CHASING GAME

How I agree with Terence Griffin regarding completions in conveyancing matters (see [2001] 31 August, 16).

The main problem seems to be that some lenders cannot or will not transfer advance moneys the day before completion, and then on the day of completion they say that the money is being sent but they cannot guarantee when it will arrive.

This sometimes means it arrives at 2.30pm which, when the transaction is at the bottom of a long chain, is far too late.

Hats off to the Halifax for bucking the trend and sending money to arrive by 9am on the completion day.

I can never understand why it is that money sent from our CHAPS terminal can arrive at its destination in ten minutes or so, but money sent by a mortgage lender takes three or four hours.Residential conveyancing is stressful enough without all the extra telephone calls that have to be made to chase up money.Cathryn Henderson, legal executiveCurwens Solicitors, Cheshunt