ITC Legal Services - Avoid Them

portlandboy

tizhimi wrote: »

I'd threaten them with the small claims court if they are insisting on the 150k valuation.

That was really what I hoped to hear from the CAB advisor but, after she spoke with their lawyer they just returned to the fact that as they are unregulated they have not done anything wrong "legally". But morally, well that's another thing completely. The only "rule" that they had to follow was to get a valuation at the time of death. Their rep asked me and foolishly, I gave a guess and that is their date of death valuation. I should have said a fiver!!

woderwick

portlandboy wrote: »

Hi Woderwick,
Logically, the "cooling off" period should be a time in which ITC do nothing on your case, incase you do indeed cancel your contract with them. There is good news and bad here. The good being the fact that they don't do anything very quickly, the bad being that they also don't seem to have to work logically. So my suggestion would be to contact them as soon as possible on Monday morning, using the free phone number (0800 013
2014) to tell them not to proceed as your letter is on it's way. Get the call log number and operator's name too. The call should be recorded by them but, if you have a speaker on your phone and a camcorder, record it yourself just as a precaution. As you might imagine from these tips, I don't trust them very much. And I'm still waiting for their customer complaints section to call me back...they say this will always be within 2 days of making a complaint! Good luck.

I sent the cancellation letter by registered post (it cost me £10) on the Friday 18th to arrive and be signed for on the Monday21st the deadline, I phoned them today (Wednesday) and although they did not say that they had not received it they said that it was not on their system yet.
I will keep you all posted on the outcome......
As always, if anyone else has any dealings with ITC please contribute
Thanks.

woderwick

Sorry portlandboy if I am repeating myself

portlandboy

Woderwick,
When you posted this "As always, if anyone else has any dealings with ITC please contribute" it made me wonder:
If ITC really are "the largest firm of probate solicitors in the UK" then why has nobody else posted anything about them here, good or bad?
I have a vision of tumbleweed blowing across an open prarie, followed by the odd sheet of paper. How about you?

portlandboy

PezUK wrote: »

I guess that makes sense!!!

lawgazette.co.uk/news/probate-services-company-itc-signs-deal-barclays

That piece includes the words that reflect exactly the way I feel about being used by ITC, such as "vulnerable", "under pressure", "questionable price competitiveness", etc. And how odd that the "largest firm of probate solicitors in the UK" has only got 4 real solicitors! My local solicitor has more than that, so what actually makes ITC the largest? The value of the estates they manage to keep hold of for a year longer than they state is normal?

never-in-doubt

Can I just ask why you don't consider litigation and challenge the contract, being you were in an unfit mind at the time, and thus pressurised into signing with them not realising the full potential/disadvantages of the contract.

Quote Unfair Contract Terms Act (1977).... a brief overview is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_Contract_Terms_Act_1977

Good Luck whatever happens

portlandboy

Well, well, well...Pigs really do fly!
I can hardly believe it but I just had a call from the CEO of ITC Legal Services (maybe he's read this thread?), as a result of the customer satisfaction survey that they carry out at the end of every case. He was a very pleasent chap and appeared to be genuinely concerned about the way in which my case had been conducted by his company. He had full details of what had gone wrong and did not hand out wooly excuses for the mistakes. He had no excuse for the extreme duration of my case. The details of this conversation must now be kept private (though cached and sbsequently "quoted" MSE forum posts may have my original post on still and I have no control over that).
The bottom line is that I am expecting over £1,800 off their charges to cover my losses and a goodwill gesture. (Though this really only makes the bill about what I originally expected).
I told him that I had actively tried to put people off of using ITC and that I would now let them all know what the outcome has been, so here it is.
Just seems a shame that no-one at ITC noticed there was a problem in the 17 months they were on the case.

never-in-doubt

portlandboy wrote: »

Well, well, well...Pigs really do fly!
I can hardly believe it but I just had a call from Mr Martin Trees, the CEO of ITC Legal Services (maybe he's read this thread?), as a result of the customer satisfaction survey that they carry out at the end of every case. He was a very pleasent chap and appeared to be genuinely concerned about the way in which my case had been conducted by his company. He had full details of what had gone wrong and did not hand out wooly excuses for the mistakes. He told me that he contacts every customer who has given a "disapointed or very disapointed" response to ITC's conduct (about 2 per month out of 2000 cases per year, or 1.2%, so I'll let you decide if that's good or bad!). He had no excuse for the extreme duration of my case, but assured me that since he took over, many practices have been altered. The property over-valuation was due to them trying to keep within taxation rules when house prices were rising but as they fell so quickly at the time my father died this practice worked against me.
The bottom line is that he, without any request from me, took £1800 off their charges to cover my losses and a goodwill gesture. (Though this really only makes the bill about what I originally expected).
I told him that I had actively tried to put people off of using ITC and that I would now let them all know what the outcome has been, so here it is.
Just seems a shame that no-one at ITC noticed there was a problem in the 17 months they were on the case.

Result mate - but still, you want the contract amending to the original amount and then you ask for a gesture of goodwill..... really they have only provided what they said, for the cost they said, but its taken nearly 2yrs! Therefore you're still out of pocket and should be compensated.

I'd even go as far as small claims, this is a clear breach of contract :beer:

portlandboy

Thanks Never-in-Doubt. I'm going to think carefully about what you said. I've never done the S/C bit before so it might be worth it even if it only passes the time. After all, now the probate is done I'll have to find another hobby!!
On the other hand, he did give me his "private" phone number, so maybe I'll call back and tell him I've taken advice and want more money...

PS. Like your stats at the bottom. Perhaps you should use the name Never-in-Debt:D

clutton_2

Read the contract you signed with them very carefully indeed. Identify any breaches, see if you can quantify any "consequential losses" you have suffered as a result of these breaches - eg. - have had you to pay more tax, have you not had access to the probate monies and had to borrow, how many phone calls and letters have you had to make and how much did they cost

how much less would it have cost you to have used a solicitor in the first place ?

all these are useful as negotiating levers

i was in exactly the same position as you several years back, and i did my mums probate myself - it took me just a few weeks - and it cost £150 (if memory serves me) for the probate and a bit of postage and additional death certificate fees.

these companies prey on the vulnerable and distressed

reject his offer and ask for a lower fee - a much lower fee

going to the small claims court is a 50/50 game.... and its not too stressful, you and the judge and other party are in a small room with 3 tables, you give your story, the other side tells theirs - judge decides.

Each time i have been to SCC, judges have been exceptionally courteous and went out of their way to be polite and helpful to me (as claimaint)


what would your dad want you to do ?

good luck