Leaving negative feedback for Law Firm house purchase

Mrblue_2

Hi there I really need some advice about poor solicitor service I had whilst purchasing a property. I wont go into the specifics too much but they were rude, non-responsive, getting things really wrong with the exchange day– I can’t tell you how stressful it was and in the end they argued and argued with me blaming other people.

They are currently being investigated by the financial ombudsman because I brought my case to them, who actually have agreed with me (partially), anyway I want to write a negative Google review of them because I believe people should know about them, however the moment I did this they wrote to me and send they are launching a defamatory case against me they also responded in Google the moment I wrote the review stating that what I said was not true and that the financial ombudsman agreed with them – which isn’t true! so I took it down (for the moment) anyway I understand I can write a review as long as it is my own opinion- they have many negative reviews about the same issues I experienced about them on Google (but also 5 star reviews strangely) can you advise if I am ok to do this without legal action I think the public should know how bad they are.
Many thanks,

Looking back at my experience with them I felt it was unpleasant and stressful.
I was appointed this law firm via xxx panel
Also in my humble opinion their file online system is not user friendly, again this is just opinion.
I suspect this law firm will offer their 2 cents to this review which they are welcomed to do but this is just my personal opinion.

eddddy

Mrblue wrote: »

I was appointed this law firm via xxx panel

Are you saying that your mortgage lender suggested/recommended this law firm?

If so, you could complain to your lender about the law firm. They will probably reply that it's a matter between you and the law firm (which it is), but if they get a number of complaints, it may trigger internal investigations etc.

Mrblue_2

Yes I actually thought it would be smoother as they recommended them.

Jennifer_Eccles

I'm don't know about leaving negative feedback on social media sites I'm afraid, but you may find it useful to make a formal complaint to the Solicitors Regulations Authority about the issues you have experienced with your solicitors.

I am new to site so cannot post links, but here is the web site address of the SRA which you may find useful.

www.
sra.org.uk/ consumers/consumers.page

Nicolapink

Hi, have you reported them to the law society?

TBagpuss

Did you use their complaints process? If so, you could then make a complaint via the Legal Ombudsman.

Your suggested review is not particularly informative

Mrblue_2

Many thanks I will try Solicitors Regulations Authority as well.


I know the review was not very detailed was just trying to keep it brief and simple as opposed to my first review which was more detailed.


It was frustrating for them to say more or less I cant leave negative feedback - though they are ok with having positive feedback - no downside only upside for them.

bris

Your own opinion can be challenged because there is two sides to every story. You need hard facts that you can prove or you can be taken to court.


This can be very expensive to defend so unless you want a long drawn out fight over this then you should put it down to experience and let the complaints procedures play out first before taking it to social media.

Guest101

bris wrote: »

Your own opinion can be challenged because there is two sides to every story. You need hard facts that you can prove or you can be taken to court.


This can be very expensive to defend so unless you want a long drawn out fight over this then you should put it down to experience and let the complaints procedures play out first before taking it to social media.

Actually that's the exact opposite.


An opinion cannot be challenged, if it is of a personal experience. The truth cannot be defamatory, and if the OP genuinely felt that way, it is then the truth.


Facts can be challenged. So if the OP wrote they were late with the paperwork, the solicitors could come back and say they were within the agreed timeframe.




Since it is upto the claimant to prove that the specific comment made by the OP actually cost them financially, I'd suggest that they would struggle to prove the case.

NYM

Check any contract you have to see if there is a clause preventing you from leaving negative public reviews.

It has become very commonplace now....

Thrugelmir

Mrblue wrote: »

I can’t tell you how stressful it was and in the end they argued and argued with me blaming other people.

Takes two to tango. Your own behaviour would also come under scrutiny. I appreciate how stressful house moving is. Always has been. Solicitors themselves don't have complete control over the situation.