Fentimans Solicitors Reviews 20

Not surprised by the poor reviews. My buyer was recommended these by his mortgage provider. Easy sale with no chain , no surveys should have completed in October. Mid January and still no sign of a date . Every excuse used, avoid at all costs .

If I could give less stars I would. Absolutely diabolical service from start to finish. Almost 6 months end to end for a simple no chain house purchase, one first time buyer and one seller who was moving into his partners home.

The tears I have cried from frustration, and almost having our purchase fall through as the seller was losing patience.

Don't bother trying to ring, they are constantly 'in a meeting'. If you email as they ask, it would be more worth your while just screaming into the void, they won't reply.

Speaking to Mahsa, was akin to speaking to Dory from Finding Nemo, she could never remember who I was despite being my point of contact and the fact I was regularly having to ring (please bear in mind for the first 4 and a half months I was not doing this and was quite patient).

Despite always responding to requests for information in a timely manner, I never got a confirmation of receipt. And gallingly, on more than 5 occasions I was accused of never responding... and got no apology after sending evidence that I had!!

To say I had a Director acting as conveyancer on my purchase is very worrying also... perhaps too much on his plate?

Even when I got the apparent Operations Manager involved things were not much better!!!

Avoid these charlatans at all costs!!!!!!!

DO NOT USE! Unprofessional, arrogant, rude and ineffective. They cannot be trusted to carry out even basic legal work so AVOID at all costs. Our complaints were ignored but after taking this law firm to the Legal Ombudsman, who agreed with every one of our nine complaints submitted that service levels had been unreasonable, I feel totally justified in leaving this scathing review.

I'm currently selling a property and the purchaser has used these cowboys for conveyancing. We renovate and sell properties so we have dealt with various solicitors. These are by far the worst. Do yourself a favour and pay a little extra for local solicitors. Our property has no chain and a ftb, and it's been 4 months, with no end date in sight. So unprofessional. No communication. I'll be taking this further, and been advised to complain to the SRA, which I'm going to do, and advise anyone else whose had a similar experience.

Poor communication. I've sent a string of emails asking for updates - no response. Received 2 calls from a poor paralegal asking how they could help? Yes, get the solicitor assigned to the case to at least respond to an email! Every time I ask for their direct number this isn't forthcoming. No response. 'Messages' have apparently been passed to him as a 'matter of urgency' but still no response. I sent a survey section H 'actions for legal team' and they denied receiving it (they did, it was there showing as sent in my emails...) sent again and asked for acknowledgement- no response. Another email - no response. Totally unprofessional. Don't use this firm! Goodness only knows how they do business. Could never recommend them to anyone. Everyone seems to be chasing for information. Our vendors solicitors have also been chasing. There's a risk that the whole sale will fall through due to what seems to be incompetence- perhaps this sounds harsh, but no response to daily emails, not providing direct contact numbers.....what am I to assume?

We recently completed on a house purchase for which our sellers used Fentimans - the TL:DR of this review is if you are considering using this firm, or entering a contract with someone using this firm, don’t.

On the one hand I feel sorry for the solicitors working for Fentimans - it must be hard going to work each day knowing that you will no doubt open your inbox to a string of angry emails and complaints. On the other hand, mediocrity is within reach if they would only try.

Case in point: our sellers had two different Fentimans solicitors, one handling their sale to us and one handling their onward purchase. One of the two solicitors agreed exchange and completion dates with our sellers, so they arranged removals etc. We learned of this the day before the supposed exchange as they didn’t think to share this information with anyone else in the chain - meanwhile, we had shared dates we could complete the week before, and the date Fentimans agreed wasn’t on there. Nonetheless, we emailed our solicitor to say exchange was imminent. On the very same day, our solicitor was contacted by the OTHER Fentimans solicitor to say “we still have outstanding enquiries on our related. No exchange or completion date can be discussed” (or wording to that effect).

A sentence Fentimans solicitors may wish to copy and paste for future cases: “all enquiries are resolved for this transaction so we are ready to proceed to exchange BUT LET ME FIRST CONFIRM WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT THE SAME IS TRUE OF HIS/HER RELATED.” They may also be interested to hear of the CC button which allows you to copy into emails colleagues working on the same file as you, so you can be sure you’re all saying the same thing.

Other highlights of our experience included Fentimans needing a week to “prepare for exchange” (despite apparently having been ready to exchange two weeks earlier), learning of a delay caused by Fentimans contacting the wrong bank, and failing to exchange on the date agreed because, despite the weeks notice, they seemingly didn’t tell the top of the chain of their plan so that solicitor was out of the office.

The string of negative reviews beneath mine should tell you all you need to know - engage this lot at your peril.

Unfortunately the first time buyer who wants to buy my flat decided to use this organisation. In spite of my solicitor dealing with everything very quickly the response from Fentimans was appallingly slow often not being able to get any reply. They constantly failed to do what they said they would and the most basic tasks took weeks. The proposed purchaser who wants to move in asap is now in danger of losing the property due to lack of performance of this company who after months are not even prepared to discuss exchange or completion dates . They obviously don't think that they owe there customer any type of meaningful service are in just in it for the money. Please avoid and save yourself the frustration and dissappointment that will follow.

As a first-time buyer, I made the mistake of choosing Fentimans becuase their fees were lower than other solicitors. A decision that I now deeply regret. Their communication is non-existent and phone calls and emails go unanswered for weeks. With my mortgage offer set to expire in two weeks, we have yet to exchange contracts and I am now worried the flat purchase may fall through.

⭐ 1/5 - Extremely Poor Service & Communication

I had a highly disappointing experience with My Law Matters during my property purchase. Despite being promised clear timelines, my transaction was significantly delayed, with little to no proactive updates. I had to chase them repeatedly for responses, often receiving vague, unhelpful replies. Even after all enquiries were resolved, they failed to progress my purchase for weeks, causing unnecessary stress and frustration.

Basic tasks like handling fixtures and fittings requests were mismanaged, and their overall lack of urgency made the process much more difficult than it needed to be. Their customer service was poor, and they did not take accountability when I raised a formal complaint.

I would not recommend My Law Matters if you value efficiency, communication, and professionalism. Avoid if you want a smooth conveyancing process!

Terrible, almost non-exsiting customer service.

4 months of trying to purchase a garage, for cash! 3 months of chasing the assigned solicitor for any information only to get answers that they were still waiting for something from seller's solicitors, and waiting, and waiting.
Days of no answer. We kept sending emails asking for an update only to wait for any answer.
Informed that we decided to withdraw from the purchase - no reaction, then an email after a week that they were still waiting, as if no one even bothered to read our emails!
Informal complaint - no reaction. Formal complaint (via email) - no reaction.
Asked for a refund as no service was provided - no answer, no refund.
Terrible customer service.

Would give zero stars if possible!

Cannot begin to explain how unprofessional this company is! Or at least the arrogant and rude team they have are unprofessional.

Had a horrific experience with them.

Completely incompetent, their poor performance meant we missed our move in date, no accountability and god forbid you complain because they’ll get a gobby and gas lighting swine to call and basically berate you for daring to question them. Over charged for a TERRIBLE service. Have lodged an official complaint with them but doubt they’ll take any notice.

Our broker and estate agents both experienced the same failings from them. This is not an isolated incident.

AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!!!

So slow, and they don't answer the most basic of questions, last week on the 25th i got a letter emailed to me dated the 9th July, really wish i looked into the before i used them.

Totally Useless, incompetent and lazy.
Avoid like the plague!

Run a mile DONT USE THIS SOLICITORS
ITS 4 MONTHS SINCE I SOLD MY HOUSE AFTER WANTING 6 WEEKS FOR THEM TO SEND ENQUIRIES OVER AND THAT WAS WITH A THREAT FROM MY SOLICITORS TO REPORT TO THE OMBUDSMAN WE ARE STILL WAITING NOW FOR TRANSFER DOCUMENTS ANOTHER 2 WEEKS HAVE GONE BY BY
THEY ARE UNRELIABLE UNPROFESSIONAL AND NON-CONSISTENT

Absolutely terrible terrible service. Ranjit Bhogal has don’t nothing since having my file January the 31st I instructed the buying process to begin. I’ve have not spoke one word to him and only managed to speak to his assistant twice. The portal has had no change for 3 months and now there’s been pressure from the seller for a completion date he’s passed my file on to someone else!!!!! And I found that out from the estate agent not even himself. The biggest regret of my life using fentimans and now my home is being put back on the market due to his negligence. So so upset.

I wouldn’t touch Fentiman’s with a barge pole. Nick himself isn’t reliable, and allows things to happen such as changing of locks, etc before the actual probate has been granted. Brushes things that he chooses to his own advantage under the carpet yet, jumps at any opportunity he can to fleece you for thousands of pounds. Doesn’t respond to emails or calls and doesn’t take on board any concerns you may have. Don’t go with this firm look around before taking the plunge.

Couldn't have wished for a better service.
The sale of my house was stress free, all because of the staff.
Extremely professional.
Whilst very friendly.
Would and will be recommending
Them

I used Fentimans in Knowle for an employment law matter and I was very happy with their service. Considered, pragmatic, responsive when I needed them to be and caring for their client. I would definitely recommend and use again if needed.

I agree with the review submitted in May 2019 - we too have had an awful experience. Fentimans were named as the joint executor on my mother in law's will. We were quoted around £800 to manage the case so both being busy engaged Fentimans to do the work. Probate took about 4 months to come through, during which we could not sell the house, British gas threatened court as bills were not paid and the Council Tax also sent a final reminder.
We were charged £18 for reading emails when the email related to us chasing progress and then charged a further £18 for responding to emails with up-dates saying no progress was made due to waiting on bank responses etc.
by comparison the solicitors we used for the house sale were fast, efficient and had an automatic system that kept us up-dated with progress.
This seems to be a family firm that has lost it's way and is relying on elderly people for it's business.
We are currently waiting for a final statement of account having asked weeks ago and chased. Similar experience with a very brusque legal secretary who said she'd look at our case and seems to have done nothing.
Awful - avoid.

Very very disappointed with my experience at fentimans. Would never use them again. A simple probate case that I was quoted £700-£900 for cost £1800 & took 10 months. This didn’t complete the case at 10 months I decided to take my business elsewhere that cost a further £600 but at least it was dealt with in a good manner. I was fobbed off with paperwork had gone missing on 3 occasions & needed to be resent, I never got replies to my emails. Due to the nature of this case it was all very upsetting. The PA Janet was the rudest person I have ever spoken too & needs to be taugh about customer service & empathy with clients that have just lost close family. All in all very expensive, stressful experience. Will never recommend fentimans. Save yourself money & stress chose another solicitor.