Mortgage nightmare.. solicitor isn't on the panel after all

parkingadvice1212

I got the mortgage offer through last week and called the solicitor today to get an update.. they haven't received the mortgage offer.
It's a solicitor's office with 5 different branches and only the main branch's address is on the panel and that's where they sent the offer - they can't deal with it in that branch because they're different firms/LLPs. Mortgage company now won't re-issue the offer to the correct branch because that address isn't on the panel list.
Anyone been in this situation? I haven't got a clue what to do, it's at a standstill at the moment with the solicitor unable to act without the offer and the mortgage company refusing to give it to them.

K_S

@parkingadvice1212 I haven't come across the same issue. What is the current solicitor saying, are they claiming to be on the panel for this particular lender?

parkingadvice1212

K_S said:

@parkingadvice1212 I haven't come across the same issue. What is the current solicitor saying, are they claiming to be on the panel for this particular lender?

Yes, they claim they are on the panel. However the lender (YBS) are claiming that only their main branch is.
I am concerned I will have to pay the main branch to deal with the mortgage at additionl cost.

K_S

parkingadvice1212 said:

K_S said:

@parkingadvice1212 I haven't come across the same issue. What is the current solicitor saying, are they claiming to be on the panel for this particular lender?

Yes, they claim they are on the panel. However the lender (YBS) are claiming that only their main branch is.

@parkingadvice1212 To be fair to YBS, the lender panels I've seen have individual branches noted separately, even whether the firm name is the same.

ACG

Tell the soicitors branch that their branch is not on panel and they will only issue it to the head office branch. If that does not work for them, they (the solicitors branch you are dealing with) need to apply to be added to the panel. 

grumiofoundation

Simplest solution seems to be - can the branch you are dealing with not get themselves added to the panel? 

Sounds like you asked the branch you are dealing with if they were on YBSs panel did you check with YBS before instructing (YBS have a checker online) https://online.ybs.co.uk/public/mortgages/standalone_solicitor_panel.do?_ga=2.53820840.1094491613.1611758954-476581794.1611758954

If YBS won’t issue offer to current solicitor instruct another solicitor that is on their panel. 

parkingadvice1212

I did check with YBS but assumed that the firm name being on there meant it extended to all branches. I did also specifically ask the solicitor on the phone before instructing him if he was approved by YBS and he said yes he is, and still maintains that!
How long will it take for the branch to get added? We were hoping to exchange this week...

parkingadvice1212

grumiofoundation said:

Simplest solution seems to be - can the branch you are dealing with not get themselves added to the panel? 

Sounds like you asked the branch you are dealing with if they were on YBSs panel did you check with YBS before instructing (YBS have a checker online) https://online.ybs.co.uk/public/mortgages/standalone_solicitor_panel.do?_ga=2.53820840.1094491613.1611758954-476581794.1611758954

If YBS won’t issue offer to current solicitor instruct another solicitor that is on their panel. 

All is well! They've managed to get added since this morning!  Just checked on your link.  That was fast!

davidmcn

Seems a bit odd that different branches are operated by different legal entities - are you sure about that?

Thrugelmir

parkingadvice1212 said:

How long will it take for the branch to get added? We were hoping to exchange this week...

Must have been a fast process to reach exchange of contracts at almost the same time as the mortgage offer was issued. 

parkingadvice1212

Thrugelmir said:

parkingadvice1212 said:

How long will it take for the branch to get added? We were hoping to exchange this week...

Must have been a fast process to reach exchange of contracts at almost the same time as the mortgage offer was issued. 

Yes all fast. Offered on the 10th, accepted on the 11th. Almost ready to exchange. Searches took 6 days.