It's good to talk

The attack on conveyancing solicitors in the March edition of Estate Agency News by Obiter's favourite property seller, Harlow-based Alan Howick, (see [2004] Gazette, 18 March, 13 and 16 April, 13), has received strong support in the latest issue.

Christine Thomas, an agent in Lampeter in Wales, writes in to congratulate Mr Howick on his stand in a letter headlined 'Male solicitors refuse to talk to me'.

'Since living in West Wales for the past five years,' she says, 'I find it even more frustrating dealing with male solicitors than any other area of the UK.

Not only do they have no desire to allow chains to be chased but also, as a woman, many male solicitors in this part of the country refuse to talk to me.

How draconian does that make them?' Thankfully, when 'female to female' she receives an 'excellent' service but 'with the male species, I find they fob me off with their secretaries'.

Solicitors at Welsh firm Neanderthal Chauvinist & Makeusacupoftealove were unavailable for comment as Obiter went to press.