Just as I was reading the article ‘Lenders in the line of fire’ a new client of mine rang and mentioned that she was going to get an HSBC mortgage. She was told by the HSBC branch in Belper, Derbyshire, that she had to use their panel solicitor, and only on arguing the point was she told that she could instruct her own solicitors.

I have always found the staff at Belper HSBC to be very helpful but they clearly haven’t been ‘made aware’ that their customers are to be free to instruct their own solicitors.

Richard Whiteley, Ellis-Fermor & Negus, Ripley, Derbyshire