Solicitor Over Charging??

Bean_69_99

Hi all,

After recently seeking services from a solicitor and beign quoted around £700 for searches and services for purchasing a house i have found out that there is a third party solicitor needed. The solicitor i instructed has told me today that a third solictor was needed as they couldnt act directly with the co-op.

This third solicitor has sent me a letter saying they acting on my behalf to deal with exchange of contracts completion and registration of the property and mortgage.

This apparent 'normality' as explained by my solicitor has cost me an extra £323!

Is this normal or am i being done over?

If i send the funds tomoro by Chaps to keep the process going (its been 8 weeks) will i be able to reclaim them if they cant prove where they have come from?

Thanks

Matt

Bean_69_99

Just had some feedback from the solicitor.

The invoice for the third party includes the land reg fee, £70 time, a transfer charge and a final search summing to £323

The solicitor i instructed has charged me £500 'fees' and the cost's of the searches.

Solicitor Fees to include what? I expected all the parts completed by the third party to be included in the £500 'fees'.

Ive paid £500 for the solicitor i instructed to ask someone else to do the work and charge me for it on top???

Let_Us_See

I take it the solicitor provided a written quotation? He is obviously not on The Co-op's panel of solicitors and has passed it ti another solicitor. This does happen, but it is up to the solicitors to sort the split of fees amongst themselves and not try and charge extra.

I suggest you change solicitor - fast.