Solicitor Blunder!

Moosey21

Firstly, apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum; I'm not sure where to get best advice.

We're currently in the process of buying our first house. We have a mortgage broker; who is amazing! Everything progressing well and we're almost at completion.
Today, however, my partner received a phone call from someone he used to work with stating they'd received a letter from our solicitor containing all of our personal info; mortgage agreement, copy of bank statement, driving licenses etc.
Clearly the solicitor have put the wrong address label on the envelope and it's through blind luck that it went to somebody we know! Obviously this could have had serious ramifications for us had it gone to somebody we didn't know!! Our whole identities could have been stolen!!
My question is what we should do about it?? We are obviously livid and it's a huge "error" to make.
Any thoughts welcome! TIA

tomtontom

Ask the person to dispose of the letter securely. Advise your solicitor they made a mistake, they will no doubt apologise. Forget about it - remembering the times you (and the rest of us) have made mistakes and been forgiven by others.

Shoey1610

Yes, your identities could have been stolen, but in reality, the majority of us are kind human beings and I think most people would have called the solicitors (assuming a headed letter/compliments slip) and explained they had received these documents in error.

Most people are capable of empathy and would do what they would hope others would do for them. If you can't go through life believing that there are more people like this in the world than opportunistic identity thieves, then that is a little sad.

tigsly

Who was sent hte letter .. was it a different soliciter or something .. seems rather odd they would know you..

Matt_ftb

The question I'd be asking myself is how have the solicitors been for everything else?

Everyone makes mistakes so if everything else has been fine raise it, ask for a apology and move on.

Johnnytwostep

where there is blame, there is a claim. Sue him for distress, making a mistake and anything else you can think of. Is this what you wanted to hear.
otherwise think how poor, or not overall they have been and make judgement based on this.

getmore4less

I would get the docs back with the envelope,
(This is a good reason to use windowed envelopes with standard letter addressing much harder to get wrong.)

Go in personaly to the solicitors to get an explanations and asurances what steps they will be taking to avoid these errore in the future.

Ask for discount if one is not offered.

chanz4

Pee them off, find another one

Goldiegirl

Speak to the solicitor, and tell them what has happened.


The solicitor will no doubt apologise, and there will probably be some sort of internal investigation, as data protection issues are treated very seriously.


Then move on with your life