I would be interested to know how other conveyancing practitioners view the services of the personal search companies which frequently send brochures offering their services.

Having looked seriously at what is on offer, I asked one firm for full details of the indemnity insurance which is said to back up the searches it carries out.

I found that this only covered the risk of a claim being brought in the current year and that there is no provision for run-off cover at all.

I was informed that this question had never been raised by any other solicitor, and that hundreds of firms up and down the country are using these personal search agencies to speed the conveyancing process.

I took the view that since any mistake made by the company would only surface after a number of years and the company may not even be trading at that time, it would be unwise to use the company's services.

Sherrie Golds, Golds, Worthing, West Sussex