Nells, sorry for your plight. the chap from the initial firm I spoke too suggested I go onto forum so, in all fairness if I hadn't read these posts I may too have signed. As to legal action, most calls are now recorded and I wasn't being malicious, just cautious.
Thanks to all the advisors for their help and advice and to all folks out there, you're never alone. X

Hi madwife1,

I think the implication is that any supposed "malice" might be in the form of an unhappy ex-employee or a competitor of the firm in question.

If nells and yourself wish to restore the previous comments to the forum, so that others can choose whether your experience of a particular firm should be relevant to their own choice, please contact us.

We're happy to return the commentary to the original form once all concerned are comfortable that evidence of dealings with the firm in question can be provided. We're all entitled to express our opinion and experience of the service of a company we have dealt with.

Many companies have been mentioned, praised and criticised in this forum. We have previously been contacted by only one company unhappy with comments made about them. They presented a very plausable explanation for why a certain piece of commentary was inaccurate; for that reason we were happy to remove it straight away.

This particular firm (the one that is currently edited out of this thread) happen to be the first to mention the involvement of solicitors because they either dispute or don't like what has been written about them.

That's their right... but visitors absolutely have the right to provide "fair comment" on those that they deal with.

Julie, leave things edited as they are. There are very anxious, suspicious and gullible people on this forum as I think you already know. I am in midwifery and would never knowingly do anyone a bad turn let alone be malicious. I'm still reading forum and 'equity but skint' stated that via financial adviser 'figures were arranged to suit trust deed' I respected your comments that one should not 'butt in' on someone's forum but is her scenarion not similar to mine only she did not mention firm involved. It's very tempting to 'cook the books'

Can I just clarify something - if I cut out the middle man and went straight to the IP would I a) have to have house surveyed prior to signing deed which is not on and b) not have to pay the equivalent of one months payment to the introducer in admin fees.

Madwife,

I didn't mention the name of the company for two reasons

1) I have personal papers with them
2) I know one has to be careful when putting inappropraite comments in such forum

The company I referred to wasn't an IP. It is another company who makes referrals to an IP company.

My paperwork still hasn't been returned and now the IP company tell me they can do DAS and may not charge as their MD may consider it beneficial not to charge me in order to keep good relations with the referral company. I questioned why they (the IP) as a business would not charge me so sounds even more intriguing.

I didn't pay any money upfront yet my papers have been passed on to the IP company and the referral company muttered something about me making the 'first signing'. I made it quite clear to them all I had signed was for my earnings and outgoings.

All very very suspicious.

good for you nells

It makes sense to value the property before you sign a Trust Deed.

This way you know where you stand in relation to equity. It will enable you to make a valued choice as to whether the Trust Deed is right for you and your circumstances.

For example:

You could value your property at a figure that shows you have little or no equity and thus sign the Trust Deed. The IP then does a vauluation which does not consider your own personal view on the valuation but has the backing of a Chartered Surveyor. This results in the IP having documentation showing ?ú20K equity, which he will have to seek realisation under the terms of the Trust Deed.

As a footnote to this some IPs do not insist of a full valuation and are happy to accept a "Drive Past Valuation" from a reputable Chartered Surveyor and some also will request the valuation on your behalf to keep the costs down. A drive past valuation could cost around ?ú60 - ?ú80.

On the other matter it makes sense to go direct to an IP, who is recommended by either sites like this or Money Advice Agencies who do not charge a fee for their services.