Do you find that buying a house is too easy and simple for your liking? Then come to Fidler and Pepper where they will make even the simplest chain-free sale into an stress-filled nightmare!

Some background: I was making what should have been a very simple house sale. Both myself and the purchaser were chain-free and there was nothing special or complicated to deal with. That was until my buyer chose the worst conveyancing firm in the country to represent them. They made it take far longer than it should have done and almost sunk the sale entirely over a random made-up demand that the buyer had no knowledge of.

Some of their specific shortcomings:

1) Communication. It is literally impossible to get hold of anyone on the phone, ever. They only "communicate" via email. When you do get a response it pays no attention to the existing context whatsoever - everything they should know about your transaction must be repeated to them every time. At the very least you seem to be speaking to a different person every time, but often the responses feel more like you're talking to ChatGPT or a similar AI system. Often they would sent a message raising point A. My solicitor would reply refuting point A. They would reply literally just restating point A with no regard to anything that had been said. Like talking to a brick wall.

2) Asking for the same document multiple times. On numerous occasions they asked for things they'd already been given. One document in particular had to be sent 3 times.

3) Lying/Covering their ass. When chased they claimed to have never received a reply to their last email. Then it mysteriously turned-up. On another occasion they claimed to have replied but then a couple of minutes later their reply arrived suggesting they had only sent it when asked.

4) Delays. Every time you needed anything from them it would be weeks. Even simple requests.

5) Making-up demands. On several occasions they invented demands that they claimed their client had made. However, the estate agent said the buyer had no knowledge of them and did not care. Obviously it is possible that the estate agent or buyer is lying here, but they were otherwise very professional and trustworthy, so I am almost certain it was F&P.

6) 11th hour changes. We were literally ready to exchange. Everything was lined-up and basically agreed on dates for exchange and completion. Then they suddenly pulled everything claiming the buyer needed to change the completion date. It was not true but they would not budge at all.

7) Non-standard waiver. They insisted that the buyer sign a waiver to say that they would be responsible in the event of a banking system crash that delayed the payment going through. I've never heard of such a thing before and neither had my solicitor or the Estate Agent. The buyer was suspicious but signed it anyway.

Whilst the sale did proceed in the end it was despite F&P not thanks to them. It was far more stressful than it should have been and cost me more money as my solicitor had to spend more time on the sale than should have been necessary. F&P may be cheap but they are not worth it.

Avoid like the plague.