Solicitor not returning calls

pinkdora1

Hi, wonder if anyone could offer some advice. We put offer in on a house 7 weeks ago. Instructed conveyancer same day. Things seemed to be going well. Searches were instructed nearly 4 weeks ago. That was the last time we spoke to our solicitor. Since then have heard nothing despite us phoning nearly every day and leaving lots of messages. Each time we get told he'll phone us back or he's in a meeting, but never does. We are urgently wanting to complete. Have no chain so should be straightforward. Any ideas as to why he might be ignoring us, or should we just be patient? Just seems a but rude to completely ignore us!!!

Yorkie1

He shouldn't be ignoring you but there probably isn't anything to report until the searches are back - which, it appears from your post, they aren't yet.

Have you received a draft contract and fixtures / fittings form and property information form yet? It may be that he is waiting for the seller's solicitor to send them too.

7 weeks is really rather quick to be expecting to complete in the usual scheme of things.

Ciderarmy1987

Yorkie1 wrote: »

He shouldn't be ignoring you but there probably isn't anything to report until the searches are back - which, it appears from your post, they aren't yet.

Have you received a draft contract and fixtures / fittings form and property information form yet? It may be that he is waiting for the seller's solicitor to send them too.

7 weeks is really rather quick to be expecting to complete in the usual scheme of things.

I would disagree that with what you have said, 7 weeks is plenty of time to be in a postition that you are ready to exchange and set a date to complete. I would say that this is a pretty normal time to be doing this.

I think that it is appalling that you are not getting your calls returned etc as the solicitor is working for you and should be able to give you an update.

Is it a local firm that you could pop into and try to catch up with them that way?

pinkdora1

When we spoke to him 4 weeks ago he said searches would be back within 2 weeks.

We haven't had a draft contract or anything yet.

How long does it normally take to complete? When we put offer in we were told about 10 weeks?

Thank you for replying

pinkdora1

It is an online conveyancing firm we're using who came recommended from our mortgage broker (who was absolutely brilliant)

bclark

You need to get tough, you are the customer. Next time you ring and someone takes a message just inform them that you have been promised calls back before and if he doesn't call you back that day then you will be firing him.

pinkdora1

We've tried being tough, my husband is getting very frustrated! It's not so much the time it's taken to do things that's the issue, it's just the ignorance of him not returning any calks. We've even tried emailing him. Bit worried if we become to aggressive that he'll put us to bottom of his pile??

Yorkie1

pinkdora1 wrote: »

It is an online conveyancing firm we're using who came recommended from our mortgage broker (who was absolutely brilliant)

The way many of these online conveyancers work, is to have a very few qualified people overseeing the work done by a lot of unqualified assistants on all the files. Frequently (but not in all cases) there is no file ownership, and so a qualified conveyancer is not familiar with your file. Therefore, they are often trying to catch up with their tails because of the staffing issues.

When you instructed them, you would have received a client care letter which set out who to contact if you had cause for complaint.

I would send another email to your conveyancer, setting out the length of time since you last had an update, the steps you've taken to try to obtain an update, and the questions you want answered, such as:
- has the seller's solicitor sent the draft contract, F&F form, and property information form to them yet? If not, what steps have been taken to chase it up?
- what searches have been received? what searches are still outstanding? when are they expected and if there is an unexpected delay, what is the cause?

You cannot contact the seller's solicitor directly but your EA could double check with the seller whether they have returned the draft contract, F&F and PIF to their solicitor yet.

If you don't get an answer within, say, 3 working days, then escalate it to the complaints contact.

martindow

pinkdora1 wrote: »

It is an online conveyancing firm we're using who came recommended from our mortgage broker (who was absolutely brilliant)

Hmm. Do they pay him a fee for his recommendations?