Goldsmith Williams has welcomed clarification from Barclays over its Woolwich ‘Great Escape’ deal.

Senior partner Eddie Goldsmith last week contacted David Finlay, head of intermediary business at Woolwich, to challenge the company’s position on whether customers may appoint their own solicitors when applying for the ‘fee-free’ Great Escape mortgage.

The query came following Finlay’s speech to the Mortgage Advice Bureau conference, where he was reported to have said that customers applying for this product can use the £300 cashback offer to arrange their own legal adviser. The position is markedly at odds with the experience of many brokers who had contacted Goldsmith Williams and the firm’s own staff who had sought clarification themselves from Woolwich.

Eddie Goldsmith said: “The Woolwich was apparently offering to pay legal fees and also provide £300 cashback which