Advice re: wills & executors please.

Baggysdad

The story behind Solicitors Probate Services can be read here:

http://www.sra.org.uk/securedownload/file/2141

The firm is now trading as Estate Protection Services - and its method of trading is exactly the same.

B

value_seeker

Thanks Baggysdad and Sloughflint.
I am aware of the SRA court case and have since spoken to a great contact at Trading Standards today who seems to think we have a great case for mis-selling (in all its different formats!) I am now told I need to put all my case in writing to present to the company to try and get money back. What I can't seem to find out is if anyone has already had success at this from SPS or EPS - (perhaps even in the local courts as a small claims case) In putting together a letter of this sorts in the first instance I am trying to anticipate their objections to why they would object to refunding monies based on a proven court case involving the SRA. Any thoughts please?

sloughflint

value_seeker wrote: »

Thanks Baggysdad and Sloughflint.
I am aware of the SRA court case and have since spoken to a great contact at Trading Standards today who seems to think we have a great case for mis-selling (in all its different formats!) I am now told I need to put all my case in writing to present to the company to try and get money back. What I can't seem to find out is if anyone has already had success at this from SPS or EPS - (perhaps even in the local courts as a small claims case) In putting together a letter of this sorts in the first instance I am trying to anticipate their objections to why they would object to refunding monies based on a proven court case involving the SRA. Any thoughts please?

I did a lot of reading around the time I posted on the link I gave in my last post.I thought I remembered something about a complaint to trading standards but now think it may have been about one of the other crooked firms.

One thing that did completely escape me until just now was that this firm was the one featured in a Tonight programme I watched a few months ago.

http://www.itv.com/News/tonight/episodes/WillWars/default.html
http://www.ipw.org.uk/professional/documents/tonight.pdf

I don't think you will have too much difficulty with this,valueseeker. I suspect one strongly worded letter will be sufficient to get your money back. They'll want to keep you quiet.

It's all the other unsuspecting souls around that I feel sorry for. Best of luck with this.

localhero wrote: »

Anybody else concerned?

Oh yes!

Susan_Frost

In the meantime, I would go to a reputable sollicitor and get a new will drawn up, which will superceed the one they did, and hopefully be accurate.

Cancel everything else with them. In writing. Now

sloughflint

Susan_Frost wrote: »

In the meantime, I would go to a reputable sollicitor and get a new will drawn up,

Not exactly an easy job. How exactly would you go about choosing one?

From my point of view, here is an nteresting snippet from post 19:

localhero wrote: »

Another little known fact is that there are no compulsory exams for solicitors in Willwriting or probate.

Having seen dreadfully poor solicitor drafted Wills and consulted others to deal with the various messes, the only solicitors I'd be comfortable in recommending to value seeker are STEP qualified solicitors.

Not cheap but in the long run probably better value for money. Dealing with problems after death does not come cheap.

value_seeker

Thanks Sloughflint and Susan.

A letter is currently being put together!
As for choosing a reputable solicitor to write up a will, the Inst of Proff Will Writers does have a list of solicitors/willwriters who have voluntarily signed up to their code of practice and they will send out a list for a geographic area. They can be contacted on 0121 5044851. I found them helpful.

Will writing is not regulated so quite a few of these 'will writing' companies do not sign up to any code of practice which, to me, gives them carte blanche to charge excessively and use hard-sell tactics.

I have now built up quite a dossier on SPS / EPS prev mentioned so if anyone requires further info please let me know.

JaxMax_2

My old mum was 'coerced' into paying a lump sum to these people and she's just received a letter from the 'Solicitors Regulation Authority' advising her that SPSL can no longer act as her executors (joint with me) and the reason why.

She has asked me to write a letter to SPSL to refund her the money she paid to them, (as, apparently a lot of people are doing now) but I have no idea how to word it, I'm fairly sure "give my mum her money back!" won't work!

Would anyone here be able to give me some pointers about what to include in the letter to them please? For a start, I feel she was wrongly advised to pay this lump sum (£500) in the first place as they were selling it to her on the basis that it would protect the amount of money that would be taken from her estate by the executors (them), that it would be a lower percentage than usually charged, the figures given at the time I now believe to have been greatly exaggerated, but she doesn't have much to leave anyway, no property and not much money, but this didn't seem to be taken into account at the time by them.

Has anyone written to SPSL asking/demanding a refund? Are we likely to get one do you think?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Jax

value_seeker

Hi JaxMax,

Currently doing exactly that so I will let you know how I get on. I don't want to say too much here in case an SPS person is monitoring the thread.
I have sought advice from numerous bodies from the SRA to Trading Standards and copied them in on the correspondance. (including Press and TV contacts from the original reports) I suspect they are not going to like me!
I do not advise ringing them as they are extremely rude people and put the phone down on you when you enquire about refunds - so everything must be in writing. Likewise in return.
As I said I will let you know the outcome and will be pleased to advise course of action when established.

JaxMax_2

Thanks for your reply. I look forward to hearing all about it - good luck!

ST2

Interesting Valueseeker - I too am requesting a refund and had a laughable reply to my first letter - haven't tried phoning them but after your comment, I don't think I will!

Please keep us posted with progress please.