Excessive Solicitors fees for late payment

pedigreeblu

I was a little behind with my mortgage and agreed a monthly arrangement fee, i was a little late paying and they instructed solicitors, as soon as i got a letter from the solicitors i rang mortgage company and paid the agreed arrangement fee. The solicitors where then instructed to adjourn the case. I have since had a letter from the solicitors with a copy of the bill that they have given to the building society, which the building society then add to my mortgage, the bill reads,,

provision of legal services £400

issue £150

Land Registery fee £11

Adjournment fee £40

Total £661

Is this not excessive and if so what can i do to reduce it, can they basically charge what they like. Also why couldn't my mortgage company call me before they instructed solicitors to explain if i didnt pay it would then got to solicitors and i would be faced with high costs.

Grovester_2

Well there's 2 sides here.

1. You had an arrangement which you failed to keep up with, why should the BS phone you when you fail to keep up your end?

2. Yes it's excessive and it's the same old story, someone struggling to pay so adding such hefty fee's is going to cause more problems. But it was avoidable.

I'd give them a call and see if they'll reduce it, I doubt it but you never know.

Mrs_Bumble

If you couldn't make the payment then you should have contacted them and kept them informed. I doubt very much that they instructed legal proceedings on day 1 that the payment was missed.

You can ask them to reduce the fee but some of it will be out of their hands, as when they instruct they incur the costs.

You must maintain the arrangement or keep them informed immediately.

pedigreeblu

But how can solicitors justify those charges, what exactly do they have to do to earn th £400 provision???

RecoveringAlcoholic

The Fat Cats Just Get Fatter.

Grovester_2

pedigreeblu wrote: »

But how can solicitors justify those charges, what exactly do they have to do to earn th £400 provision???

I agree it's high but do they have to justify them?
It's probably a set fee regardless of the amount of work they put in.

Speak to the lender, they are the only ones who can help here.

Conrad

Does sound a bit excessive. Ask the lenders compliance officer to justify the charges in light of the FSA's 'Treating Customers Fairly' rules, outcomes 1-6.

As an example outcome 1 states 'customers can be sure the fair treatment of customers is CENTRAL to the corporate culture'.

I think they could reduce them - ask for an 85% reduction - and send me £10!

Conrad

And a copy to the MD - use special delivery post and remind them you might make a big noise in which case other customers could become aware of thier rights here to.