Legal Aid Charge on property

mand_noodle

I have a liability of £8461.68 due to simple interest of £1.38 daily or 8%- the principal sum was £6297.13.

Lousy legal advice in 2005 - "Don't worry about paying your legal help. Land registry can put a property charge on your new house, then it'll be recovered from estate if you die or if/when you sell up."

Me - "Um, okay."

I realised the interest was extortionate a few years later, and wrote a bunch of letters. I buried my head in the sand after my Right Questionable M.P. replied to tell me the charge stands, as does the interest rate 8%.

Trawled through two-inch thickness of correspondence from my solicitor and discovered there is as much intelligence in a bag of flumps as in the UK legal system.

Today, I had an idea and telephoned the Land Charge Department to ask: "If I pay the full interest outstanding will the Property Charge rest at £6297.13"

Answer "Yes."

I'm happy to pay my fair share. Doesn't seem fair though.

However, it is the best I can do and for me, it's a small consolation to stop the interest creeping up. I'm going to tighten my belt and pay the outstanding interest, the remaining debt can stay charged to my property.