Adrian Giles
Unfortunately, my experience with DPA Law during my recent property purchase was very disappointing and fell well below the standard I expected from a professional conveyancing firm. Although the purchase did complete, that does not reflect the quality of service I received. Good conveyancing should involve clear communication, attention to detail, proactive case management and proper client care, and in my experience DPA Law fell short in all of these areas. Throughout the transaction I repeatedly had to chase for updates and often waited too long for replies to emails. On several occasions I felt I had to monitor progress myself rather than rely on the firm to keep me informed. One issue particularly concerned me. I was told that searches were still outstanding and could take several weeks, but after contacting the developer myself I discovered the relevant documentation had already been sent to DPA Law some time earlier. I had not been told this, and it was never acknowledged to me. That left me concerned that unnecessary delay could have been avoided. I also found that reasonable questions were not always answered clearly or helpfully. During a major financial transaction, I expected straightforward communication and professional guidance. I raised a formal complaint, but I was disappointed that the response focused mainly on the fact that the transaction completed on time rather than addressing the communication problems, delays and lack of proactive handling I had raised. In my view, completion alone does not mean the service was acceptable. After completion, I was then told that the Land Transaction Tax figure on my completion statement had been entered incorrectly due to a "human error". I had paid the amount requested in good faith, relying on the firm's figures, only to be asked for more money afterwards. Although the balance was paid within the required timeframe and no penalties were incurred, this further undermined my confidence in the firm's attention to detail and quality control. What disappointed me most was not simply that a mistake occurred, but the way it was handled. Even during the complaints process, I felt there was reluctance to fully acknowledge the impact of the repeated communication issues, administrative errors and lack of proactive case management. I instruct solicitors so I can trust that my transaction will be handled properly and that I will be kept informed. Regrettably, that was not my experience. To be fair, Steffan was consistently professional, responsive and proactive whenever he became involved, and his communication stood out positively. Based on my personal experience, I would not use DPA Law again for conveyancing and would not recommend them to others.