Solicitor Demands Payment

DCodd

Is there not an Ombusman type organisation that reviews the charges of Solicitors to ensure they are fair? Would the Solicitor not have to provide a bill with chargable hours shown before any payment to close the account?

Equaliser123

DCodd wrote: »

Is there not an Ombusman type organisation that reviews the charges of Solicitors to ensure they are fair? Would the Solicitor not have to provide a bill with chargable hours shown before any payment to close the account?

Yep, the SRA. Fairness doesn't really come into it but questions as to whether the letter of engagement follows the professional standards and whether the work has actually been performed certainly do.

simmo82

Thanks for all of your advice and opinions.

Yes the letter would have been the standard rule 15 letter, The solictior is charging us for preperation work before the meeting, but she had no idea of the costs involved at all before recieving the letter.
I have sent the firm a letter of complaint questioning the work completed and also found a firm willing to work on my wifes case for a conditional fee (no win no fee) and they have instructed us not to pay a penny so we shall see.

Thanks again for all the advice

Cheers

Equaliser123

simmo82 wrote: »

Thanks for all of your advice and opinions.

Yes the letter would have been the standard rule 15 letter, The solictior is charging us for preperation work before the meeting, but she had no idea of the costs involved at all before recieving the letter.
I have sent the firm a letter of complaint questioning the work completed and also found a firm willing to work on my wifes case for a conditional fee (no win no fee) and they have instructed us not to pay a penny so we shall see.

Thanks again for all the advice

Cheers

Were alternative funding schemes (like conditional fee) discussed? If not - even if the particular solr doesn't offer it - then it will be another black mark against them.