Solicitors... What's the hold up

Tonyw193

So i instructed my solicitor 10 weeks ago tomorrow. We've been laid back with them and not been in touch often unless they've contacted us as i just wanted to allow them to get on with their work. Also our mortgage was going to take a good while anyway due to nationwide backlog. Last time i had any contact with the solicitor was the 30th sept which they had a couple of questions for us. They also said once they had queirs and searches back we could progress. We've since recieved the mortgage offer 2 weeks ago. And were informed the last search would was due back on the 21st October. Ive since tried to ask where things are but not yet to have a response ive also called the office to.  What could possibly be delaying things further. And whats the best way to start pushing. Ive noticed some has spoken to Estate agents. I just wanted to allow the solicitors to get on with whatever they need to however it seems that im a low priority for them at the moment. We're in a no chain transaction both buyer and seller so i thought this would have been rather easy to sort out. Any advice for pushing this along would be much appreciated 

missjones80

Keep calling, send an email, find out if there is a secretary. If your last search came back in 21st though they are probably still sending out enquiries and waiting for responses on those. 

princeofpounds

Yes it's time to start pushing. Email AND phone, if you haven't already. If you don't receive a reply within an acceptable timeframe, ask for details of their complaints process. Then if no movement, make a formal complaint about the lack of response. Not the timescale itself - that would not be particularly valid as 10 weeks is not a crazy long time - but the fact that the lack of response means that you have no idea about whether there has been any progression. How quickly you do this is up to you, but given repeated requests for information with no response I'd progress it quite quickly.

I know on this site we spend a lot of time explaining to people how conveyancing can take time, but it's not best to be totally hands-off either. 

Caramac

I I emailed my solicitor today and received an automated email in reply basically saying due to Coronavirus and Stamp Duty holiday they are extremely busy and are aiming to reply to emails in 5 days, and only to ring if absolutely necessary.

I’ve also tried to limit contact to when it’s absolutely necessarily and am worried I’m put to the back of the queue whilst those who are constantly in contact are given priority.

greatcrested

They also said once they had queirs

Is one allowed to say that nowadays?

Drawingaline

Caramac said:

I I emailed my solicitor today and received an automated email in reply basically saying due to Coronavirus and Stamp Duty holiday they are extremely busy and are aiming to reply to emails in 5 days, and only to ring if absolutely necessary.

I’ve also tried to limit contact to when it’s absolutely necessarily and am worried I’m put to the back of the queue whilst those who are constantly in contact are given priority.

This is what mine did last time I emailed too.

Thrugelmir

Have you spoken to the Estate Agents? What's happening in the chain above you. You only received your mortgage offer 2 weeks ago. 

oniongirl

They might just be busy. I have family in the business and he is in the office at 5:30am, leaves at 7pm, works at home in the evenings and weekends, and has two small kids (one a newborn). They've raised their prices to put people off to no avail. I don't envy conveyancers at the moment.

Ungnome

oniongirl said:

They might just be busy. I have family in the business and he is in the office at 5:30am, leaves at 7pm, works at home in the evenings and weekends, and has two small kids (one a newborn). They've raised their prices to put people off to no avail. I don't envy conveyancers at the moment.

Why don't they just not take the work?
 I do find it absurd how solicitors operate, in any other business once they are full they will either not take any more clients or make it very clear that they can't fit you in until x date.
 Where as solicitors won't even hint at their piles of cases, happily take you on (for a fee) then seem shocked when you expect progress.

coachman12

Another thread about "how can I push along the conveyancing process" or "I'm dissatisfied with my solicitor" or "what should I do about my useless solicitor".
I think a great many people on these Housing threads forget that the rest of us are more interested in the biggest health threat this country has seen in our lifetimes and we face the most dangerous winter.
Solicitors are notorious for taking on too much conveyancing work and keeping people waiting longer than they want to. It's a fact----you hired the solicitor, you deal with them as you want to.
And, hey, we have a pandemic which is a bit more important, a lot of solicitors not open, others working from home, some not working at all, some working overtime. This is a time of turbulence, and some sort of leeway has to be evident. And as Thrugelmir said -------it is only 2 weeks since your mortgage offer, Tony.
There are too many of these threads complaining about solicitors and delays. Isn't it time we just accept that conveyancers are normally slow in normal times ------and in the present climate, they are bound to be affected by bigger things that are going on in society.
Why is this forum inundated with posts asking for help in dealing with solicitors that the posters have employed themselves and should be dealing with themselves. Most of these threads have no answer at all.

Tonyw193

coachman12 said:

Another thread about "how can I push along the conveyancing process" or "I'm dissatisfied with my solicitor" or "what should I do about my useless solicitor".
I think a great many people on these Housing threads forget that the rest of us are more interested in the biggest health threat this country has seen in our lifetimes and we face the most dangerous winter.
Solicitors are notorious for taking on too much conveyancing work and keeping people waiting longer than they want to. It's a fact----you hired the solicitor, you deal with them as you want to.
And, hey, we have a pandemic which is a bit more important, a lot of solicitors not open, others working from home, some not working at all, some working overtime. This is a time of turbulence, and some sort of leeway has to be evident. And as Thrugelmir said -------it is only 2 weeks since your mortgage offer, Tony.
There are too many of these threads complaining about solicitors and delays. Isn't it time we just accept that conveyancers are normally slow in normal times ------and in the present climate, they are bound to be affected by bigger things that are going on in society.
Why is this forum inundated with posts asking for help in dealing with solicitors that the posters have employed themselves and should be dealing with themselves. Most of these threads have no answer at all.

Im more than happy to allow my solicitor to get on with things however why is it in their industry poor communication and taking on to much work is an acceptable position to be in. My solicitor was more than happy to respond late at night for quote.  I appreciate we're in the middle of a pandemic. We are gradually getting better with living with the situation we are in and i think our health and wellbeing is more important than anything else. But why are solicitors taking on incredible amount of additional work and not prioritising their staff instead of their pockets.
Ive actual now had a response and it's clear why eveything took so long when i had a look through the dates items we're actually submitted. 
At the time i didnt appreciate how busy my solicitor was but and yes im not their only client and nor should i be for the price im paying, it's quite clear hes taken on to much work but at the end of the day thats not my issue. If they could communicate better id be more than happy to comply and wait but i think not to communicate is rude, unprofessional and actually creates more issues when people start demanding things moving forward. I havent been demanding, but to not respond for weeks when all searches had returned clearly shows there overwhelmed.