sellers solicitors won't respond to anyone

bob_the_dinosaur

For the last 5 weeks I have been trying to get draft contracts from my seller's solicitors.  Well I say I have been trying to, my solicitors have, and to a lesser extent, the seller's agent, who referred them to this firm.

My solicitors have tried to call them about 4 times, calls never get answered.  The agent has tried a couple of times, again no luck.  The last we heard was the vendor was being told it was down to them to contact their solicitor to tell them that the draft contracts were being requested.  

As far as I am concerned, this should never have got this far.  The agent referred the vendor to this agent and recieved commision for doing so, THEY should be doing the legwork to progress the sale.  I have informed the branch that the solicitor they referred their customer to is not communicating with anyone or progressing the sale in any way.  The agent told my wife they would escalate this if there was no contact from the solicitor, then the same person denied all knowledge when I spoke to him today.  Do I have any way of putting in a complaint against the solicitor or the agent?  I have even considered putting a note through the door for the vendor to tell them what is going on

Any ideas what I should do?

Tiglet2

Has the seller actually formally instructed the solicitor to act on their behalf? 
Has the seller returned the protocol forms (Fixtures & Fittings/Property Information Form, ID documents and other paperwork) to the solicitor?  
Has the seller put monies on account so that the seller's solicitor can start work? 
Has the seller instructed their solicitor not to start work until the sellers have found a property to buy?

You cannot complain about the seller's solicitors because you are not their client and do not have a contract with them.  Similarly the EA is working for the seller, not you, unless you are also selling through them.  Asking the EA to chase is your only option, unless you are communicating with the seller direct, but a note through the door telling me what I need to do would annoy me to be honest.

Doozergirl

Have the vendors signed the terms of business and actually instructed the solicitors? 

If they haven't, it's their fault.  If they have then it's not exactly too late to change!

If someone you knew recommended someone to you that turned out to be a bit rubbish, you wouldn't get your friend to sort it out.  It's between vendor and solicitor at the moment. 

notrouble

You have 3 possible courses of action (or combinations):

1) be patient

2) start looking for a new property, whilst continuing to wait for this one

3) wihdraw and start looking for a new property

4) keep hassling the agent (and threaten 3 or 4 above)

and I need maths lessons.

bob_the_dinosaur

They have been instructed, we know this for certain.

We have been given no information since.  Half a dozen chases have yielded nothing.  There is no onward purchase.  

I wouldn't mind so much if we were given any information whatsoever but they have done literally nothing.  The agent seemed doubtful that any information was missing from the seller's side and this was the solicitor that was doing nothing and even their contact for their agreement with them was not returning calls

bob_the_dinosaur

notrouble said:

You have 3 possible courses of action (or combinations):

1) be patient

2) start looking for a new property, whilst continuing to wait for this one

3) wihdraw and start looking for a new property

4) keep hassling the agent (and threaten 3 or 4 above)

and I need maths lessons.

The agent has apparently told the vendor that 2 and 3 are risks.  I have continued to look and found nothing I like
They (the vendor) told us they wanted a quick sale and we agreed, we could lose our buyer over this.

Thrugelmir

bob_the_dinosaur said:

 There is no onward purchase.  

That doesn't mean that aren't material facts that haven't been disclosed to you.  Force the issue through the EA by giving an ultimatium, i.e. a deadline. 

bob_the_dinosaur

Thrugelmir said:

bob_the_dinosaur said:

 There is no onward purchase.  

That doesn't mean that aren't material facts that haven't been disclosed to you.  Force the issue through the EA by giving an ultimatium, i.e. a deadline. 

As in paperwork to my solicitor by *date* or I pull out of the purchase?