I feel sick - solicitor has been negligent. Please help!

benood

Loretta wrote: »

Foreversummer has employed a solicitor to do this work while he/she goes and ............... it out -it is very much a recurring theme. I am not talking about solicitors who are criminals I am talking about endemic poor service in the legal profession

Yes, you obviously have some issues with solicitors, however, my point is that they are human beings and I believe generally you get better results from people if you are nice to them. Precisely because it would be so difficult to sue is a good reason to keep a positive relationship - if they become difficult to contact or are not trying then you will need to escalate but at this stage I believe a softly softly approach will be more fruitful - once it gets nasty there's no way back!

Nicki

benood wrote: »

Yes, you obviously have some issues with solicitors, however, my point is that they are human beings and I believe generally you get better results from people if you are nice to them. Precisely because it would be so difficult to sue is a good reason to keep a positive relationship - if they become difficult to contact or are not trying then you will need to escalate but at this stage I believe a softly softly approach will be more fruitful - once it gets nasty there's no way back!

I agree wholeheartedly! There is nothing to be lost by giving the solicitor a chance to put things right, and remaining civil (though firm) is definitely the best way.

eira and Loretta are tarring all solicitors with the same brush, when the truth is that we are all individuals. Its like saying that because you have a bad experience with one doctor, they are all charlatans, one midwife and they are all incompetent, one teacher and they are all stupid, and I could go on.

I can't explain why eira and Loretta have had problems, though their reactions to my posts do tend to suggest that they have an issue with all solicitors, not just the ones they say have refused to act for them. There has been a suggestion that I should represent them, and when I have given good reasons as to why that wouldn't be possible, this is cited as evidence all solicitors stick together. Had I said that I would take their case on, however, given that:

1. I am currently uninsured as I have no practising certificate (due to looking after children not malpractise I hasten to add),

2. I have no expertise in their field,

3. I disagree profoundly with some of their assertions based on my knowledge of the law and procedure relating to costs (which advice they refuse to accept)

4. I may not live anywhere near them

5. I would have no time to read the 3 blanket boxes of materials, and would not get paid for this as I have no practising certificate so am not allowed to charge

How quickly would they be on this thread posting again about how rubbish this solicitor was

To foreversummer and anyone else reading this thread who thinks their solicitor may have been negligent, I would urge you not to be deterred from seeking a second opinion on the basis of what eira and Loretta have said (and after all if what they said was true, I as a solicitor, would be telling you categorically that no solicitor will act against another, and you should just endure your losses!)

I would always advise that you first give the original solicitor a chance to put things right, and make sure that you complain to the senior partner of the firm in question. If that fails, or the relationship has broken down beyond repair, get a second opinion, but when you are doing so make sure that you approach the new solicitor in a calm and reasonable fashion, and ask their advice on how to proceed, rather than demanding at the outset that a particular course of action is taken irrespective of whether the second solicitor believes this to be the best. To do otherwise may well be seen by the second solicitor as off-putting, and flag you as a troublesome client, and we are allowed to choose who we want to work for!

CFC

Links for Loretta and Eira

http://www.thesolicitorsnegligencelawyers.co.uk/dishonesty-and-fraud.php

http://www.theclaimsconnection.co.uk/professional-negligence.html

http://www.theadvisory.co.uk/conveyancing-solicitors.php

http://www.rollingsons.co.uk/claims_against_professionals.asp

foreversummer

Hi Loretto and Eira

I am really sorry to hear of your experiences and problems and I take on board everything that you are saying. For my part, however, I have to believe that firstly my solicitor will be able to sort out this mess, and secondly if he fails I will find a sympathic solicitor that will help me, otherwise I may as well throw in the towel now.

I am feeling fairly calm about the whole thing now, although it is always at the back on my mind, particularly when I go to bed and wake in the morning. However, it's not going to ruin my life, it's only a piece of land afterall (although it is part of my beautiful front garden which so jumped out at us when we viewed this our dream house), but then many worse horrors are happening all over the place, and many folk are suffering 100 fold . . .

I have always felt that our best chance is to let our solicitor sort out this mess and we will continue to give him every opportunity to do so. Our conversations have been polite and amicable, although I do follow up each conversation with a letter stating what we have discussed and what has been said. He has acknowedged each of these letters.

Thank you CFC for the links - I found those useful also.

I will update this thread as and when there are developments. I appreciate everyone who has contributed and may continue to contribute

Foreversummer

silvercar

foreversummer, I think you are taking exactly the right line, both for your own peace of mind and maximising the chances of putting things right.

eira

Thanks for useful help-especially the web sites. Today I have found a way of dealing with the issues using routes that I have been unaware of before.

I must admit however to being somewhat affronted by the tenor of Nicki's post-I resent being patronised or having assumptions made as to my perceptions and attitudes. I was also not looking for free legal representation-God forbid- just some general guidelines for helping myself-which is what the original poster was looking for.

Neighbours from Hell by the way is a fantastic resource for advice and help on neighbour issues-lots of helpful post and some useful resources and links.

Will report back -on a seperate thread (!) if I get anywhere. Thanks for the help.

eira

Just looked at the Claims Connection website from CFC - a million thank you's -one link was exactly what I needed

CFC HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY

Loretta

eira wrote: »

Thanks for useful help-especially the web sites. Today I have found a way of dealing with the issues using routes that I have been unaware of before.

I must admit however to being somewhat affronted by the tenor of Nicki's post-I resent being patronised or having assumptions made as to my perceptions and attitudes. I was also not looking for free legal representation-God forbid- just some general guidelines for helping myself-which is what the original poster was looking for.

Neighbours from Hell by the way is a fantastic resource for advice and help on neighbour issues-lots of helpful post and some useful resources and links.

Will report back -on a seperate thread (!) if I get anywhere. Thanks for the help.

I think with Nicki being such an expert she could have at least have given a list of all these solicitors she knows about who act for people who are having trouble with negligent and criminal solicitors. After the first burst of enthusiasm she backtracked like mad!

Nicki

Loretta wrote: »

I think with Nicki being such an expert she could have at least have given a list of all these solicitors she knows about who act for people who are having trouble with negligent and criminal solicitors. After the first burst of enthusiasm she backtracked like mad!

I've PM'd you with the details of one in London. As I've never been to Brighton, can't help you with one more local.

wifeforlife

Nicki wrote: »

I've PM'd you with the details of one in London. As I've never been to Brighton, can't help you with one more local.

Nicki dont even respond, it's not your job to spoon feed people and defend your profession, if thats how it was I'd have some explaining to do and so would plenty others. I have issues with every job going, well I just have issues lol

Goodluck everyone I hope you all get some success with all your problems

Cate