They advertise dealing with complex enquiries, they don't!
The firm advises dealing with complex enquiries yet mine, although complex (external conflicts around flights) was met with a very overly basic solution, which requires leaving and potentially being stuck in stop over points during this unstable period with the world.
I am Gabriella Loncharnoch and I paid £220 for an initial consultation at Garth Coates Solicitors. I am also linked to the trademark here in the UK (Gabylon - A New Code For Planet Earth).
Prior to paying for the consultation, I clearly explained my highly complex circumstances: I was a student in 2024, purchased a house in anticipation of a 3-year stay as an academic, but was impacted by the 2024 immigration rules following a miss-sold course (the same as my previous degree where I was not allowed to change courses due to the new law). I was told the Bachelor of Geology would not be same as the Bachelor of Geology in Australia.
I had relocated my entire life to the UK, including decades of personal belongings on good faith. I had also been given deceptive communications by the university (which is required to by Home Office) incorrect dates by six months which made me to believe I was a holiday maker all that time, resulting in various impacts, such as not able to change to another visa when I could have. I never received a letter from Home Office advising me to leave but left anyway at the legal appropriate time.
As a visitor (returning November 2025) due to security cameras failing (outage proven with evidence) on the new house, I also faced two police-registered — one of which was incorrectly logged as wind damage (despite no strong winds that day) and gained over 7,000 views on X after the error; records were later amended.
I returned in November and for sightseeing (when I really planned to come much much later yet was forced to come earlier due to these security incidences which can be proven with evidence), during which further security concerns arose on my visitor visa, including another attempted break in February 2025.
This stress as well as compounded by geopolitical tensions affecting flights, my previous student status, changes in the law, and other personal factors, I was seeking specialist advice on extending my visitor stay as well as enquiring about exploring options such as Section 4L. Instead, I received only very basic instructions to apply for a student or work visa.
The adviser (who was not a specialist in this area) stated I was ineligible for Section 4L without any detailed discussion of my case (without having asked questions about it). Other specialist immigration firms who primarily deal with section 4L, have since confirmed my situation appears exceptional and have offered consultations, expressing interest in my unique circumstances which is why section 4L came about.
At the end of the call, my entire enquiry was dismissively summarised as “someone who wants to stay because they own a house here.” I found this deeply offensive.
I also felt misled after communicating with someone I believed was the Director himself, only to be switched to another adviser after paying. My follow-up complaint email received no response whatsoever. I have not received anything.
Extremely disappointed with the service provided for the fee charged of 220 pounds. Would not recommend for complex immigration matters despite them advertising this.