14 reviews (3/5) and information for Brooks & Partners, Camberley

10/09/19 - Reviewed by Anonymous

I called Brooks & Partners and spoke to Kaley at length who was lovely. After leaving email & telephone details, I was assured that Ed Jones would call me to discuss my matter, but that phone call never came (waited over a week)......a bad sign and a common bad habit exhibited by this company from the other reviews I have now read. I would suggest going to an alternative solicitors that ‘gets on the case’ .

Was this review helpful?  
26   20

Respond   Report abuse

26/08/18 - Reviewed by Mr Lewer

Here is a "blog" of my time with Brooks and Partners ( apparently there is no partner )

First solicitor was Victoria Lamon.
I rang Rose (pa) and tried to make the payment of £500 as I was going on annual leave on 9th March
She stated she could not take payment as there wasn’t a file open. I even suggested she hold my card details securely until as such time the payment could be made
She was to send me an email when the funds needed paying. Rose said she sent an email and I asked for the evidence but she could not supply it. This delayed the initial process
No progress was made on the file until my estate agent had been contacted by the buyers solicitors stating nothing had happened
The estate agent contacted me on holiday via phone asking me to contact the solicitors immediately
I paid the funds after spending a huge amount of time and money on the phone whilst in Sri Lanka ( phone bill received at £96!! )

At no point whilst away on leave did receive a single email from Brooks & Partners asking for detail ( 9th -28th March ) Other emails were received from.....
Barrett on the 13th and 15th March
Mortgage advisor 12th, 16th, 16th again and 20th March Nat West 16th March

Spoke to Victoria about progress of management pack. Nothing had been requested? This was on the back of another call from the buyers solicitor to the agent and then to myself
I paid the fees over the phone. From there a cheque was raised by Brooks and sent to the wrong address.
I spoke to Victoria shortly after the payment had been made and she apologised and then advised that she would prioritise my file as it had clearly been left with no focus or follow up!

When I followed up with the management company if they had started the pack they advised they had not received payment.
I stated I would like to cancel the cheque and pay the management company directly to speed up the process. I was advised by Rose that this couldn’t be done and I was assured that someone from Brooks & partners would chase
I chased and was advised that no one from Brooks has chased

I called on Tuesday 3rd April to talk to Victoria Lamon ( my first solicitor). I was advised that she no longer worked for the company. No notification was sent to me or any other parties
I escalate and spoke to the partner Mr Brooks.
I was not advised of Victoria leaving the company and was accused by Mr Brooks of not reading the communication from them. When I probed and asked for the mail to be resent he advised me that he hadn’t actually been sent at all. Until he realised I was told to shut up and listen!

He stated he would personally pursue my management pack and apologised for the lack of communication. He even stated that he would raise a cheque to the management company in advance of receiving my cleared funds to help move the process along
I rang the management co.2 days later asking if the payment had been made. nothing had been requested by Brooks & Partners to the management company, contrary to what Mr Brooks stated
On 10th April after calling the management company and them stating they had not received payment I spoke with Vickie Lennard. She stated it had been sent so there was nothing they could do
No one from Brooks had chased the pack and I identified the problem and asked the management company to produce this as soon as possible

I then complained about the general lack ( none at all at this stage ) of communication
At this point I had been advised that my solicitor had changed and was a gentleman called Femi (Solicitor no. 2)
Femi sent me 2 emails in the duration of his time with the company and these were prompted by myself. On Friday 13th I asked for an update and received one, not answering any of my questions but giving me a very brief update and advising of his imminent departure.
There was no notification as to who would be taking over the file. I was notified in a phone call with Mr Brooks that I must use Vickie Lennard as the contact moving forward. ( A PA. Note: she is not a lawyer )

I ran Vickie and spoke to her shortly after 5pm on the 18/04. She stated she was trying to gather the information and would need my help with a document called a Form 1?
She was a little unsure but said she would check and then call me back first thing in the morning

I called Vickie the following day, 19/04

I asked for a full update and noted, “where are we at the moment”
( Note: at this point I have still not received any confirmed updates as to how my file is progressing so I understandably need a confirmed update. ) Vickie stated “i do not have the files at the moment as I am upstairs and I have been dealing with some cheques all morning”
VL - I can’t update you as I don’t know where we are. ( with your case ). I can’t help you as I’m not a lawyer!
AL - We who is dealing with my case then?
VL - William Harvey!
AL - Who is he?
VL - He is your solicitor! ( 3rd solicitor)
AL - Why have I not been notified of this?
VL - I'm telling you now!!

When I probe about the purchase Help to Buy file they received on 29th March, Vickie states, she doesn’t know when they received the file and she can't open it
She says we have received a file. She asked them to send another Zip file. This is 20 days AFTER the file was received by Brooks and Partners
Barratt solicitor advised that they could see that the file had been opened and no other action had happened
Brooks later acknowledged that they had seen and opened the file. They confirmed this to the Barratt solicitor on the 3rd April

After a discussion I probed exactly where I am in the process I asked Vickie to provide me with email proof of her continued efforts in trying to communicate with Barratt's solicitor. (The issue I am chasing is the non-application and opening of the Help to Buy file sent to Brooks & Partners on 29th March )

VL - I have not emailed them I have just tried ringing but have had no response. I have tried 5 times to contact them but not received a call back. What more do you want me to do? I can't open the file for security reasons . Our database will not accept ZIP files
AL - why have you not formulised your efforts in trying to communicate, like an email?
VL - I haven’t emailed them as telephone is the best way to communicate!!
AL - well it obviously isn’t as you are not receiving any response
VL - we are obviously not representing you well enough so can I suggest you find alternative representation!!!!!
AL - I can’t for fear of losing my buyers and my new home. I am too far through he process. If I could I would have!
VL - I can’t help as I have no idea where they were with the processing of the sale and purchase
VL - I suggest you speak to William Harvey

I was put through to William Harvey.
He advised that he was trying to update himself with the current situation.
He asked many repetitive questions trying to understand what I had completed and what I hadn’t. He had not received a handover and was not sure who had applied for what and who hadn’t In his own words.... this is a right mess but I will sort it out for you. I have to take some time to review exactly where we are and then pick up from there. I will contact the buying and Barratt solicitor and compile a list of things to do. We will get this complete for you but Unfortunetly it seems as though all the easier documents have been applied for but your purchase has had very little done!

Very positive briefing on how he was going to get it completed but when I asked “ where do you predict we will exchange” he stated end May / June. This was merely a guide and was not to be taken as confirmation
Original exchange date was set for 20th April
William could not issue me with a company email address as one had not been In my email correspondence I have requested a questions and answers pack. This has never been acknowledged or sent

On the 23/04/18 I contacted William for an update - he stated that the file sent for the HTB application had been filled out but was not followed up by Femi or anyone else so now needed updating on the solicitors details. This has delayed the process further

On Monday 23rd april I received notification that my purchase solicitor had granted an extension till 12 May.

I lost my buyers because of Brooks and partners. I also lost my new house as it was placed back on the market. It was because of the continued poor communication, lack of process and 3 different solicitors from Brooks and Partners.
Frustratingly they still retained my funds for losing the sale of my property and sent me a letter ( in red ink ) asking me to return when I find a new buyer!

Was this review helpful?  
34   18

Respond   Report abuse

01/02/16 - Reviewed by Anonymous Frimley

We used Brooks & Partners for an investment property purchase in 2014 and was assigned Tom Ingleton. Although it wasn't without its issues, the process went ok with us constantly pushing things along but it was a very simple process. It was very frustrating dealing with Tom as a whole. However we decided benefit of the doubt and we didn't have any recommendation of any other solicitor, to use them again for two further property purchases late 2015/2016. Tom Ingleton 'left' the practice and our 'case' hanging half way through! We weren't even informed of this until a random person spoke to us when we were chasing them to ask why we hadn't exchanged contracts! It has been the most frustrating company to deal with and we are constantly chasing them for simple answers. More importantly they've cost us money because they delayed exchange of contracts at the last minute, then straddled the Christmas period! We don't have the experience of using other solicitors but I absolutely will never ever use Brooks & Partners Frimley for conveyancing work. They persistently disappointed us and we felt the fact we were paying them thousands of pounds to work for us, it didn't make one difference. At best they are incompetent, at worst conceited and this arrogance has to stop from these solicitors! We are paying them for a service & the least they can do is provide a reasonable service. Take your conveyancing business elsewhere!!

Was this review helpful?  
27   20

Respond   Report abuse

24/12/13 - Reviewed by Rick Harrison

As a first time buyer I was recommended to Brooks and Partners by our Estate Agent, I didn't really know what to expect in the way of expertise and service, in all honesty I hadn't really thought about it. I dealt with Tom Ingleton and it was soon clear that what I thought may be a confusing process would actually be fairly straight forward and easy to understand. Tom took the time to run through the conveyancing process with me and gave me regular updates with what was going on throughout the purchase. I now have a good understanding of the conveyancing process thanks to Tom, and I would certainly recommend the services provided by Brooks and Partners to my family and friends.

Was this review helpful?  
20   22

Respond   Report abuse

23/12/13 - Reviewed by Scott Pearce

Earlier this year my fiancee and I bought our first home together and we chose Brooks and Partners to be our solicitor, Tom Ingleton was our solicitor and he was fantastic. Any questions or concerns was dealt with in a timely and professional manner and I would highly recommend him and Brooks and Partners.

Was this review helpful?  
24   18

Respond   Report abuse

09/06/13 - Reviewed by Anonymous

I was not satisfied with the service provided by brooks&ptnrs,frimley.found them expensive,and inefficient,especially tom ingleton and josh. did not listen to me properly when visiting office and on telephone.on day of moving without prior phone call,told me I would have to the sum of £6,823.14 or move could not go ahead. had to rush down bank to arrange payment,enough sress when moving without this scenario. have written to simon brooks who agreed to investigate my complaints,despite sending him further letter on 31-06-2013. has failed to contact me.very disappointed with whole experience.

Was this review helpful?  
21   19

Respond   Report abuse

21/02/11 - Reviewed by L O'Riley

Brooks and Partners know their stuff as a firm, but if Tom is assigned to your case then expect frustrating mistakes and delays, some of which may cost you money -- ask for someone else to be assigned to your case before it's too late.

Was this review helpful?  
23   20

Respond   Report abuse

19/05/10 - Reviewed by Anonymous

We just completed the conveyancing our house in Farnborough, and Mr. Tom Ingleton took care of it for me. Just to tell you that I am very satisfied with Tom and his work and how he handled everything, he was available and responsive always. I will be giving his card to any colleague of mine (I work for SC Johnson in Frimley) who speaks to me about buying a property, and indeed I am sure I will be repeating business with him in 6 – 7 months time perhaps.

Was this review helpful?  
22   21

Respond   Report abuse

19/05/10 - Reviewed by Anonymous

When dealing with Helen Habershon and Deborah Prance, you get what you pay for, quality, honesty and efficiency. I have used another firm before on conveyancing, the communication was useless and the staff were moody!

Was this review helpful?  
21   19

Respond   Report abuse