Is there a "Trip Advisor" type of thing for solicitors?

kingstreet

spaniel-lover said:

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

The developer's recommended solicitor said everything can be done by email/post

This is certainly true and normal. Fair enough if you want to use somebody close enough for you to visit, though bear in mind even then, the vast majority of contact during the transaction is not going to be face-to-face.

To make things even more complicated the developer insists that we are approved by a mortgage broker (even though we don't want or need a mortgage) & that broker is in yet another part of the country.

Why is that complicated? If you really want to humour the developer (you can just say no!) then you can use whatever method of contact the broker wants - if you're not taking a mortgage through them then you don't need to trust them, do you?

It is complicated because of the location of their office, I'd rather see them in person, we have to prove to them that we have the funds (they then verify us for the developer) & I'd rather physically hand over a bank statement for them to look at & photocopy - I worry about the safety of emails (and I don't know how to do encrypted emails).

Most of us have secure portals to obtain documents - not unsafe emails.

user1977

spaniel-lover said:

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

The developer's recommended solicitor said everything can be done by email/post

This is certainly true and normal. Fair enough if you want to use somebody close enough for you to visit, though bear in mind even then, the vast majority of contact during the transaction is not going to be face-to-face.

To make things even more complicated the developer insists that we are approved by a mortgage broker (even though we don't want or need a mortgage) & that broker is in yet another part of the country.

Why is that complicated? If you really want to humour the developer (you can just say no!) then you can use whatever method of contact the broker wants - if you're not taking a mortgage through them then you don't need to trust them, do you?

I'd rather physically hand over a bank statement for them to look at & photocopy - I worry about the safety of emails (and I don't know how to do encrypted emails).

It's likely they'll have other methods. Or you can find out how to do encrypted emails. Or you can send it by post.

spaniel-lover

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

The developer's recommended solicitor said everything can be done by email/post

This is certainly true and normal. Fair enough if you want to use somebody close enough for you to visit, though bear in mind even then, the vast majority of contact during the transaction is not going to be face-to-face.

To make things even more complicated the developer insists that we are approved by a mortgage broker (even though we don't want or need a mortgage) & that broker is in yet another part of the country.

Why is that complicated? If you really want to humour the developer (you can just say no!) then you can use whatever method of contact the broker wants - if you're not taking a mortgage through them then you don't need to trust them, do you?

I'd rather physically hand over a bank statement for them to look at & photocopy - I worry about the safety of emails (and I don't know how to do encrypted emails).

It's likely they'll have other methods. Or you can find out how to do encrypted emails. Or you can send it by post.

Post cannot be trusted.

user1977

spaniel-lover said:

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

user1977 said:

spaniel-lover said:

The developer's recommended solicitor said everything can be done by email/post

This is certainly true and normal. Fair enough if you want to use somebody close enough for you to visit, though bear in mind even then, the vast majority of contact during the transaction is not going to be face-to-face.

To make things even more complicated the developer insists that we are approved by a mortgage broker (even though we don't want or need a mortgage) & that broker is in yet another part of the country.

Why is that complicated? If you really want to humour the developer (you can just say no!) then you can use whatever method of contact the broker wants - if you're not taking a mortgage through them then you don't need to trust them, do you?

I'd rather physically hand over a bank statement for them to look at & photocopy - I worry about the safety of emails (and I don't know how to do encrypted emails).

It's likely they'll have other methods. Or you can find out how to do encrypted emails. Or you can send it by post.

Post cannot be trusted.

Then use another method. Weren't the statements posted to you in the first place?

Falafels

When I was looking for a solicitor in a new area, I read as many reviews as I could find - the Law Society's website has a "Find a solicitor" facility; Trustpilot and Google - and selected three possibles. I sent emails to all of them; this was in late December, so I wasn't holding my breath waiting for a reply what with Christmas threatening an' all. One of them did, though, promptly and with all the information I needed. One of the others didn't reply at all, and the other did - but much, much later.

The prompt one continued with a very impressive level of service throughout the entire transaction; there are common complaints about solicitors (you only have to read these boards!) but absolutely none of them applied to this firm.

You can glean some very helpful information just from initial contact.

Noneforit999

Friends or family recommendations if possible.

Perhaps post on a local Facebook group and ask for recommendations.

We asked out estate agent, its not really in their interests to recommend a poor solicitor as it just delays when they get their money.