John W Davies Solicitors Arvostelua 

I chose this firm of solicitors through reallymoving.com for the positive reviews during the pandemic (re-stamp duty holiday reviews).

Our experience overall was good considering we were all working from home and workloads for solicitors no doubt increased dramatically due the reduced stamp duty land tax (SDLT).

The firm use an e-platform to keep clients informed of developments w.r.t conveyancing stages, but maybe during the SDLT holiday this went out of the window as details were added retrospectively.

We had several members of staff working on the purchase of a property, but were not informed why and if this was temporary (annual leave/sickness) so we cc'd previous staff in messages with current. We may have been unnecessarily clogging up email inboxes.

Due to lockdown we had no way of printing. All e-files sent to us (including for signing) was via email, we gained hard copies each time but on request.

Communication was often via emails with attachments. We had to go through each attachment to find out what the next steps were by looking for the client letter. Would have been good if each email acted like a cover letter, as messages were often to see attachments.

That said, we are aware of the strain that all solicitors must have been placed under (home working/ reduced access to printer/ SDLT holiday etc initiated by COVID) and so we were grateful to this firm for their tenacity. We spoke with Felicity Waite prior to exchange and also prior to completion and she was supportive of our stresses and strains. She helped us get "over the line" for exchange with a bottle neck in slow comms with another solicitor as part of our house sale. Turnover time for us from completing all main forms of paperwork, delivered by hand to the office at the start, to exchange was 13 weeks. 14 weeks on completion.

Our thanks to Felicity - grateful to have her on our team!

I previously wrote a review stating I was homeless due to their incompetence. Well I did get the home but now 14 months on and despite regular chasing, I still have no post completion paperwork, the home is not registered with land registry and now they have closed their business! There was no email sent to inform all clients it seems of there decision to close the business- I only came about it by chance when my emails were not responded to and therefore tried to ring and heard the message and went to the website.

This is truly awful. I have chased up the management company which JWD were stating was the last hurdle they had to then find that now the paperwork is ready they cannot complete the work.

The website states that the directors are trying to speak to other firms locally, 6 weeks on if that was successful, am sure people would have heard by now.

I have tried to speak to other conveyancers and have been told it will cost THE SAME AMOUNT to just do the post completion paperwork that these guys failed to do! how is this even reasonable?!

ORGINAL REVIEW:

If you are thinking of using this firm - RECONSIDER YOUR OPTIONS - please look at the negative reviews surrounding communication as they reflect my experience. It seems it really depends on who is working on your team as to the level of service you receive.

Prior to anyone suggesting this is a difficult time in the Covid-19 Pandemic, I am fully aware of this as a health care professional working within it. It does not account for the lack of ANY work done on my file during the first month of my instruction or go to any lengths to explain their lack of communication.

Due to this completion not occurring within the timescale they suggested, I am now having to commute two hours each day as am unable to stay with anyone close-by due to risk I pose to them and their families and I certainly cannot afford a hotel for an indefinite stay.

I found them on ReallyMoving.com, they weren’t the cheapest by any means and I was lead by the generally positive reviews. I instructed them on the 23rd September with all paperwork and payment submitted by 5th October. Nothing happened, despite my enquiries, until I had a conversation on 5th November being told literally NOTHING had happened, the data had not been inputed but they would rectify it. Rectified, a day later another email requesting more information which had already submitted - phoned again, told again will be rectified but my original completion was now unlikely - Christmas more likely. Vendors solicitors already experiencing similar issues with draft contracts and frustration growing on their part. Was asked to consider different solicitors at this stage - wish I had.

To cut a long and incredibly frustrating story short - the crux of the issue is that you do not have one case worker - you have multiple individuals working on your case which you would HOPE would make it quicker. Simply not the case.

Getting to speak to someone, working on your case, on the phone is incredibly difficult so you end up speaking to a new client services team member each time giving you differing information, for example, "yes we have received what we need", to then be told they are "still awaiting" that same thing a week later.

Fast forward and now it is the 11th January, being told one thing by my solicitors when I chase them, as not receiving updates otherwise. Why should I know what's happening - I am just the fool paying the bill at the end of the day.

After this long and ridiculous story - I have this weekend, had to move out of my accommodation and paid for a storage container for an indefinite length of time. The vendors are livid and I have absolutely NO IDEA when I am likely to get this house (if the vendor does not decide to pull out).

In summary - if you want a firm who do not provide good communication, seemingly continue to advertise to take on work when they cannot manage the level they have presently and do not deliver on their own suggested timelines (8-10 weeks in their terms of business updated for covid-19) then this is the PERFECT CONVEYANCING firm for you and I wish you well in your home purchase.

Excellent service from start to finish. JDW were involved in both the selling and purchase of my new property. They communicated well throughout the process, and whoever answered the phone had time to answer my concerns or queries.

Will definitely recommend.

We were first time buyers and having heard much about solicitors and their going ons were very pleased to experience something completely different and very positive.

They were very helpful and proactive in the COVID-19 environment, I didn't have to chase very often, and they were accommodating during a sudden local lockdown which prevented me gaining access to certain stamped paperwork that was required.

Very affordable, and stuck to the price we were quoted which was great.

Rhiannon in particular was very helpful particularly when the seller was not, kept me up to date, and very friendly and personable. We felt well taken care of, and are confident that we made the correct decision.

There were some delays given during lockdown situations, but we were given reasonable amount of notice, and in some cases, very useful alternatives to make completing the house a less stressful process.

When I had accidentally overpaid, I was notified immediately, and the payment was sent back promptly.

Overall, very pleased with the service and would recommend.

I used John W Davies when moving house (they acted for both the sale and purchase). I chose them as they had great reviews online, and had a competitive price.

Engaging the team was very straightforward. The client services team, (especially Jasmin Elsmore) were incredibly helpful in getting this set up, and were easily contactable whenever updates were required.

Initially there were a few hiccups during the process (technology related), and as a result, progress started off a little slow (however understandable due to the immense workload caused by the SDLT holiday); Theresa Drummond (my solicitor) & Jasmin did an incredible job of rectifying these. Once things got moving, communication from the team was great; they answered all of my queries in a very timely manner, and took the time to explain everything in as much detail as I needed.

Overall, I'm very happy with the level of service provided by this company, and would highly recommend them.

Service was excellent despite the COVID pandemic
I was informed of each step and Natalie gave really professional understandable advice throughout
Completion was swift and painless
Would definately recommend this service

I can honestly say I would never deal with another solicitor for my purchases, have recommended to countless friends and family over the years who have all raved about the prompt and professional service they have all received! Natalie has been incredibly efficient and her communication is second to none! When you are dealing with one of the most stressful process’s of your life, these guys make it much easier! Would make the world a much better place if the others they had to continually chase worked to the same ethos! Thanks again!

Amazing! We have used John W Davies for multiple property transactions and they consistently deliver an exceptional and efficient service. Natalie has done a spectacular job of communicating with us, even throughout the pandemic, and made the process straightforward and hassle free. Would absolutely recommend her and John W Davies to anyone looking for a trustworthy and organised solicitor.

Used Natalie Summers from the Chepstow office for conveyancing of a buy to let property.
She stepped in after our previous solicitors let us down.
Extremely efficient.
As a result of this we are now using her for all our property transactions.

I have used John W Davies twice and have been equally impressed by the service I’ve received. I found the service friendly, efficient with good communication and was always kept informed of progress of the property sale by Natalie and would therefore call upon them again if needed.

Perfect! Couldn’t thank these guys enough. Super fast, efficient and very professional! Considering we are in a national pandemic their communication was on point and we knew what was happening every step of the way. 👌🏻

We instructed JWD as first time buyers. They managed a very slow process on the sellers side and a very anxious first time buyer with professionalism and patience. Kim was prompt answering queries and any other staff members were polite and helpful. Everything was done online except for anything that required wet signatures. We managed to complete within 6 weeks of the draft contracts being sent. Would not hesitate to use again!

Very easy to deal with under such difficult circumstances given the pandemic. Good communication with vocabulary you can understand.

Can’t recommend highly enough

Great service all the way through. Even with delays all over the place they completed my case in the timeframe I needed and without extra cost. Thank you

Great experience all the way through my transaction, really happy with the communication. Always got a clear answer when I needed one.

I would highly recommend.

Honestly terrible. Considering I was purchasing a house during Covid 19, Covid made little impact on my sale compared to the basic admin mistakes that where continually made by solicitors, sending emails to the wrong address, put the wrong address on documentation. This was a joke. So much time was spent constantly chasing things up. £800 over what had Been quoted, constant stress, and 7 months for them to finally get things right. Would not recommend nd.

Good initially but towards the end of my house move communication was very poor and they made multiple errors on the completion statements. Would not use again.

We first instructed John W Davies in August of 2019 after comparing solicitor quotes via reallymoving.com - immediately we were impressed with how well Theresa Drummond communicated everything with us and how timely the searches and other various part of the conveyancing process was started.

We did end up pulling out of that sale due to issues with the building survey however JW Davies kept all of our records, information on file as well transferring over our unused deposit funds to be allocated to our next purchase.

We're now due to complete on our house this Friday and throughout the past 8 months of this purchase (delays due to the seller and their mortgage - nothing at all to do with JW Davies) Theresa has yet again impressed us with her due diligence, communication & speed in getting everything ready for us. When at times it has been difficult to get information from our vendors, Theresa has really gone above and beyond to chase facts and keep us informed. We were so happy with JW Davies, and Theresa, that we've already recommended them to two of our friends currently buying.

If we buy again, we will definitely be coming back!! - Thank you Theresa & thank you J W Davies.

Overall very impressed with the service we received in completing our property purchase.

Communication throughout Covid was great, Natalie and Jessica were quick to respond to queries and were clear to respond to all our questions as first time buyers. The service was generally positive and for a really reasonable price compared to other firms.

At times it was tricky to get a response on the phone from the client service team, but generally i always got a response when trying a few different contact details across the team.

Extremely disappointed with the lack of progress on my two property transactions and the lack of communication from JWD. Have rung and emailed numerous times for case updates and to try to complain but often the phone is not answered, not even by the Client Service Team. None of my emails of complaint have been answered. I have never spoken to the same person twice, and never had the privilege of speaking directly to my allocated case handler. No-one ever phones me back after promising to do so. I have been waiting since 2nd July to exchange contracts and as at today's date there is no sign of an exchange date, despite both transactions being straightforward with no issues outstanding (as far as I am aware). I have no idea what is going on with my transactions because no-one has kept me updated. Really regret appointing JWD and would avoid at all costs next time.