Duffield Harrison LLP

Contacted the Hoddesson branch via phone on 3 occasions over a 5 day period , each time was promised that someone would get back to me, no response, no return phone call. Made to feel ‘not worthy’ on the 2 follow up phone calls

I would like to say how extremely impressed with the care and efficiency of Miss Sheldon Burgher, Solicitor with Duffield and Harrison Hertford, in renewing our Wills and setting up Power of Attorney but most of all her handling my dear sister’s estate, which I might say was not an easy one.
Sheldon answered all questions I had in an easy-to-understand way, she was also very supportive when an unexpected situation arose and dealt with it quickly and professionally. Thank you Sheldon I will certainly use your services in the future. Rita Dixon.

We were looking for legal help in what should have been a straight forward house purchase situation. We chose Duffield Harrison as they were recommended and a 2 minute walk from my mother's house, which they were made very aware of, so that papers etc could be signed in person rather than having to deal with technology and post etc. This should have also saved time. This was was repeatedly overlooked, ignored, forgotten. Papers were delayed, not sent in full and deadlines missed, to the point where the sale almost fell through.
The administration at the front desk was helpful as they could be, but the legal support, attention to detail and accuracy was very far from value for money.

Recommended by our housing developer, Biased and unfair representation. Failed to make us aware of clauses that have affected the value of our property. Rude unhelpful responses which are in favour of developer rather than providing helpful advice as the customer.

We instructed the above Company to carry out the sale purchase of our properties. We had all our faith and trust in them to do the work on our behalf in the hope that everything would run smoothly and all the necessary enquiries and searches would all be done properly and as quickly as possible. As a professional Company or so we thought at the time, we did not expect that they would let us down so appallingly, as we were on our last move being senior citizens. After the completions had taken place and we had moved in paid their fees, after around 9 months later received letters from 3 to 4 separate companies informing us that we had over paid HMRC £10,000 in stamp duty as our property as a multiple dwelling. They just without our permission or checking the plans, survey report , details of our property which were all in our file , paid this money out. They should have been aware of this, and were negligent and inefficient. They did not even offer to get our money back for us and had to instruct one of the companies that had written to us to recover it on our behalf at a fee of 20%.
We are left devastated and out of pocket of £2000 through no fault of ours. When questioned by solicitors we instructed to recover this sum from them. They said they lost our file and did not see the word annexe and had no survey report or details of our property. This was ridiculous as being a Solicitors secretary myself in the past doing conveyancing this would have been impossible. Also the solicitor had it all in front of him when we wen t to sign our contracts.
Please beware, as we are now left out of pocket as they have not refunded us our hard earned money and also held back some £155 of ours and only gave it to us when they realised we were pursuing them to get our £2000 back. We should have done our research and never instructed such a company. We have been very distressed and been ill with all the heartache we have suffered and would not wish anyone else to go through the struggle we have been through and now still out of pocket of money we very much needed being a retired couple.
It has been an awful experience for us.

This review is for a different branch.

We contacted several solicitors for the purchase or our new home. Duffield were the most responsive yet not the most expensive.
Steph was amazing, unlike solicitors we've used in the past, she kept us informed at every step of the process, letting us know what was happening and updating timescales as necessary. She set realistic time frames and kept us in the loop, even letting us know who to contact if we needed to whilst she had a day off.
The phones were always answered and emails and letters from Lorna were prompt and professional.
They managed to help us complete our purchase within 6 weeks of engaging them.
Thank you to Steph, Lorna and Danielle for their professional and efficient approach!