Hi,
In 1999 I retained a firm of solicitors to represent my interests in the purchase of an investment property. It was my first experience of this apart from the purchase of my house so I wasn't familiar with the procedures involved. This solicitor I dealt with at the time seemed a bit uninterested, however I guess I was intimidated because of my ignorance plus he was a highly paid professional. Anyway I paid all I was asked to pay, signed everything I was asked to sign and left it at that. A short while after this I wanted some paperwork regarding the property, site maps etc. so I rang and asked to have it sent to me, however after 25 phone calls (no exageration) I eventually had to take time off work to go into the office to collect them myself. At this stage I decided never again to use this firm.
Fast forward to 2005 and I have decided to sell my investment, so I retained another firm of solicitors. This solicitor has told me that I have been left "in a royal mess", my previous firm never closed the deal for me, never had the contracts signed by the vendor, never registered me as the owner of the property etc. even though I paid all relevant charges including of course my previous solicitors not inconsiderable fee. This has now dragged on for three months and I risk losing my prospective buyer. My old firm still won't return my calls.
My current solicitor, whom I am very happy with, is relucent to talk about what recourse I have untill it is all sorted and is dealing with it from his end. I starting to wonder is he protecting a "colleague" instead of looking after my interests.
I appologise for the length of this post, however it has been theraputic to write it all down, and I would appreciate any replies regarding advice on my legal recouse regarding this whole episode.
Thanks for reading
John
In 1999 I retained a firm of solicitors to represent my interests in the purchase of an investment property. It was my first experience of this apart from the purchase of my house so I wasn't familiar with the procedures involved. This solicitor I dealt with at the time seemed a bit uninterested, however I guess I was intimidated because of my ignorance plus he was a highly paid professional. Anyway I paid all I was asked to pay, signed everything I was asked to sign and left it at that. A short while after this I wanted some paperwork regarding the property, site maps etc. so I rang and asked to have it sent to me, however after 25 phone calls (no exageration) I eventually had to take time off work to go into the office to collect them myself. At this stage I decided never again to use this firm.
Fast forward to 2005 and I have decided to sell my investment, so I retained another firm of solicitors. This solicitor has told me that I have been left "in a royal mess", my previous firm never closed the deal for me, never had the contracts signed by the vendor, never registered me as the owner of the property etc. even though I paid all relevant charges including of course my previous solicitors not inconsiderable fee. This has now dragged on for three months and I risk losing my prospective buyer. My old firm still won't return my calls.
My current solicitor, whom I am very happy with, is relucent to talk about what recourse I have untill it is all sorted and is dealing with it from his end. I starting to wonder is he protecting a "colleague" instead of looking after my interests.
I appologise for the length of this post, however it has been theraputic to write it all down, and I would appreciate any replies regarding advice on my legal recouse regarding this whole episode.
Thanks for reading
John