My solicitors not on Virgin panel

goodison12

So discovered this on Friday afternoon, the solicitors had not updated their paperwork but they have known for three weeks we are using Virgin. They were on Friday up dating their paperwork late Friday. The mortgage company said it will delay their offer. Any thoughts on how long? Virgin said I can always change solicitors but we already have the draft papers from the other side and we have filled in other paperwork

gjheward91

this is such a pain! Im about to get my mortgage offer and am on my third Solicitors and second Lender, had such a nightmare!
But changing of solicitors for me didn't take too long tbh, once they send you a quote and you accept, then the lender can carry on doing there thing and solicitors can then do their bit whenever you instruct them
Good luck!!

csgohan4

The solicitors should have known if they were on the virgin panel and wasted your time.


http://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/report-solicitor.page


Make a complaint too. Not good enough, could lose you your sale if vendor isn't happy for delay.

goodison12

I informed the solicitors three weeks ago to say I was using Virgin and I also going through MB who knew about the solicitors I was using. I only discovered this as I rang Virgin on Friday for an update. I have paid the money for the searches even though they haven't carried them out, they have draft papers from the seller and we have completed ours. I am very annoyed :mad:

ellyp95

Oh no, I had no idea some solicitors didn't work for some lenders. I am also getting a mortgage with virgin money, I think I will have to make a phone call to our solicitors tomorrow morning and find out if they are still OK to proceed.. I hope so as we've paid initial fee and search fees already

amnblog

Don't rely on the Lender saying the solicitors are not on panel. Sometimes the firm are on panel but at an alternate address. Make sure your solicitors confirm their panel position before you take any other action.

If they are not on panel you will need to pay another firm that are on panel to handle the lenders end of things. This will cost you an extra few hundred pounds. The current solicitors can continue to manage your end of the case so that you are not 'starting again'.

ACG

I had a firm added in December/January. It took around 2-3 weeks but that was with xmas/new year in between so it should be possible to do it in 2 weeks or so.

I would not necessarily point all the blame at the solicitors. It is down to you to check they are on panel, either asking the lender, your broker or the solicitors.

goodison12

Would it be quicker to move solicitors or just stay were we are? Thanks

Glover1862

I had this issue with Platform, my solicitor just applied to join the panel, done in an afternoon I think. Have you asked if they can join?

goodison12

They were on the panel before but it expired at the end of January

Glover1862

Tell them to get their backside in gear and get back on the panel. It's a very simple process, mine were apologetic and knew they should have picked it up earlier, its a bit of paperwork which was turned around in hours, particularly as they've already been on. It's in their interest as Virgin quite popular now.