Where to get documents ‘certified’ without paying a fortune.
Where to get documents ‘certified’ without paying a fortune.
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King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Saturday 2nd December 2017
quotequote all
In the process of remortgaging our house to put into my sole name it was ‘suggested’ I use the same conveyancer as the lending bank, to save duplication, time and money etc.

It sounded cheaper, easier, more logical, but now we are on the way they have sent an application form that demands copies of utility bill, mortgage statement, and ID, to prove my identity, and they need to be certified by one of a very short list of qualified professional people.

None of those qualified people are going to do this for free, and a brief Google tells me a Notary Public wants £180 minimum, and £90 per document.

Obviously this is not going to happen as it is ludicrous and makes it twice the price of using a local high street conveyancer.

I could ask my divorce solicitor but she charges £245 an hour... yikes

Is there a simple, sensibly priced high street place that can do it for normal people? All it involves is looking at the original council tax bill, etc, looking at the copy, writing down that it is a copy, and signing. Four pages. There are no searches, researching, verifying, no financial risk, no legal obligation or responsibility involved.

I’ve asked an accountant at my sisters firm to sign them, but he left no address or contact number, or qualification details, so....... not at all sure that will suffice.

Edited by King Herald on Saturday 2nd December 15:38

S6PNJ

5,838 posts

311 months

Saturday 2nd December 2017
quotequote all
The Post Office do a certification service. Costs £11 if I remember correctly. Should do what you need but I'd give them a call first to check.

Sarnie

8,373 posts

239 months

Saturday 2nd December 2017
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I can do it for you for free, but you'd need to post the original documents to me......

happie33

290 posts

165 months

Saturday 2nd December 2017
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barclays bank did this for me.
try your bank they may charge £15 or something
but i am a barclays customer and they did it for free

JulianPH

10,084 posts

144 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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Liam (Sarnie) is in Birmingham and I can do it for you for free also (Notts).

Muncher

12,235 posts

279 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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Most solicitors will do it for £5 per document, we do. No appointment necessary straight off the street.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
Sarnie said:
I can do it for you for free, but you'd need to post the original documents to me......
Passport/driving license is one of the docs, so rather not post if possible, but many thanks for the offer.biggrin

I’ll try my own divorce solicitors first, but make sure they understand it is not being done as part of my normal million quid an hour rate. frown

JulianPH

10,084 posts

144 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
King Herald said:
Passport/driving license is one of the docs, so rather not post if possible, but many thanks for the offer.
If you are in the Notts area (your profile says Midlands) you can bring it over to me and I can sign it.

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
JulianPH said:
If you are in the Notts area (your profile says Midlands) you can bring it over to me and I can sign it.
M6 junction 13, so a long way out, but thanks.

JulianPH

10,084 posts

144 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
No problem. Just ask your divorce solicitor to sign them. If they have already relieved you of a huge amount of divorce fees they will probably do it as a favour. It only takes a few minutes so even if they charge you at their normal rate this would only equate to £20!

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
Maybe I am out of touch since I last did any mortgage type stuff, but isn’t this a little ‘over the top’:



Unless you have some pretty petite handwriting you’d end up with half the documents detail covered anyway.

williaa68

1,540 posts

196 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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The variation in language has become a complete PITA. Most solicitors used to have a stamp "I certify that this is a true copy of the original" and then sign and date it. Mates / clients got it done for free, others for a nominal charge. Lawyers tend to charge on a time basis so having to write war and peace on every document increases the time considerably! If the bank you are remortgaging with is a high street one then try them first....

blueg33

46,573 posts

254 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
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My bank does it FOC

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Sunday 3rd December 2017
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
My bank does it FOC
My bank would do, but they are excluded because I am doing my mortgage through them.

JulianPH

10,084 posts

144 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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King Herald said:
blueg33 said:
My bank does it FOC
My bank would do, but they are excluded because I am doing my mortgage through them.
This make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Your bank are not excluded because you are doing your mortgage with them. If anything it makes your bank the best option for you.

Just walk into your bank with your original docs and the copy and ask them to sign them. It is an everyday process for them.

Sarnie

8,373 posts

239 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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JulianPH said:
This make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Your bank are not excluded because you are doing your mortgage with them. If anything it makes your bank the best option for you.

Just walk into your bank with your original docs and the copy and ask them to sign them. It is an everyday process for them.
Indeed, the lender should prefer to have seen your documents themselves rather than relying on another institution to verify the documents.........

Sir Bagalot

7,099 posts

211 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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Do you not have an account with another bank or building society?

King Herald

Original Poster:

23,501 posts

246 months

Monday 4th December 2017
quotequote all
JulianPH said:
This make absolutely no sense whatsoever. Your bank are not excluded because you are doing your mortgage with them. If anything it makes your bank the best option for you.

Just walk into your bank with your original docs and the copy and ask them to sign them. It is an everyday process for them.
Yes, obviously my own mortgage lenders bank are untrustworthy, probably co-conspirators for the moment laundering I plan to get up to.....

Anyway, I spoke to my divorce solicitor this morning and she agreed to do the four pages, for a nice crisp £20 note, no receipt available...... biggrin

That was inbetween paying another £174 bill with her and arranging to make a will there tomorrow.

JulianPH

10,084 posts

144 months

Monday 4th December 2017
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I'm glad you now have it sorted, but still don't understand why you just didn't walk into your bank and get it done for free that way (or get Liam or I to sign for free either as we both have the authority to do so).

You have it sorted anyway so congratulations. smile

Typo edit!

Sarnie

8,373 posts

239 months

Monday 4th December 2017
quotequote all
JulianPH said:
I'm glad you now have it sorted, but still don't understand why you just didn't walk into your bank and get it done for free that way (or get Liam or I to sign for free either as we both have the authority to do so).

You have it sorted anyway so congratulations. smile

Typo edit!
Also note that his solicitor is taking the opportunity to charge £20, as well as cross selling a Will, not exactly doing him a favour .........