Longmores Solicitors Avis 

Emailed request for an appointment, after a week, no response. Then telephoned for an appointment, again no response. Maybe the help I needed wasn’t going to be cost effective!

Recently used for my purchase and selling of properties.
Professional, timely communications and all done very well
Highly recommended

I wouldn’t recommend their services. After signing up, I was only informed that my solicitor was frequently unavailable on her days off and then went on holiday. It would have been helpful to know this upfront, as I could have chosen someone more available for my time-sensitive case. Additionally, I ended up paying nearly £3,000 for advice that mainly consisted of “let’s wait and see” and repeated threats to the other party. If proactive steps, like sending notices to the relevant parties, had been taken, I could have saved a significant amount of money. Unfortunately, it felt like my case was deliberately prolonged for the firm’s benefit, as they profited from the back-and-forth. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend their services.

Appalling service by this firm. AVOID AVOID AVOID this firm at all costs and save yourself high bills and the distress

Came to them to deal with a breach of contract matter, was told it would cost worst case £20k if it went to full hearing, later it became a revised amount of £105k+. An early opportunity to settle the matter was totally missed when no one handled the case, despite being told they could take it on. The solicitor originally assigned to me then barely worked on it and so it was moved to the senior partner at considerably more expensive where bills seem to have escalated. I was not informed of that happening it just appears to have drifted that way.

The bills were sprung on me when I believed I was working to £1400 limit of alert which I agreed with them, only to be told that say it was at £4000+ then. I was led to believe a case management hearing was £1200 and yet after the hearing I queried what the cost would be and was told £18,000+!!!! Needless to say I was shocked and massively disappointed.

Then for querying the bill I was given an ultimatum to terminate them in 7 days or be terminated, forcing me to terminate them. I have been treated appallingly by this firm. They did not act swiftly or efficiently or in my best interests. I was not correctly informed about potential costs either.

Exploited, and worse still misled on the matter and my instruction were not actioned despite being discussed and agreed, I was misled about mediation and negotiation costs. A matter that should have settled around Feb21 was not and left to run on, and then after they have run up a massively high bill without my agreement or knowledge just put me in a position that was untenable and drop you when it suits them having run up their bill. The lawyer concerned told me "the only thing solicitors can charge is their time" repeatedly and clearly this is at the forefront of his mind and actions. Letters were often long and convoluted, which then required me to follow up and so increased costs. They lost my file of papers I had dropped of.

This firm is awful, I wish I had never come to them. Totally poor case management in respect of correctly advising me the client of costs, even who was handling my case. Now being chased for a £19000 bill I knew nothing of, that I'd never have agreed to, for a case management hearing prep when it was led to believe it was a matter of about £1200 approx. and with my case left in a worse state than before it went to them, as well as a huge amount of stress.

Leaving me exposed to even greater risks due to their poor advice and lack of safeguards to me. I would therefore not recommend this firm at all, save yourself the grief, avoid at all costs (to pay for their grade 1 listed building). I have been totally exploited, not informed correctly about costs, I was very vulnerable and under a massive amount of stress and unwell, and they have taken advantage of that too. Though I can only speak for my experience with the firm, and the individuals on my case. They even agree I had agreed with them to have limits of £1400 alerts for the finance yet tell me the bill was at £18,000+ only after having run that up totally ignoring any limits put in place, and even then only when I asked otherwise they would not have! Unbelievable and very unprofessional, wholly unreasonable. There is no regard to me at all or how I have been treated or dealt with.

I have logged the matter with their complaints team, and despite even acknowledging that they had agreed a £1400 limit with me are still chasing me for £19k. At one point I was also told you can't settle the matter and ask for your costs when it is not in the court, which is wrong. Solicitor concerned was John Wilbin. Another time I was told all litigation can result in you losing your house. Appalling way to deal with clients and not clear and professional upfront.

Theyve caused my matter to not be resolved , huge additional distress, time to pass little progress, made my situation worse. What a horrific experience.

AVOID AVOID AVOID this firm at all costs and save yourself the high bills and distress.

The solicitor would use lots of convoluted responses instead of being short and to the point and succinct, often forcing me to reply to seek clarity.

John Wilbin seemed to operate to a blank chequebook, which was unprofessional.

Further the complaints handling partner with the first matter didnt check with me or feedback on their complaint. The later complaint, they said they would get back to me in 14 days, and failed to, and only after I chased them did they respond, but even then have not addressed my points raised.