, as soon as L & C were notified of a problem, and this was forwarded to NR I can't see what more they can do.

Sorry i should have made it a bit clearer,they offered no arrangement fee and £500 towards legal fees.
Not strictly free but i wouldn't have paid anything,as L&C organised the solicitor i didn't t hink there would be any problems.

Crashandburn

In that case, find someone local who is on the Northern Rock panel and advise L&C to change the solicitor. Remortgage legals are circa £300-350.