solicitors trying to cash in on bank charges

cattie1

:mad: I had to post this as it annoyed me!
after the lovely martin and co have told us privaleged (sp?)dfw we can claim our bank charges back-without charging us, I received an email today from "a no win no fee" solicitor "claim bank your bank charges-you don't have to pay anything unless you win!"
It's likely that most people will win and they are using this to their advantage!
I hope no-one does use them to claim their charges.
I realise I am babbling but it is so annoying that they are trying to cash in on this.
I was considering emailing them back and explaining about this site?!:D
where people don't charge to give advice!

in_over_my_head_2

I've noticed that when you google "consumer action group" these companies appear as sponsored links...

Tootsie_Roll

in_over_my_head wrote:

I've noticed that when you google "consumer action group" these companies appear as sponsored links...

Not surprising - sharks and vultures springs to mind.

newmum1

Yes i saw this too, i was horrified these companies all jump on the band wagon with regards to anything new, although i wonder how much they get if you win cause surely they would have to take it out of the money you receive????

Vickicb

Thing is, I bet people will use them, especially if they've no time or no understanding of the process, or if the small claims bit scares them.

I'm doing mine and a friends as he would've just walked into his bank and said give me all my charges back and expected to get them! Very low literacy skills so he'd never do it properly himself. Perhaps the CAG should set up regional groups where people can volunteer to help others through the process?

cattie1

Vickicb wrote:

Thing is, I bet people will use them, especially if they've no time or no understanding of the process, or if the small claims bit scares them.

I'm doing mine and a friends as he would've just walked into his bank and said give me all my charges back and expected to get them! Very low literacy skills so he'd never do it properly himself. Perhaps the CAG should set up regional groups where people can volunteer to help others through the process?

I think thats a very good idea.

Vickicb

Thanks Cattie,

Problem is it's the people who don't understand "official" processes that are probably most likely to have paid alot of charges, and these are the people that might respond to an ad from a solicitors - and then get 50% or more of their reclaimed charges taken away in fees.

in_over_my_head_2

Out of interest I did look at one of them, and it seems like they take the 8% interest you can claim once it gets to the court stage as commission - not sure what happens if the bank settles before then...

rjm2k1

No win no fee seems to to be the way a lot of poor suffering solicitors are trying to scrape a living now that legal aid has been scrapped.

rog2

Hi Cattie,

I think that we should view the word 'solicitor' in its broadest term - yes they are soliciting in that they are playing on one of the most basic instincts - greed. Basically they are saying that you CAN get something for nothing. It is the inference that you will ONLY be able to get it by using THEIR services. I would doubt very much that they specify what they will take, in charges, if successful, but I would imagine that they would be more concerned about their charges than any final 'payment' to the customer.
It really is a shame that these 'people' are allowed to make 'easy money' out of other people's unfortunate circumstances.
I agree - they ARE just cashing in! :mad: :mad: