Paid for conveyancing report...Report's date before date of reservation

FTB16

Hi

We have reserved a new built from Barratts. The plot was previously reserved, but according to the builder the buyer didn't manage to get a mortgage offer so withdrew the reservation.

We're using the recommended solicitor to make it quicker as we have a deadline to meet. We have paid the conveyancer £350 in advance to carry out searches etc.

Received the conveyancing report in the post and it was dated 1st of March 2016...We reserved on the 30th of March.

We reckon that the previous buyer paid for the searches.

Should the solicitor/conveyancer have charged us the full price considering searches were already done?

We are a FTBs so kinda naive in this field

Thank you in advance.

marksoton

FTB16 wrote: »

We're using the recommended solicitor to make it quicker as we have a deadline to meet.

Whoever told you that would be the reality i wonder... :wall:

The searches are unlikely to be inaccurate but i'd be fuming being charged for a service that hadn't been carried out.

FTB16

Hi

Thank you for the quick response. Really appreciate it.

Do you think I could question the solicitor or perhaps get something back?

marksoton

I would certainly be questioning they're justification for the fee.

This is why you should never use builder / EA recommended services.

You need your own independent advice.

ViolaLass

It might also be a typo - what if they meant to type 1st April?

FTB16

Oh dear...

We didn't realise it could be a problem...Is it too late now?

I was wondering if you could kindly help me with how should I go about emailing the solicitors? I am not very good with complaints and such. Many thanks

FTB16

HI, It couldn't have been 1st of April either as we paid the £350 on the 7th of April.

We were told nothing can be done until fees were paid.

Kyresa

You should have received a copy of your searches. These will have a date on them as the date prepared. That will give you your answer.

Of course they could have paid the original purchasers back for the searches and passed the cost onto you, but they should have checked with you before doing that. (I've had occasion acting for a seller where a buyer has pulled out and they have offered the searches to the next buyer at cost to save time for example).

FTB16

Hi Kyresa,

I wasn't informed of this before payment. What are my rights? Can I ask for part of my money back? The date on the report is definitely 1st of March 2016.

Kyresa

FTB16 wrote: »

Hi Kyresa,

I wasn't informed of this before payment. What are my rights? Can I ask for part of my money back? The date on the report is definitely 1st of March 2016.

When you say "report" do you mean the actual searches you have received - in your initial post you talk about a "conveyancing report" for example.

The other thing to consider is that they have ordered the searches in advance in preparation for a quick move and then just charge you for them. Maybe just enquire as to why the searches are dated for the date earlier than you reserved the property and see what they say.

FTB16

Kyresa wrote: »

When you say "report" do you mean the actual searches you have received - in your initial post you talk about a "conveyancing report" for example.

The other thing to consider is that they have ordered the searches in advance in preparation for a quick move and then just charge you for them. Maybe just enquire as to why the searches are dated for the date earlier than you reserved the property and see what they say.

Hi

Yes, the searches report