Conveyancing bill

Fire_Fox

topaz1 wrote: »

I did get a quote which listed everything and seemed very reasonable in comparance to other solicitors. I was not prepared for the costs towards calls made to me or letters sent on my behalf. What I was quoted does not measure up to the initial quote at all. As for the house purchase, my solicitor's advice was to hold off searches till I knew more on the progress of the sale of my flat. Whilst I got paperwork from the seller, I did not do anything on it. Why she wants to charge me £775 on this aspect, I cannot understand as other than drafting a contract and forwarding their papers, there was little else done. I appreciate there was work done for the flat. I expected to pay a fee but not to this extent!

Can you please answer the questions asked instead of being aggrieved? If you had a QUOTATION the elements on it should not change, this is fixed, tho additional elements might be added if additional work came to light. For example with leasehold flats the freeholder might levy charges for answering questions and supplying information about the service charges and major works. The solicitor cannot know in advance what will be charged and will pass the costs onto you.

An ESTIMATE is not fixed, an HOURLY RATE should not increase but the number of hours might change. Exactly what about the original quote/ estimate/ contract is different to the final bill? Again do you have a summary invoice? If you wish to post up the summary invoice and the initial quote (remove all personal details) and people here can compare. You would need to upload these to another site and link to it.

Essex22011

topaz1 wrote: »

Please let me know the details of your solicitor!

Are you in the Essex area? If so will PM you

topaz1_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Can you please answer the questions asked instead of being aggrieved? If you had a QUOTATION the elements on it should not change, this is fixed, tho additional elements might be added if additional work came to light. For example with leasehold flats the freeholder might levy charges for answering questions and supplying information about the service charges and major works. The solicitor cannot know in advance what will be charged and will pass the costs onto you.

An ESTIMATE is not fixed, an HOURLY RATE should not increase but the number of hours might change. Exactly what about the original quote/ estimate/ contract is different to the final bill? Again do you have a summary invoice? If you wish to post up the summary invoice and the initial quote (remove all personal details) and people here can compare. You would need to upload these to another site and link to it.

I paid £380 for a leasehold pack that had all the full details. There are no charges listed detailing any questions that the Management Company would have answered. (unless it is a charge she has referred to as a leasehold supplement at a cost of £210.

For the flat, she has invoiced a further £36 for archive fee, call credit charge of £10. Land Registry of £56. And £690 for drafting contract, replying to enquiries raised, calls and time spent.

For the house purchase, again the same fee of £690, archive fee of £36 = £726.

topaz1_2

Essex22011 wrote: »

Are you in the Essex area? If so will PM you

I am in West London - the other end!

Fire_Fox

topaz1 wrote: »

I paid £380 for a leasehold pack that had all the full details. There are no charges listed detailing any questions that the Management Company would have answered. (unless it is a charge she has referred to as a leasehold supplement at a cost of £210.

For the flat, she has invoiced a further £36 for archive fee, call credit charge of £10. Land Registry of £56. And £690 for drafting contract, replying to enquiries raised, calls and time spent.

For the house purchase, again the same fee of £690, archive fee of £36 = £726.

This thread is like pulling teeth! AGAIN how does that compare to the quotation you received? Most of those are disbursements, they are always passed on to the client. It's only the £690 that is their legal fees.

G_M

topaz1 wrote: »

I paid £380 for a leasehold pack that had all the full details. There are no charges listed detailing any questions that the Management Company would have answered. (unless it is a charge she has referred to as a leasehold supplement at a cost of £210.

For the flat, she has invoiced a further £36 for archive fee, call credit charge of £10. Land Registry of £56. And £690 for drafting contract, replying to enquiries raised, calls and time spent.

For the house purchase, again the same fee of £690, archive fee of £36 = £726.

Sigh deeply.... :mad:

1) what was the contract you signed with the conveyancer? A fixed quote price or an hourly rate or.....?

2) how much work had they done? How much of the chearges are for their work/time, and how much is 'disbursement' (money they paid out to others eg for searches)?

3) what instructions did you give them? Did you tell them to 'go ahead', or to wait and if so till when? ie should they have done searches etc or waited till your sale reached a certain point or you told them to start?

Without knowing all the above, AND seeing what you've been charged for, no one can tell you if it is fair or not.

MelaBella

OP why dont you just reply to the queries posted by the forum experts like G_M and Fire Fox? otherwise you are wasting everyone's and the most important, - yours time. Just post here the itemized quotation and your actual bill and the basics of your T&C (see G_M's queries above) and people would be able to help.