Overcharged by £1500

penners324

Those fees seem extortionate. Any additional fees should have been advised to you before work was done.

Go back to them questioning the additions.

staceyamy

I have done and I’m just getting fobbed off . They do nothing to help us all I’m trying to do it’s get my life back on track

NewCottageOwner

Are you purchasing a leasehold property?
The quote looks to be for a freehold one so wouldn't haven't included all the extra charges associated with leasehold.

staceyamy

It’s an apartment so yes leasehold 

Neilos9

staceyamy said:

It’s an apartment so yes leasehold 

And that's the problem, you got a quote for a Freehold property, not a Leasehold.....You have asked for a quote for a Lemonade then bought a Gin and Tonic - Leasehold is a Whole lot more work...

Neilos9

That being said, they should have advised you of additional costs......

staceyamy

But my own Solicitors costs were a lot more than quoted. And £80 more for land register fee. I never stayed it was lease or freehold I just gave the address 

london21

You will need to compare the original quote to the actual charge.
The fixed fee for example should be what was quoted.
Fees such as searches can vary but they do seem a bit dodgy.

You should challenge the fees you were not quoted before.

What is their review like? 

madteapot

The big ones on that invoice are freeholder's notice, management companies notice and Deed of convent. These alone make over 800 of the extra amount. The freeholder and management company notices are I believe disbursements on behalf of you so not something you can back out of; however I would agree that they should have reached-out to you before paying those. In your second screenshot of the quote it says freehold; did you not tell them it is leasehold? The deed of convent should have been apparent at that stage if they knew it was leasehold for quotation. 

Other charges such as simultaneous exchange and contract, dealing with restriction, or deed of convent just looks ridiculous. Their fees are supposed to take these into account and even if dealing with restriction is not in their normal fees then they should have confirmed with you that it will be added on the bill. 

Did you go for the cheapest or online only conveyancing service? These kind of situations are unfortunately not unheard of with them as they quote for the simplest of all transaction and anything out of the ordinary is charged extra. 

I would raise an official complain on two fronts; first they didn't inform you of such extra charges even if they are required for the purchase to go ahead they must take instructions for you. The last line in the quotation even mentions this. And secondly about the small charges such as land registry being charged at 100 instead of 20 and the simultaneous exchange & contract, etc. Make sure to raise official complaint in writing the procedure should for that should be supplied to you when you instructed them; keep the emotions out of it and keep it factual. You might get some compensation or invoice adjusted. 

staceyamy

Depends on what website you look on but overall average. My estate agent recommended them so just went with them to save time