Warning - do not use wolstenholmes solicitors

mjmal51

Although I formally requested the week before last, DWF now promised the file will be with my solicitor this week. For anybody else still waiting it seems that the file will include a letter authorising payment to WH for any money owed. This has to be signed and sent back to DWF and is an SRA compliance.
Somebody did mention this letter before but I was certainly not told about it by the agents when they first found my file. If it saves any further problems then I will sign it. Just want to get things moving again.

mjmal51

anotherproblem wrote: »

Well, I think my next mission once I have rung a few places in the morning is to start pushing the press. Now that will make for an interesting day -

I am sure we will all be interested to see how you go with that

Catwoman8950

mjmal51 wrote: »

Although I formally requested the week before last, DWF now promised the file will be with my solicitor this week. For anybody else still waiting it seems that the file will include a letter authorising payment to WH for any money owed. This has to be signed and sent back to DWF and is an SRA compliance.
Somebody did mention this letter before but I was certainly not told about it by the agents when they first found my file. If it saves any further problems then I will sign it. Just want to get things moving again.

I find this a bit worrying to be honest. What happens if you dispute the amount owed to WH? I have told DWF that I will collect my (probate) files in person and will submit my claim without the assistance of a solicitor as my matter was almost completed. I received one bill from WH which I agreed to and I do not believe they did any further work for me after that bill was issued, so I would dispute any further claims on me. I have no idea if WH deducted that bill until I see the contents of my file but even if they did, they still owe me money. In view of the above, I'm now wondering if DWF will even let me have my files back and will instead force me to go to another solicitor so that they can get the required undertaking, which in turn will result in even more legal fees. It is interesting that I haven't heard a thing from DWF since I told them I wished to collect my files in person and handle my own claim. I'm beginning to feel more and more trapped by the bureaucracy surrounding the Wolstenholmes' intervention.

Horrified_Solicitor

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

I find this a bit worrying to be honest. What happens if you dispute the amount owed to WH? I have told DWF that I will collect my (probate) files in person and will submit my claim without the assistance of a solicitor as my matter was almost completed. I received one bill from WH which I agreed to and I do not believe they did any further work for me after that bill was issued, so I would dispute any further claims on me.

I wouldn't worry too much. An intervention into a solicitors practice means closing it down and this involves getting money in that the practice is owed as well as dealing with instances of misappropriated money. If there are genuine disputes over work done and money owed, files can generally be released. However, anything relating to probate is likely to be given a lower order of priority than conveyancing files where people are still stuck in the middle of transactions.

Simply_Me_2

Catwoman8950 wrote: »

I find this a bit worrying to be honest. What happens if you dispute the amount owed to WH? I have told DWF that I will collect my (probate) files in person and will submit my claim without the assistance of a solicitor as my matter was almost completed. I received one bill from WH which I agreed to and I do not believe they did any further work for me after that bill was issued, so I would dispute any further claims on me. I have no idea if WH deducted that bill until I see the contents of my file but even if they did, they still owe me money. In view of the above, I'm now wondering if DWF will even let me have my files back and will instead force me to go to another solicitor so that they can get the required undertaking, which in turn will result in even more legal fees. It is interesting that I haven't heard a thing from DWF since I told them I wished to collect my files in person and handle my own claim. I'm beginning to feel more and more trapped by the bureaucracy surrounding the Wolstenholmes' intervention.

In one of my prebious postings you will recall my story about DWF refusing to release my file until WH's fees had been paid, several angry telephone calls later and an apology from the SRA, the SRA have confirmed that they were going to issue instructions to DWF that no files should be retained where fees are not agreed. Obviously each case has to be taken on its own facts but in essence you will recall my missing £41k and DWF refusing to hand my file over until I had paid WH's fees for "work done" and that was assuming they did anything as my new solicitors are now having to do everything over so why should I have to pay twice for it. Object to any such payments.

Interestingly the SRA wrote to my new solicitors to ask if there was any evidence from my file obtained from WH as to whether any disbursements had been incurred on my behalf by WH. Whilst I have yet to see this file I could conclusively answer "no" because if they did they never told me about it and I never saw any evidence of any disbursements being incurred.

anotherproblem

Re Newspapers. I have e mailed several areas and at the moment am hoping for a response. However something else cropped up today that someone may be able to help with. I am still trying to track down missing files from the Birmingham office. I am under the impression having read previous posts that there is a possibility that they might be found at Holmes Soliciters. Am I right in thinking that Holmes Soliciters are an off shoot of WS and this might be the case.

ReporterJen

re: anotherproblem's quote regarding the press - as a member of the press looking into this, feel free to contact me if you think you have new information. [EMAIL="jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk"]jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk[/EMAIL]

thanks

Catwoman8950

ReporterJen wrote: »

re: anotherproblem's quote regarding the press - as a member of the press looking into this, feel free to contact me if you think you have new information. [EMAIL="jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk"]jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk[/EMAIL]

thanks

Dear ReporterJen

Perhaps you would like to report that one solicitor suspended over this scandal - one Nasir Ilyas - was hoping to get into parliament as the next Labour MP for Burnley (fact, not rumour or hearsay). Fortunately for the country, he wasn't selected :eek:

anotherproblem

ReporterJen wrote: »

re: anotherproblem's quote regarding the press - as a member of the press looking into this, feel free to contact me if you think you have new information. [EMAIL="jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk"]jennifer.williams@menmedia.co.uk[/EMAIL]

thanks

Hi Having done a bit of research I see you are from Manchester. I am trying to get people farther afield interested. Even the very basics are not being reported outside of the main WH areas.

anotherproblem

And already starting to go the same way as WH

http://www.solicitorsfromhell.co.uk/index.php?listing=&option=com_directory&page=viewListing&lid=1117&Itemid=0


So What are the SRA doing???????