Solicitor went on leave, didn't let us know

[Locke]

Apologies if in wrong area

We are buying a house and have mortgage approval and sale agreed.

Our solicitor who is looking after the case went on 2 weeks holidays, and never told us. Now her secratary is having promblems trying to get in touch.

We have several questions we need answered, and we find it incredibly frustraing at the lack of respect the solicitor is showing us and in many ways, living up to the reputation of the trade from what I have heard.

How should we approach dealing with the Solicitor when she returns? Should I switch solcitiors (Pre-Contract signing stage)

 

[MOB]

It is not practical (indeed it is not possible) for any reasonably busy solicitor to notify all of his\her clients of pending holidays.

Of course, it would be normal to have some arrangements in place for consultation on emergency issues. With respect, unless there is some deadline for signing contracts (which does seem very unlikely in the present market) it does not seem that this case falls into the emergency category. In fact, this seems like something which can clearly keep until the solicitor's return.

There may be more to it than is contained in your post, but if this is the only gripe, then I think your service expectations may be a little unrealistic.

 

[Locke]

It is not practical (indeed it is not possible) for any reasonably busy solicitor to notify all of his\her clients of pending holidays.

Of course, it would be normal to have some arrangements in place for consultation on emergency issues. With respect, unless there is some deadline for signing contracts (which does seem very unlikely in the present market) it does not seem that this case falls into the emergency category. In fact, this seems like something which can clearly keep until the solicitor's return.

There may be more to it than is contained in your post, but if this is the only gripe, then I think your service expectations may be a little unrealistic.

Hi MOB, thanks for your response.

I'm sorry, but at the end of the day, it is a service, we do have key questions, and there is nobody their to answer them. So we are getting let down in that sense. I just think it's a little unprofessional that the solicitor would have the courtesy to let us know, so we would at least be aware of her absense.

Simplky wondering has anyone else had similar problems.

 

[MOB]

Hi MOB, thanks for your response.

I'm sorry, but at the end of the day, it is a service, we do have key questions, and there is nobody their to answer them.

Your grievance may well be justified in the particular circumstances of your transaction. Absent more information, I simply cannot say. But you have not yet signed contracts, so it is hard to see what key questions you could have that won't keep.

Shortly, you will have your meeting with the solicitor to go through the contracts and ( if you are happy with them) sign them. In the meantime, you could always drop a line or an email to the solicitor to flag that you have some particular questions you want dealt with at this consultation.