Government Help to Buy ISA — Solicitor problems

Harcus89 · 5 March 2018 at 12:46PM

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered in a previous thread but I couldn't find anything.

I was hoping for advice on the below issue.

My wife and I received keys to our first home at the end of November. Having had our deposit in a Help to Buy ISA, we followed the necessary guidelines on closing the account and passing the closing statement onto our solicitor. Everything went smoothly with the house transfer and passing over of keys. However, now nearly four months on, we are still waiting to hear any word from our Help to Buy Isa, which we should be due £2,500.

I know that the solicitor was hoping that they would receive their confirmation they were accredited for the scheme at the time of our sale, however, my own personal thoughts are that they have made an error and not put through the paperwork in time. We gave them the paperwork in plenty of time and also made it aware we had the ISA.

Our first email sent to them asking for an update was on December 18th, and now we have sent six emails and phonecalls. We have received one reply from all of this, basically passing us off. We have been passed off on various phonecalls, saying we will get back to you, to which they never have. Understandably, after a good period of good will, we are growing increasingly frustrated and just don't believe that after four months, we should be waiting to hear any word back.

What would be the best way to proceed? Is there anyway, through the Government, that I could either check this or see a status update? If they have made an error, is there anyway to get the money we should have or is that it? Can you appeal?

We also don't have any copy of our title deeds — is this normal to have to wait this length of time for a copy?

Thanks!

juniordoc · 5 March 2018 at 12:59PM

Can you get down to the office in person? What awful service. I would sent an email to let them know you are coming and tell them you won't be leaving until someone tells you what is happening. If also be expecting some compensation as well as the £2500 for the hassle it has caused you (presumably you paid a pretty penny for their conveyancing services).

Harcus89 · 5 March 2018 at 1:02PM

Yes I can go down to the office. To be honest, I was leaving it as a last option, but following yet another email sent from my wife last night, if I don't hear back anything come this afternoon, I will be heading down.

I'll take documents that we have.

Do we have anything from a legal point of view to get the money we should have received? Yes we did pay a pretty penny for their services and to be honest, the communication we received throughout was poor.