When lenders offer £500 cash back or free legals....

davidmcn

Though I have heard that for many "normal" conveyancing firms, remortgages have become a fairly rare type of work (because so much is now down by the lender-preferred factories), which means although the standard of service may in theory be better in some ways, they can make a meal of things (where the free legals bunch would take a view for the sake of expediency) and transactions may go astray because they're concentrating on the normal purchase/sale areas of their workload.

[Deleted User]

Very valid point.  I personally still refer clients to a large conveyancing firm that does mainly remortgages.  The difference being that i like these ones and have a good relationship with the case handler on all my stuff.   High street solicitors charge nearly double than conveyancing firms so the trick is just to find a good conveyancing farm/firm.   

trex227

davidmcn said:

Though I have heard that for many "normal" conveyancing firms, remortgages have become a fairly rare type of work (because so much is now down by the lender-preferred factories), which means although the standard of service may in theory be better in some ways, they can make a meal of things (where the free legals bunch would take a view for the sake of expediency) and transactions may go astray because they're concentrating on the normal purchase/sale areas of their workload.

We went with free legals when we remortgaged on the basis our case was really straightforward, title is straightforward. However there is a restriction on our title relating to the deed of trust from when we bought (now irrelevant due to marriage). The firm would only accept a statement sworn under oath by the parties who the restriction was in favour of. We gave them the deed of trust to show it was us, no third parties- not acceptable. Offered to get the restriction removed- not acceptable.

Had to pay a local solicitors for us to swear an oath to get the remortgage through. 

pearsforlife

Yeah I second @csgohan4, I was dreading free legals with Barclays but optima legals were amazing, really quick and fired everything there end through really fast! The portal is really slick. 

caeler

I used free legal with nationwide 8 years ago and they were terrible, so much worse than my previous purchasing experience. It was so stressful. Appoint your own. 

Thrugelmir

caeler said:

I used free legal with nationwide 8 years ago and they were terrible, so much worse than my previous purchasing experience. It was so stressful. Appoint your own. 

A lot has probably changed in the past 8 years. 

Doodlebugs

I actively avoid free legal, we had an awful experience with HSBCs free legal, QCAS.