MF1, thanks for the reply but your assuming I don't know these things. There are more complicated things at work which I didn't mention. The solicitor has been provided and paid for by the EA, but is not on the BOI maintenance panel, therefore BOI cannot deal with him. We have requested countless times that he add his name to the panel but he has failed to do so. The solicitor has to sign a claw back clause to allow the booking deposit to be repayed when the mortgage is drawn down, therefore clearing the bridging part of the mortgage.
Bottom line really is I have paid no money nor have I signed any contracts and I have received very poor service from the solicitor. I strongly suspected that I could walk away at this stage without paying a penny to anyone but thought it was a good idea to ask other peoples advice before I made any moves. In normal circumstances one can walk away after paying the booking deposit and receive a refund as long as its before exchanging contracts, which we haven't done. I really can't see that I'm obliged to proceed with or pay for the services of the solicitor or the EA as I have received no servives.