Completion not happening - systems down?

chinatown_2

We're due to be completing on the house we are buying today. 3pm yesterday the EA rang and asked if Id heard what was happening regarding contracts being exchaged. I explained that we had signed the week before and paid deposit and solicitors fees, we'd been told it was all done ready to complete. Aparently the vendors solicitor had phoned them saying they never got the contracts!
So after a few phone calls it turns out the vendors solicitor is all electronic systems and it has been down for a few days. Solicitor and EA said not to worry it would still definitely complete today, even if exchange happens the same day.
However our solicitor has just phoned, he still hasnt managed to exchange with them, it hasnt gone through their system and he cant guarentee its going to be today (so much for yesterdays promises!).

So what does it mean the systems are electronic? I thought contracts we signed would be posted? How do they do it electronically?

:mad: So thats a weekend wasted. We were going to decorate this weekend when everyones off work to help and move next weekend. I suppose we should be thankful we dont have to actually move today!

Tozer

Tell them to exchange and complete over the telephone - the good old fashioned way.

chinatown_2

Tozer wrote: »

Tell them to exchange and complete over the telephone - the good old fashioned way.

Aparently they cant. He said hes got no other way to do it, they are all electronic. Im wondering if its an internet firm?

silvercar

chinatown wrote: »

Aparently they cant. He said hes got no other way to do it, they are all electronic. Im wondering if its an internet firm?

someone is lying to you!

even if they are an internet firm they must have a phone line. Even if they insist on a written contract they can print it off and courier it between solicitors. The money can be sent by CHAPS in 15 minutes.

chinatown_2

Thanks for that. Right I phoned the EA and played tell tale, lol, "he said she said". Knowing full well the vendor is keen to complete asap due to it being a housing firm. So she phoned them to says ours is blaming their solicitor and find out whats going on. Came back and it has now exchanged aparently, just happened this morning, so it mustve gone through after our phone call.
Now just waiting for the money to go through, keeping fingers crossed!

silvercar

congratulations!

phoenixchick

My dad had the same problem when he and mum bought their house. They were going to be charged for a courier to take the contract a few yards. Dad did it himself and the completion went through a week quicker than it would have done otherwise.

Tozer

Well done. Looks like you are all sorted. Is completion scheduled for today? Just a bit worried that the contract says something like "Completion 7 days after exchange".

Loretta

I love it when you pay professionals to do something for you and then do the job yourself with the help of everyone on here!

Tozer

All ok in the end?

chinatown_2

Hi
Sorry just got back on here, had a busy day shopping for paint and things lol.
Got a phone call at 11:45am to say we had completed!!! Went straight and collected keys before anything else went wrong. So we are all happy with our new house and are going to enjoy doing it up this weekend before we move in properly.
Thanks for the help.