Solicitors Fees

Jue150

I have just received my bill from my Solicitors. I took out a No Win No Fee case with them and they did all the paperwork on line, I therefore never signed anything legally at all. Anyway, they eventually got me a settlement for Unfair Dismissal of £8250. Having received their cheque today I have only got £5379.00 from them. I was told they would only take a 26% maximum fee. This should have meant that I would have received £6105.00. I have asked for a full detailed itemised bill from them to understand why they have taken the extra money. Where do I stand, do I just accept the money received of £5379.00 or can I do anything to get their fee reduced. Any advice would be most welcome as this is the first time I have used a solicitor and to pay them £2871 in fees seems a lot of money to me, especially when I am retired and I am having difficulty finding another job because of my age and therefore struggling.

Valli

What proof do you have of a 26% fee?

Not normally how (in my, admittedly limited, experience) Solicitors charge for cases; there is usually an hourly rate plus charges for answering phone calls, responding to letters etc.

They would also charge VAT I believe

Jue150

The 26% was mentioned in the paperwork they emailed to me when I first inquired about them taking up my case. But as I said, I have signed nothing and all paperwork was done over the internet by emails.

Valli

I doubt the fact you haven't signed for anything is going to get you out of paying. Was it a straight 26%? Have you got the email still? Knowing how this was worded will help.

have you checked The Law Society website for information about fees?

wealdroam

Whether you signed anything or not is not important.
The important thing is that you have agreed for them to do the work.
That agreement could be verbally or by email... it doesn't matter.

Jue150

I will contact Law Society and see what they say. Thank you for all your valuable help and advice.

WestonDave

I suspect the 26% might be a success fee - if you won (which you must have to have got anything!) then normally the basic fees would be covered by the losing party - but if there is a success fee (generally a payback for the fact they took the risk rather than you funding it) this is sometimes recovered from the client (i.e you).

Working it backwards they look to have charged you 29% + VAT so worth querying it as mathematical errors do happen (9 is just above 6 on a keypad).