Challenge Solicitors Fees?

robgoingcrazy

I can't see that a great deal of work has been done. I did not ask the solicitor to administer anything, just to obtain the grant of probate, and I swore an oath. There was nothing complicated about it, it's a small estate (£18,000 in savings plus a small terraced house) with two executors who are also the beneficiaries (although I tend to take the active role executive role while conferring with my sister).

My biggest gripe is the fact that the solicitor contacted the banks and life assurance company and has billed for this (when I contacted them it took all of 5 minutes on the phone to each) - when I made it clear that I had already contacted them and put the claims in myself (neither actually requested probate for the amounts involved). It seems he both obtained the grant of probate and then went into some kind of administering role claiming monies - which I didn't ask him to, and indeed which I told him I had already set in motion myself. Obviously if he had sent me a letter telling me he was going to do that, I could have stopped him!

I may mention the Power of Attorney thing - which involved a 20 mile round trip and 45 minutes spend at hospital, and was £200 plus vat, according to the invoice I found - therefore £1000 seems exorbitant for filling in a few forms etc, making a couple of uncomplicated calls (one bank, one assurance company) which I didn't ask him to make anyway... and all without leaving his chair! :mad:

macman

A lot of solicitors (even outside London) will still be billing this kind of work at upwards of £300 an hour-but you should have received an initial letter advising you of the hourly rate charged.

Tozer

macman wrote: »

A lot of solicitors (even outside London) will still be billing this kind of work at upwards of £300 an hour-but you should have received an initial letter advising you of the hourly rate charged.

To be honest, very few would be able to justify that rate unless it is a very specialised area of law.

robgoingcrazy

Just a quick question - is he obliged to give me a detailed breakdown gratis, or will he attempt to add more charges for doing it?!

Also, I have not had the best of weekends with this letter coming, and my PC basically dropping dead, so am using my laptop - but cannot print until I can get an adapter for the right connection etc.

I have an email for the solicitor - is this an acceptable means of communication with solicitors, we are after all in the 21st Century (although the way I had to swear on an old Bible was definitely more Victorian!). Or should I wait to print a letter? Many thanks!

Tozer

Yes they should provide a narrative without charge.

Yep, email is fine.

emmielou

They should have asked you to sign Terms of Business so if you haven't had these I would point this out.

You should also point out that they were only instructed to apply for probate and not to contact the banks etc and so they should not be charging for this. It's very important that solicitors do what they are instructed to do and only that!

Ask for details of their hourly charge rates and point out that they should have provided you with an estimate at the beginning.

robgoingcrazy

Thanks for all the replies on this - I have now sent my email, very polite but also firm, stating I think the bill is too high, that work was done which I didn't instruct them to do and this probably made the bill higher than I thought, and also pointing out that I was not given any written terms, quote or even verbal estimate - and also saying if they are to do any further work for me I will need written terms and a good idea of the costs, since I didn't receive them in this instance.

Don't know what will come of it, but will be interesting to see what they say - the bill won't break me as it is, but would be nice to see a nominal bit knocked off, as fair's fair.

I will let you know what happens :beer:

robgoingcrazy

Well the week has gone by since I sent my email, no contact from them whatsoever - whether by phone, letter, email or carrier pigeon.

Is this usual form with these types or should I assume their email is just for show and ends up in some catchall box that nobody ever reads?! :rolleyes:

Tozer

When I was in private practice as a solicitor, we had a requirement to respond to all emails within 24 hours.

Rob - can you PM me the firm name and I can get some more details?

robgoingcrazy

Result they've more or less halved the bill!!!!!!!!!