Its very common for solicitors to article at one firm then move to another and another etc etc. They're just employees like everybody else, so I wouldn't read anything suspicious into that.(posted 8246 days ago)Viz the 7% estate agency fee, I would query it now whilst the iron is still hot. Go around other agencies in the area and find out what they charge. If the Halifax used a normal agency, walk in as a punter (say you live next-door for example) and ask them about their fees. Get something in writing and hey presto... what they've done is against the law.
For anyone else reading this: this is how you beat them. Take their documentation and verify it yourself. Let them make mistakes, send you crap, whatever,... point being to turn it back on them.