I had dealings with this conveyancer this year which ended abruptly in October. I was a repeat customer (unfortunately) and the service I received was terrible.

At the start of the year I asked this conveyancer to handle my land purchase. She contacted me in September asking me to return documents she sent out to me apparently in February. I didn't remember receiving any documents and could not find anything in my study either. I asked her to re send them. I did not get a reply email but a few days later I get the documents in the mail and was slugged with a fee of $165 for "reissuing documents". I was pretty upset about that since she didn't even reply to my email saying that she received my email or was going to re send the docs and/or charge me a hefty fee. I called her to clarify and ask why she didn't tell me I was going to be charged. She said she didn't have to because the original paperwork had all her fees on it. I argued how could I know about the fee if I never received the paperwork in the first place. I also asked her aside from just fulfilling her legal requirements didn't she think it was just common courtesy to tell someone if you're going to charge them $165; at least a reply email. She kept saying she wasn't required to. Then she accused me of lying by saying "I know you've received the paperwork because of what you're telling me". I said "Really? And what am I telling you that makes you say that?". She avoided the question 3 times and then finally said she "didn't want to argue about it". That didn't answer my question. But she mentioned they charge that fee because "people often lose paperwork and just can't be bothered finding it", implying that was the case with me. I was pretty shocked by all this.

Further to that, in previous emails she also tried to make me think that the only way to do a Verification of Identity (government requirement) was through her and for that she charges $99. I told her I would do it at the post office as they charge less, after all it's just like a 100 points ID check. She kept telling me to do it through her trying to make me think that was the only way.

In the end I said I would contact Consumer Affairs to get advice (as per the official paperwork) and be in touch with her. At that, she simply hung up on me! I couldn't believe it. Two minutes later I receive an email from her saying she wasn't interested in arguing with me and asked me to send the documents back asap also mentioning she would waive the fee (too late). I replied to her email telling her I was terminating my dealings with her immediately and after that I paid her out.

Throughout the process she was rude and condescending. [Redacted inflammatory comment] Yes, we all work for money but you have to treat people properly also. I know she studied Law and is clever and all that but aside from just fulfilling your legal obligations there's a thing called common courtesy.

I found a new conveyancer to take over my land purchase and this conveyancer charges $599 in total and doesn't charge for Verification of Identity! Amazing! Big change from $880 plus forced VOI fee of $99.

This just goes to show there's [Redacted due to offensive language] conveyancers out there but there's also really good ones. Make sure you get a good one and don't take any [Redacted due to offensive language] from anyone.

Approximate cost: $979