Purchase with HSBC and Panel solicitor

Eve4ever

Hi

I've read this board a lot over the last few months as I'm a FTB. There has been quite a number of posts about HSBC and the panel of solicitors you are forced to use so I thought I would let you know how my experience went.

I completed today, exactly 2 months from when I made the offer. I had read so much about the hell some people go through with Countrywide so I was really worried who I would be allocated. I actually called CW and asked them for a list of who was on their panel and big surprise, they wouldn't tell me. I persisted and they eventually told me the name of two in my area who I may be allocated. I asked, what if I don't want to use a particular firm, would I be able to change? I was told yes. Anyway, I was given Pannones in Manchester who didn't have any bad reviews I could find so I went ahead with them.

In the beginning the communication was rubbish, but in the last week, once it all started to come together I was getting phone calls and emails updating me.

This was a very simple purchase, FTB not over committing myself financially, 10% deposit, no EA and buying an empty property so there was really no reason for it to take any longer than 8 weeks.

If I was to give any advice from my experience, if you are not happy with who you are given from the panel, kick up a stink and make sure you are given someone who have a good reputation.

woody2234

good post but if you where given pannones in manchester then how do you know if the other one was good or bad compared with pannones, or did they tell you the other one aswell

Eve4ever

Hi woody

Once I discovered I couldn't use my own local solicitors thanks to HSBC's policy I was just concerned to get a firm with a good reputation, not necessarily, the best firm in my area. By coincidence, Pannones are also my employer's solicitors and the MD was happy to recommend them.

The down side of using a Manchester based company is they did searches which the local guy wouldn't have done as he had the local knowledge to deem them unnecessary.

Anyway, I'm now the proud owner of my very first home so all the stress and expensive was worth it in the end :-)