Solicitors' back and forth - doing my head in!

jcalbraith

I know this is a common complaint here, but... I can't deal with my solicitors anymore.


I'm now into the fourth month of what was supposed to be a straightforward, no-chain cash sale. All the delays so far have been the fault of either mine or the buyer's solicitors, who take WEEKS to raise and answer to any enquiries. I end up doing most of the work myself, as much as I can (like getting the transfer packs from the leaseholder - I shudder to think how long it would take them to do it!)


Mine is a cheap online conveyancer, theirs is a respectable City firm, but there seems to be no difference in quality of service. I'm in constant contact with the buyer, who's also fed up with the situation, and with the EA who are growing concerned at how long this is all taking, so I know things are dire on both ends.


Right now both of them claim to be waiting to hear from each other - for what, I don't know; both of them can't be right? It's been like this for weeks, with several exchange dates come and gone. It doesn't help that neither are very good at communication; it's a lucky day when either responds to a call or email. And yes, I've raised this with my solicitor's head office, to no avail.


Is there ANYTHING I can do other than chasing things up until the end of days?

Guest101

jcalbraith wrote: »

I know this is a common complaint here, but... I can't deal with my solicitors anymore.


I'm now into the fourth month of what was supposed to be a straightforward, no-chain cash sale. All the delays so far have been the fault of either mine or the buyer's solicitors, who take WEEKS to raise and answer to any enquiries. I end up doing most of the work myself, as much as I can (like getting the transfer packs from the leaseholder - I shudder to think how long it would take them to do it!)


Mine is a cheap online conveyancer, theirs is a respectable City firm, but there seems to be no difference in quality of service. I'm in constant contact with the buyer, who's also fed up with the situation, and with the EA who are growing concerned at how long this is all taking, so I know things are dire on both ends.


Right now both of them claim to be waiting to hear from each other - for what, I don't know; both of them can't be right? It's been like this for weeks, with several exchange dates come and gone. It doesn't help that neither are very good at communication; it's a lucky day when either responds to a call or email. And yes, I've raised this with my solicitor's head office, to no avail.


Is there ANYTHING I can do other than chasing things up until the end of days?

Its like they have other clients or something!


Just email once, not 10 times, asking for a breakdown of what is still outstanding.

steampowered

What happens when you call them?

jcalbraith

"Just email once, not 10 times"


And how long should I wait for response after that one email before I'm allowed to send another? A week? Two weeks?


If I don't chase, the only responses I get are the generic likes of "waiting for enquiries" or "working on enquiries" or "waiting for response to enquiries". When I chase, things usually seem to move forward, one slow step at a time.

LandyAndy

jcalbraith wrote: »

Right now both of them claim to be waiting to hear from each other - for what, I don't know; both of them can't be right?

Why? I ask you for information on subject A. You ask me for information on subject B. Neither of us reply. We are each waiting for the other.


As Guest says, email asking for a breakdown of all outstanding matters and ask the buyer to do the same with their solicitor.

jcalbraith

steampowered wrote: »

What happens when you call them?

99% of the time I go to voicemail. 1% of the time they do pick up it's "we're waiting for enquiries from buyer's solicitors, whom we have chased".


The buyer's solicitors say they've sent enquiries and are waiting for response.

Surrey_EA

jcalbraith wrote: »

cheap online conveyancer,

jcalbraith wrote: »

99% of the time I go to voicemail.

There may be a connection here.

kirtondm

to be fair if their is a leashold involved it was not going to be strightforward anyway.

At least using a local solicitor you can go in.

Not sure what more you can do

sultanabran

Solicitors work to their own timescales and pace. It's neither particularly efficient or quick.

hounsehunterftb

Reading this post, I feel worried and skeptical myself about our solicitors. This is a simple freehold purchase between FTB and no-chain vendor. We are still waiting and waiting for things to happen from legal perspective in the name of Searches.

I think all you can do is be patient and keep chasing them for updates! (WE will have to do the same till the day of completion !! At least that's what I fear! Hope I am wrong!)