Do solicitors send paperwork by royal mail?

missk_2

Hi all

Can anyone tell me if solicitors post paperwork to other solicitors by standard royal mail (I thought they used a special service between them)?

The reason I ask is, not surprisingly, there are delays on our house sale moving forward and the buyers tell me the solicitor's paperwork got held up because of the postal strike and I was wondering if this is just an excuse - or if it could be possible.

Thanks
missk

Debt_Free_Chick

These days, paperwork tends to go by email, in my experience.

Otherwise via "Document Exchange" which, as you say, is a solicitor-to-solicitor service - look on the letterhead which will usually quote a "DX" number.

Ask "Does your solicitor not use Document Exchange then?" .....

newlywed

Sometimes they use royal mail... there is also another alternative called DX (document exchange). But not all solicitors use this as to have to pay for it on a volume basis. It is basically a drop off and collection point locally for mail. Each company has their own DX number (should be on the letterhead if they use it).

http://www.thedx.co.uk/docu_exchange.aspx

DX is not guaranteed and some items have gone missing, as they can easily be dropped into the wrong "locker" number in the exchange.

missk_2

I remember DX now. I will ask my solicitor first and make sure that's what they sent it by in the first place - I had just assumed which probably isn't a good idea!

Thanks for the swift replies.
missk

newlywed

Unless of course the buyer was meant to return papers to their solicitor and it was these that got held up because of a postal strike???

Claudie

Our solicitor uses a combination of Royal Mail and DX - unfortunately for us we did experience delays due to the strikes but I have asked if future paperwork can be done by DX. I have dropped the info off at the EA's and she has DX'd it for us.

And I have learned to photocopy whatever I am sending...

MrChris1986

Both sets of solicitors I've worked in ... the protocol for inter-solicitor correspondence is ... if the other side have got DX you use it ... because DX has already been paid for and sending by Royal Mail means we have to pay ... and the more we spend on postage ... the less money their is for the summer party

Fashionably_Late

The postal stike doesn't start until Thursday according to this link. http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content1?catId=1000002&mediaId=51600692

digp

Sols can DX secure delivery to normal postal addresses too but it's a bit pricey.

Redbedhead

Not all solcitors are on DX unfortunately and to be fair I know things have got lost in that as well, so lots of people don't trust it, although I would still say it is generally better than Royal Mail.