Talbots Law
Read all reviews for Talbots Law →
Oakfield Buyers - Avoid - poor service, overcharging, and no accountability.
Update: To clarify for anyone reading: there has been no genuine attempt by Talbots to resolve this complaint contrary to their 2nd updated comment in response to this review - it goes no further than a simple acknowledgement. Despite their public response claiming they've been in touch, we are still awaiting a resolution. Their latest email merely acknowledged ongoing investigation without any firm response or new timeline—well after the legal 8-week deadline. Our complaint with the Legal Ombudsman is still ongoing. ------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: We were first-time buyers on the Oakfield development and instructed Talbots on the sales office’s recommendation. The process was disorganised, unprofessional, and stressful. We were overcharged, misled, and given subpar service at nearly every step. After submitting a formal complaint, they missed the legal 8-week response deadline and still haven't offered a resolution. We're now escalating to the Legal Ombudsman and leaving this review to warn others—especially anyone else purchasing on Oakfield—not to make the same mistake. Poor case handling throughout the process: Our transaction was repeatedly mismanaged. We received several conflicting draft completion statements, creating confusion and anxiety close to completion. Basic administrative errors like misspelling my name persisted throughout, even in formal complaint responses. The service felt rushed, impersonal, and sloppy. There were numerous attempts present for overcharging, the main being SDLT fees of £80 which was quoted as included in our original quotation. Talbots attempted to recharge this fee on-top of their standard legal costs. TM Portal fee – £24 charged for an unusable system: We were charged for use of the TM portal, which should have tracked the progress of our transaction. However, many milestones were either missing or not updated during our process. Only after completion—and just before the complaint deadline—were they suddenly backdated into the system. We have timestamped screenshots proving these changes were made retrospectively, which raises questions about the legitimacy of the charge and the integrity of their record-keeping. Unprofessional conduct: At one stage, a Talbots employee we were dealing with referred to their own documents as “trash.” While we hoped this was just frustration on their part, it unfortunately mirrored the general lack of organisation and poor service we received. Delayed and evasive complaint handling: We submitted a formal complaint on 13 February 2025. Talbots acknowledged it and stated they would respond within 8 weeks. Despite this legal obligation, they failed to respond on time. When prompted after the deadline, they simply stated that the investigation was still ongoing and failed to give a new timeline. This delay only adds to the frustration and reflects their lack of accountability. We are not alone: We have since found that others on the same development had similarly poor experiences with Talbots. This suggests a pattern of behaviour, not an isolated case. If you're buying a home—especially on the Oakfield estate—we strongly advise you to choose your own independent solicitor. Do not rely on the sales office’s recommendation to go with Talbots. Their lack of care, transparency, and professionalism has left us extremely disappointed. We are now escalating this matter to the Legal Ombudsman, and we hope this review helps others avoid a similar experience.