Ark Property Solicitors

large1979

Hi,
I took advice from Arc property solicitors / adobe solicitors when purchasing a property in 2010.
They said they had a legal way of avoiding the SDLT which came to £10,950 and for that they wanted a fee of around £6,000.
They said that HMRC has 9 months to investigate the matter and if they found it to be incorrect they would repay their half.
4 years down the line I have been contacted by HMRC claiming the original SDLT amount and threatening interest and penalties.
Arc Property Solicitors have been shut down.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences?
Thanks
Phil

movingon

large1979 wrote: »

Hi,
I took advice from Arc property solicitors / adobe solicitors when purchasing a property in 2010.
They said they had a legal way of avoiding the SDLT which came to £10,950 and for that they wanted a fee of around £6,000.
They said that HMRC has 9 months to investigate the matter and if they found it to be incorrect they would repay their half.
4 years down the line I have been contacted by HMRC claiming the original SDLT amount and threatening interest and penalties.
Arc Property Solicitors have been shut down.
Has anyone else had any similar experiences?
Thanks
Phil

Didn't you read the earlier comments in this thread?
Yes, there are people with similar experiences
What to do about it, I have no idea. I received my letter last December, but nothing since. Did you just get yours today?

babydavesdad

Hi

I have received a letter today requesting a £12,000.00 payment.

I have been in touch with Stephenson solicitors who dealt with the live files when the Arc was closed down.

I have also been in touch with SRA who have said that I will need to register a claim with their professional indemnity people.

If anyone has any other ideas I will be pleased to here them.

Thanks

LA2222

I too was taken in by assurances that this was completely legal and safe and am trying to claim on Arc's professional indemnity insurance.
Has anyone else done this and have advice to offer?

I found a company called ELS (online) asking for people to register for a group claim but they have not responded to any of my attempts to make contact and their phone goes straight to an answering service.
We have an assurance in writing from Arc that in the event of a successful claim by HMRC they would return their fee, but obviously since SRA have closed them down and taken all their funds this is no longer possible.
The SRA intervention archives team have no record of our files and the only computerized records that can be retrieved is the accounts - no email correspondence.
I have been compliant and helpful to the HMRC case officer but know that when they ask for the stamp duty to be paid in full we will not have the Arc fee part (2/3rds) and will lose our home.
A terribly high price for being gullible.