Luca
Collected on:
A very bad experience
This is not meant to be a revenge but a mere warning for those who might look for a solicitor and having to decide which firm to be represented by. It has been a true nightmare full of mistakes, unprofessional behavious and lack of support. I bought a flat in central London this year. The legal fee quote was 1.500 plus 750 of amministrative costs to be covered upfront but I ended up paying over 4k and the justification was that "it works this way and everything was clearly explained upfront". Furthermore there was an extra 2k added to the fee as there was an agreement reached with the vendor for me to refund a whole year of service charge upfront but I was informed on completion day for a total of 6 k of legal fees plus 750.
I have been asked to transfer my deposit of 168k from a day to the next one after weeks of me asking about it and no answers received which put me in a very difficult situation with the bank. The solicitor addressed my complain replying that "otherwise I would be fined as breaching the contract".
The assigned solicitor was Sally Louca that I never had the chance to meet not even when physically reached the firm office to sign the documents. On the contrary I met her trainee Ayse Seyer, who took completely over even with email corrispondece , with no warning, and shw was unprepared about so many things I basically had to start over again halfway. Even the agency that was selling the flat advised me halfway to consider changing the solicitor as they were really not behaving in my interests and were making everything very hard. Styrling Ackroyd themselves stated they rarely had to deal with such a low level of efficiency and very debatable advices.
At the end of the process, there are important reports missing, amongst which the pipe system and tank reports, the current year service charge was missing and hid a 450 pounds yearly increase. I also received from the council, at process finished, some fees to be covered by the previous landlord for work done years before but the firm never came back to me about those and currently having to deal with a new solicitor and the council myself. I sent over 15 emails about thise old fees and they are just not replying anymore.
At the time I also asked to have handed over the right to extende the lease from the vendor but there was no cooperation from the firm so I will now have to wait two years to extend it.
I deeply regret having bought a flat with Boulter and Co, was overall a bad experience and the worse part is that I escalated my concerns and unhappiness on their work and have been totally ignored and still ongoing. Confronting myself with different friends and colleagues who did the same with different firms I realise even more how bad it was
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