Solicitors Fee's Question

Natz_0202

Hi,

I've tried and tried to contact CAB about this, but can never get through!! So i wonder if there is anyone on here who could help, or know where i can find information...... I'm new to this site, and it's a long complecated question (sorry!!) so here goes:

Last August (2005) my fioncee and I seperated, and the sale/purchase of properties fell through. Unfortunately, we didn't take out any cover on the costs involved in the purchase of the flat we lost, so we were to pay the solicitors any fee's inccured up till that date, and they said they would snd us a bill for all the costs incurred. We didn't hear anything from them, until my ex called them in February 2006, to ask them to send us an invoice, which they said they would do. About this time, my ex's re-mortgage went through, for him to buy me out, and I got half the profit we had made on the flat. We put by the money to cover the solicitors costs (approx) in a joint savings acount, so I wouldn't spend it!! It's now nearly a year later, and we still haven't heard sight nore sound from them. What my question is, is when is it too late for them to claim back these costs? It's been a new tax year, and a lot of time has passed and I just wondered when it will be safe for me to spend this money, and not have to be worried about them popping up 2 years from now asking for their money!!?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

TFL

Jorgan_2

Not sure how long you have to wait before they can't claim it back, are you sure the solicitor wasn't operating on a no sale no fee basis anyway? You would have paid for any disbursments up front anyway.

WestonDave

In theory there is no limit but in practice two things will come into play. Firstly whoever was dealing with it has moved on to more pressing matters like completing other transactions - solicitors hate doing routine paperwork so issuing an invoice for an old matter isn't going to be top of anyones "fun things to do today" list even if its easy money as you are clearly ready to pay! Secondly if they do pop up really late and start asking for money its worth mentioning the magic words "professional conduct" and "Office for Supervision of Solicitors" - in the context that you have a right to expect an invoice within a reasonable timeframe.

You could write to them, registered post saying that if you don't receive an invoice within 14 days you will consider the matter closed. That way you have proof that you have tried to pay and they will be hard pressed to claim later but you risk prompting them into sending an invoice

Natz_0202

As we were only 2 weeks from completion I know we must have run up some additional legal fee's and as far as we were aware it wasn't a no sale no fee, but tomorrow, I'm going to ring and enquire (undercover lol) whether or not they run on a no sale no fee basis included in their base price?? worth a shot??

Thanks Jorgan

Natz_0202

That sounds interesting westondave, always best if you can at least sound like you know what you're talking about!! I'll write that down.

Thanks WD.

Bossyboots

Natz_0202 wrote:

That sounds interesting westondave, always best if you can at least sound like you know what you're talking about!! I'll write that down.

Thanks WD.

I wouldn't if I were you. The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors no longer exists and you will make yourself look silly.

Also, this is hardly likely to be a professional conduct matter. It might be a bad service matter but the Consumer Complaints Service is swamped and even if they deal with your complaint, you have the same situation where they might just send an invoice once they have woken up to the fact that it was never done. It is possible they will be told they cannot invoice this late, but don't count on that.

There is also the possibility that an account was sent out and not received. At some point they may chase you for that.

I would have thought your best bet was to contact them and say you haven't received a bill and you cannot wait forever. Tell them you want a definitive answer as to whether a bill is going to be sent and if so, you want it without 14 days.

Natz_0202

oh, ok. Thanks Bossy Boots.

:eek: