Solicitor grounds for complaint?

covlass

To cut a long story short in Feb 2008 I contact my solicitor regarding some land. Quite a long winded job between estate agents, new owners etc, however this was resolved and it was proven that we now have the rights to the land and it's a matter of having the land transferred to our deeds via land registry. Our solicitor told us this in October 2009 and then sent us a bill for just under a £1,000. I didnt want to pay this until all paper work had been dealt with but then I received a final demand in Nov 2009 and so paid in full.

Since then I have had no written correspondence from them, I called them in December to confirm what was going on and the stated that they were waiting for forms from land registry for me to sign.
I called land reg my self who confirmed that they had nothing regarding the land. Again I called solicitors he was unavailable and spoke to his secretary who said she would look into it and they would be in touch.

Since then the only contact is when I have called my solicitor then 90% of the time he is unavailable and his secretary says she will pass it on to him. The last time I managed to speak to my solicitor was in March he said that land registry had changed the rules and now I need professional drawings done but he was arguing the case and he would call back in 10 days.
He still hasn't called back, I called again on Tuesday again he was not available but his sec said she would make it as urgent and he would call back the next day, still no response.

Should I now put my complaint in writing ? I believe I have grounds for a complaint but with them being a solicitors it seems very daunting to me any advice would be fantastic.

joolsybools

Yes deffo put it in writing and send signed for so you have proof it has been received. There must be some overarching body for solicitors standards - someone else will be along who knows I'm sure.

Reggie_Rebel

Don't keep writing and calling, get in his face and refuse to move until he gets something done

nullogik

You could go to the Law Society's Complaints Service and they'll look into it.

http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/home.page

This bit here in the FAQs fits your problem exactly (no replies etc.)

http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/faqs.page#poorservice

Paul_Varjak

I was just about to post a,link to the Legal Complaints webiste but someone beat me to it!

When you retained the services of this solcitor he should have given you details of the firm's complaints procedure (in writing). If you do not have those details, I suggest you ask for them.

oscardog

Or just do small claims as you would for any other service provision gone rogue

ellay864

Some time ago my ex and I had similar issues with our solicitor acting (or rather not!) on our house move. We always got the secretary making excuses for her. In the end we called, got the secretary and when we were fobbed off again we then told her we now had the details of the complaints service. The solicitor herself rang us back within 15 minutes, assured us everything was in place and the necessary papers would be with us 'in a few days'. My ex told her not to post them but that he'd pop in the office to collect them on his way home. That forced her to admit they weren't actually ready and before we had a chance to say anything she told us that the bill would be substantially reduced. We very quickly got a fully itemised bill with lots missing off it, and which we subsequently managed to reduce further so we didnt pursue a formal complaint.
More recently when my partner and I had a similar situation we threatened action much more quickly...surprising how their service improved!!

covlass

Thank you all for your replies.

I phoned the legal complaints service who told me to put it in writing, the following day I received a letter from my solicitor saying that Mr Evans had a greed that the land is ours and he had re submitted plans to land registry Funny I have never heard of a Mr Evans, Mr Edwards I think he means ! I have just this second been on the phone to Land registry who have said they have had nothing off my solicitor at all !


I have sent a full letter of complaint today asking for a breakdown of what I have paid for and also copies of all correspondence to and from land registry as on 3 occasions one in 2008, 2009 and in the last letter it clearly states that the land has been transferred.

covlass

29 days have now past since I sent them a letter and they have failed to contact me apart from the acknowledgment letter so now I think its time to take it to legal complaints.
Thank youfor all your replies any more tips would be appreciated