Solicitor wants more money

W.a.s.p.

Moved house just over a month ago, and all requested funds were paid to our solicitor prior to completion.

However, have just had a request for £280 as he 'forgot' to charge the land registry fee on the original statement.

I realise there's probably no choice but to pay, but this seems rather unprofessional to me - as it was his oversight I would like to at least come to some compromise - do you think a carefully worded letter suggesting I meet him half way might go anywhere? Or do I just pay without question?

Thanks for any advice.

paso11

As far as I am aware that fee is one that he pays on your behalf.

So whilst he may have made an error in not invoicing your for it, its still your obligation.

bowlhead99

This is not like you're in a restaurant and the waiter forgot to include that 20 quid bottle of wine on the bill, of which 15 quid is profit margin so he can afford to split the cost wth you.

The land registry fee is a completely out-of-pocket cost and all solicitors need to recover it, same as if he accidentally gave you your stamp duty money back.

However carefully and politely you put it in a letter, and whatever argument you construct, the answer is that he paid a fee to the registry just like with every property transfer that has ever been completed with any solicitor, and that fee was not taken out of the 'client money' account he was maintaining for you.

Mistakes happen. To suggest that because he accidentally gave you back your cash without debiting the fee, he is just going to have to call it a gift to you and learn a life lesson for next time, is completely unreasonable.

You can try it but he will make the same argument as above, and you will end up paying it after first wasting his time for a while arguing with you, while the world would generally be a better place if people did things as friendly and efficiently as possible. In your shoes I would pay up and let the two of you move on with your lives as quickly and hassle-free as possible.

Wyndham

I would first of all check my paperwork, and double check it hasn't already been included.

If it hasn't, then I'd pay but put a letter with it saying I found it unprofessional, and indicating that I will therefore not be using their services again.

Makes you wonder what else they missed?

valk_scot

Were you given a final itemised bill/statement of expenses when the conveyencing was completed? If so it will be obvious that the land registry fee wasn't paid out at the time and that it's still due. If you didn't get anything like this you could ask for one when you pay the £280 and ask for confirmation that this money is in final settlement for all conveyencing expenses. I do think you should pay it though, as has been said none of this money is going into the solicitors pocket, he'll be losing money on the work time he'll be taking to deal with his oversight.

Fire_Fox

An error is not automatically unprofessional, it's human - how you handle the mistake denoted professionalism IMO. Did you check the quote and invoice carefully? If not arguably it's as much your mistake as theirs.

LandyAndy

W.a.s.p. wrote: »

Moved house just over a month ago, and all requested funds were paid to our solicitor prior to completion.

However, have just had a request for £280 as he 'forgot' to charge the land registry fee on the original statement.

I realise there's probably no choice but to pay, but this seems rather unprofessional to me - as it was his oversight I would like to at least come to some compromise - do you think a carefully worded letter suggesting I meet him half way might go anywhere? Or do I just pay without question?

Thanks for any advice.

Yep. Straight in his bin.

Pay the man.

DRP

Wyndham wrote: »

I would first of all check my paperwork, and double check it hasn't already been included.

If it hasn't, then I'd pay but put a letter with it saying I found it unprofessional, and indicating that I will therefore not be using their services again.

Makes you wonder what else they missed?

agree with this.

You have to pay, but I wouldn't use this particular solicitor again for sure - make sure they know you are not impressed.

Solicitors are paid very well as it is assumed that they are thorough and do the double- and triple-checking necessary to ensure that human error isn't a factor.

What else have they cut corners or made mistakes with ?

Richard_Webster

Yes, you do have to pay, but if you have spent the money because you thought that no more was owing, then it would be reasonable to pay by a few instalments, and you could ask for that.

W.a.s.p.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll get the money to him but with a note saying I'm not too impressed and request confirmation that this money is in final settlement for all conveyencing expenses. I wouldn't expect something for nothing and I know it's easy to omit details but when you pay someone hundreds of pounds for a few hours work you at least expect their services to be relied upon.

julieb1987

Have you checked the original quote? Mine was itemised and Land Registry was accounted for on there. If yours has been, then he can't have fogotten it.