I had a deeply frustrating experience with a recent property purchase where the service charge was initially quoted at £900 per annum. I explicitly requested this amount be verified before moving forward. After six weeks of constant chasing on my part, it was finally confirmed that the correct service charge was actually £3000. This significant discrepancy, along with the associated maintenance costs, made the property unaffordable for us without a reduction.
Despite this error not being our fault, we had no choice but to pull out. BDG still charged us £300, in addition to the survey cost, and the delay has potentially jeopardized our mortgage. To make matters worse, they are still holding onto my £450 deposit. Throughout this process, the team was, at times, rude and abrupt, which was particularly disappointing given that we were the ones who had lost out. It's worth noting that they had already worked with all parties before, as another buyer had pulled out previously.
We were even willing to use BDG for a new purchase but, despite the circumstances, they still refused to reduce the charge. After speaking to the estate agent who referred them, it was suggested we look for another solicitor given the issues we faced.
Ultimately, we felt very let down by the service/ costs and would appreciate reconsideration of the fees we were charged and the return of our deposit to make the matter good.