Personal Injury Solicitors being evasive

StretchedElf

Just another update:

My partner rang them at about 4:15 and after being put on hold for a very long time she was told "the cheque is on my desk I'm just waiting for a director to sign it. I'll ring you as soon as it is signed." As I sit here typing this the grand total of returned phonecalls from this "business" is a big fat ZERO.

Ah well, looks like we start the complaints procedure tomorrow. I'd be extremely grateful if anyone has any insight into how likely it is my wife will actually receive her settlement. It feels like my wife's compensation is just being kept by a firm we trusted to handle it and although I would hope keeping someone else's money was a straightforward crime I always get the feeling that different rules apply and companies who do this get away with it.

Mersey_2

Did your wife agree by signing a letter, or was it all done by email?

It can be agreed over the 'phone (taking instructions), but, most solicitors will send a letter confirming in writing.

You will receive the settlement monies.

If you mean over and abvoe that, it would depend whether there's been any professional negligence. You should receive a written apology at the very least. You may also receive a sum to cover your costs - time, letters, telephone calls, internet access and so on - in making a complaint to the SRA.

Mersey_2

StretchedElf wrote: »

Just another update:

My partner rang them at about 4:15 and after being put on hold for a very long time she was told "the cheque is on my desk I'm just waiting for a director to sign it. I'll ring you as soon as it is signed." As I sit here typing this the grand total of returned phonecalls from this "business" is a big fat ZERO.

Ah well, looks like we start the complaints procedure tomorrow. I'd be extremely grateful if anyone has any insight into how likely it is my wife will actually receive her settlement. It feels like my wife's compensation is just being kept by a firm we trusted to handle it and although I would hope keeping someone else's money was a straightforward crime I always get the feeling that different rules apply and companies who do this get away with it.

I'd expect to receive the cheque by Monday then.

Try to keep a note of the name(s) od people you speak to, as well as times.

A complaint is still worth pursuing, as there's already been unacceptable delay, with omissions and failures to return calls or give any explanation for the delays.

StretchedElf

Mersey wrote: »

Did your wife agree by signing a letter, or was it all done by email?

It can be agreed over the 'phone (taking instructions), but, most solicitors will send a letter confirming in writing.

You will receive the settlement monies.

If you mean over and abvoe that, it would depend whether there's been any professional negligence. You should receive a written apology at the very least. You may also receive a sum to cover your costs - time, letters, telephone calls, internet access and so on - in making a complaint to the SRA.

Thanks for the reply, looks like we posted at the same time. I just mean the settlement that she's due. She was injured in an RTA and even though the third party has agreed to pay compensation it now feels like her own solicitor is withholding it. It's a horrible feeling.

StretchedElf

Mersey wrote: »

I'd expect to receive the cheque by Monday then.

Try to keep a note of the name(s) od people you speak to, as well as times.

A complaint is still worth pursuing, as there's already been unacceptable delay, with omissions and failures to return calls or give any explanation for the delays.

Thanks for your advice and your optimism! Fingers crossed.

Guardsman

Your money and no doubt other peoples money is in their account gathering interest for them.

StretchedElf

We got the cheque yesterday :j I shall wait to see if it bounces! OK, I'm only half serious but my faith in this "business" left me a long time ago.

Considering that we now don't have an issue with the business that requires a resolution I would have thought that a complaint to them would be somewhat redundant as we're not looking for anything.

However, I would still like to complain about them as I think the way they conduct themselves and treat their clients is wrong and needs to change. I was thinking about doing this directly to the RSA.

Equaliser123

Mersey wrote: »

This could be a case of professional negligence and so you could go to afirm specialising in this and they will investigate your case. If it isn't it will at least speed up your current solicitors!

Awful advice. Why involve professional neg lawyers at, presumably, enormous cost when this is simply a case of someone not getting their act together.

Crazy_Jamie

The only thing that can really be said with any certainty here is that the solicitors should have ensured that you were kept better informed of the situation. But in the grand scheme of things receiving a settlement cheque within five months or so of the accident occurring is pretty good going. When all is said and done is it really worth spending the time and energy on prolonging this matter by complaining? Whilst I do appreciate that you've not received the best customer service, you have the outcome that you want and it is hardly the most serious issue in the world. If I were you I would just bank the cheque and move on.