Elber W
Worst case isn't no reply — they are leaking client info
.What has disappointed us most about Talbots Law is not the lack of email responses, but the serious negligence of their solicitor in disclosing a client’s confidential information to us, and the complete lack of action from management after we reported it. We first instructed a solicitor at Talbots Law on 20 June to act for us in our house purchase. By 12 August, we still had not reached Exchange and were ultimately forced to change solicitors. A major reason for this was the solicitor’s serious negligence and lack of responsibility. We repeatedly reminded our solicitor that we would be leaving the UK for a holiday at the end of July and asked for confirmation before we left as to whether our signed original documents had been received. We received no response. Even while the solicitor was on holiday, the team failed to take any action or respond to our emails. However, this was not the most serious issue. The solicitor mistakenly mixed up our file with another client’s and sent us that client’s confidential emails and information. We were extremely shocked by this and immediately raised a complaint with the solicitor’s manager. Despite sending two emails, we have received no response from the manager whatsoever. We then escalated the matter to Talbots Law’s Complaints Department and requested that our solicitor be replaced. Instead, the Complaints Department refused to change our solicitor on the grounds that the relationship had broken down, and offered us a refund solution so that we could find another solicitor and bring the complaint to an end as quickly as possible. The most ironic part is that the client whose confidential information was disclosed to us was also ultimately unhappy with the solicitor’s service and requested a refund. I have lived in the UK for more than ten years and fully understand that property transactions can be slow. However, I have never experienced such a poor level of service from a law firm. I will continue to report this matter to the relevant third parties regarding the solicitor’s negligence in disclosing confidential client information and the failure of Talbots Law’s management to take appropriate action. If you still want to take your chances, you are welcome to choose them.
A representative from Talbots Law Ltd responded to this review
Thank you for bringing your feedback to our attention. We take any allegations involving service delays, management responsiveness, and—above all—data privacy and confidentiality with the utmost seriousness. While client confidentiality rules prevent us from discussing the specific details of any client file publicly, we want to address your concerns directly: Data Protection & Confidentiality: We hold data protection to the highest standard. Any potential breach of client confidentiality is a matter of critical concern. We have rigorous internal procedures for investigating potential data incidents, and where appropriate, reporting them to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Communication & Delay: We apologize that your experience fell short of the clear communication and swift transaction timeline you expected, particularly regarding the receipt of your original documents prior to your travel. Management & Escalation: We regret that you felt your concerns were not addressed with the urgency they deserved. Our formal complaints procedure is designed to offer fair resolutions when a client relationship founders, including facilitating a smooth transition to alternative representation where appropriate. We note your intention to report these matters to external regulatory bodies. We fully respect your right to do so and will cooperate completely with any formal inquiries to ensure complete transparency.
