Abode/Action Conveyancing not responding - advise required

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ImpartialAdvisor wrote: »

On 12th October 2012 the (SRA) reached a decision to prosecute Abode Solicitors Limited. On the 23rd October 2012 the SRA reached a decision to prosecute [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] Amongst other allegations, it is alleged that [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] and Rajob Ali "allowed client bank account to be used as a banking facility" and that they "permitted the use of one client’s funds for the benefit of another client without authority from the first client to do so".
On 30th August 2013 [TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] appointment as Director and Company Secretary was terminated. On 11th September 2013 the appointments of Directors Martin Williamson, Kelly Buckle-Fleming, Samaira Hussain and Charitha Nanyakkara we also terminated


Taken from Abode's Wiki page, (sounds legit though based on previous posts) Sadly for all those using them it does not look good, It's the same old saying Buy cheap Buy twice, It's just such a shame people do not do research when taking the cheap option and trying to save a couple of quid.

Yep, saw this. I remember them telling me on the phone there was a shake up regarding senior management and they were no longer taking on any more cases.

Again i agree with you but only went with them because of a family recommendation.

Am i correct in thinking if and when (looks like soon) they cease trading that the SRA will return my funds from my client account?

TBagpuss

Yes, but you will need to apply http://www.sra.org.uk/faqs/contact-centre/public/06-interventions/money.page
This assumes that the money was correctly held in their client account - if it wasn't, you may need to seek a grant from the SRA or to the company's insurers.

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TBagpuss wrote: »

Yes, but you will need to apply
This assumes that the money was correctly held in their client account - if it wasn't, you may need to seek a grant from the SRA or to the company's insurers.

Thanks for the info, i thought as much. Just wanted to know id be getting it back one way or another. unfortunately the jokers haven't declared they will cease trading YET so i cant start to get my money back.

Which mean my purchase will no doubt fall through if they are uncontactable...

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Update if anyone else is in the same situation: Actually spoken to an accountancy firm that are based opposite the building Action Conveyancing were occupying, they said there were people in the office and car park yesterday but no one is there today and all the blinds are closed. Assume that means they've wrapped up - hopefully it also means they will cease trading ASAP so the SRA can hurry up and get involved...spoken to a guy from the SRA and he's informed me they have a team looking into the issue as they have had a fair few calls regarding Action/Abode.

Cjt63

I feel sorry to hear some of these stories about this 'organisation', I think I got off lightly. If you value your time & your sanity avoid them at all costs or you will regret it.

I instructed them in May '13 for the sale of my investment property. Seeing as it was sale only I went with 'Action' after an online search. My buyer did not need a mortgage and as I was selling only, it seemed a straightforward transaction. What followed was frustration and inaction by them!

3 weeks after instructing them they asked me for information on the property that I was buying, it was a Sale Only!!! I should have dumped them then. I gave up emailing for progress as they did not ever reply. I tried the Direct Dial number for my solicitor - no reply. Left messages - no call back. I found that the only way to get an update was to dial the main number and wait for 20-50 minutes to speak to someone. I resorted to phoning them 3 times a week for updates to keep pushing them. After 6 weeks a new solicitor took over my case, which I only discovered after I phoned for an update, no-one had told me!

My buyer threatened to pull out of the sale and I somehow managed to persuade him to hang in there. The final straw came after 8 weeks and they still hadn't provided all the info to my buyers solicitor. My Buyers Solicitor actually refused to deal with them anymore as she couldn't ever get an answer from them on critical points. Yes, another solicitor had had enough of them!!! I moved to a new professional solicitor (should have done this before) and after only 4 weeks my sale had gone through from scratch.

So it took 3 months for me to complete a simple property sale & Action didn't even complete it. I'm so glad I moved to a new solicitor & they only cost me £100 more, which was well worth the lack of stress and frustration believe me.

Luckily, I only paid Action a £10 deposit initially which I am still fighting to get back due to their inept service. I've raised a complaint with them and we're now past the 28 day response period and I have no answer. I'm reporting them to the Legal Ombudsman. Firms like this shouldn't be allowed to exist.

zarf2007

nav_ wrote: »

Update if anyone else is in the same situation: Actually spoken to an accountancy firm that are based opposite the building Action Conveyancing were occupying, they said there were people in the office and car park yesterday but no one is there today and all the blinds are closed. Assume that means they've wrapped up - hopefully it also means they will cease trading ASAP so the SRA can hurry up and get involved...spoken to a guy from the SRA and he's informed me they have a team looking into the issue as they have had a fair few calls regarding Action/Abode.

My solicitor currently has a complaint lodged with the SRA about them. Despite completing on my house over 4 months ago it still isn't registered in my name on the land registry title as they failed to get the sellers mortgage company to remove the charge and update the land registry details, not sure how going bust will effect this situation...

zolibebe

Action Conveyancing owe me 80k. Completed on 20th September finally. I was told the money would be received into my account at the end of last week. I'm still waiting.
I have sent emails to chase the money with no reply. Hope they haven't run off with my money. This is the worst decision of my life!!

And they weren't cheap either. Charged me as much as a local solicitor. :mad:

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Zolibebe wrote: »

Action Conveyancing owe me 80k. Completed on 20th September finally. I was told the money would be received into my account at the end of last week. I'm still waiting.
I have sent emails to chase the money with no reply. Hope they haven't run off with my money. This is the worst decision of my life!!

And they weren't cheap either. Charged me as much as a local solicitor. :mad:

Have you report the issue to the SRA and Legal Ombudsman? The more people on their case the better i think.

zolibebe

Made 3 complaints with the legal ombudsman but they have now ceased trading according to the SRA
. I hope I can get my money back. I paid Action Conveyancing £750 which I don't think is cheap for a sale only. I wish I hadn't fallen for their fake advertising!!

monquey

They were in the process of completing our land registry and sending me our deeds. I've no idea whether anything has gone through, and where our deeds now are. At a complete loss on what to do next...