ITC Probate/Chorus Law/The Bereavemnt Advice Centre - All Rogues Together

Leathersnake

So sorry I didn't check out this load of time wasting bunch of rogues. I, and my whole family were under this misconception that we were dealing with a reputable company who could be trusted as it was advertised as a specialist as advertised in the handout from the Registry Office. I became so annoyed with them, I took it on to do some chasing of various parties including the Probate Office. Had I not done this, I firmly believe I would sill be waiting for this. However, I am still waiting for them the release the monies to all the beneficiaries after twelve weeks at time of posting this. I would very much like to cripple this time wasting parasitic company. Maybe we should protest a lot louder to bring this about!

portlandboy

Leathersnake,

As you've probably read, 12 weeks is not very long in relation to the usual timescale that both chorus Law and ITC Legal Services take to complete a case. Many people experience timescales of 12-24 months before their case is deemed 'complete' and even then it is usually still desperately incomplete.

I have managed to stop leaflets supplied by Simplify, Chorus Law and ITC from being issued by my local Registrar and I know some other areas have stopped providing them too.

It would help other potential victims of these terrible companies if you could contact your local Registrars' Office and point this MSE thread out to them, along with our Facebook group page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/104268162937758/
- which you may like to join.

They probably do not realise that the leaflets are supplied by profit-making, unregulated companies who disguise themselves as charities or "independent" organisations.

If you don't feel able to contact the Registrars' Office yourself, I would be very grateful if you could send me a private message here on MSE with the area that your Registrar covers, so that I can email them and highlight the issue.

It would also help if you could add your opinion to the Review Centre page for Chorus Law:
http://www.reviewcentre.com/Legal-Services/Chorus-Law-www-choruslaw-co-uk-reviews_2147218
since someone has suddenly managed to add a lot of surprisingly good reviews there and, to be honest, they don't seem to reflect what I know about Chorus Law's usual level of service.


Many thanks,

silvasava

Just read all the horrendous stories about Chorus Law etc. I do't have any experience of them but I have completed probate on my mothers property myself. It was quite straightforward and the documents are on line.

portlandboy

silvasava wrote: »

Just read all the horrendous stories about Chorus Law etc. I do't have any experience of them but I have completed probate on my mothers property myself. It was quite straightforward and the documents are on line.

The problem here is that once a customer signs up with Chorus Law (or ITC legal Services) they hand over the Power of Attorney to the company so they are the executors of the will. Then, after a couple of months when you find out what sort of company they really are, you have to fight to cancel the contract, get the PoA revoked and start all over again yourself.
I would do my own in future, but sometimes the thought of getting involved is legal business is very daunting for people who are bereaved.

nwc389

When I was working in banking I dealt with bereavements and I was shocked when talking to an elderly lady one day about the fact that a good year had gone by and she still had not got her husbands estate sorted by the firm that our bank had passed her details to . The estate was a couple of savings accounts - less than 25k in total.The whole thing could have been sorted out very quickly in the branch had she come to us first.
It is a damned disgrace that vulnerable peoples details are given to these companies , I have done probate myself and although the form looks daunting in reality it was quite easy to sort.

bod1467

Our Dad died intestate (25 years ago). At the time my older brother had to get grant of probate to deal with the estate. It seemed daunting but was actually fairly easy in the end.

leshunt1964

Why has no-one taken action so far against these monsters.

You would not believe the grief and misery they have put us through. They force you to use their 'associate' agents called Move with Us. They use their 'associate' solicitors called DC Law. They fail to tell you that these associates are actually linked to Simplify. They then charge you extortionate third party charges to use these associates and all along the money goes into Chorus Laws back pocket!!!

They take advantage of the situation and when you try to complain you are passed to a Team Manager rather than the actual complaints department.

The complaints department is a one man show, where they respond to you within 10 working days to tell you that their Case Manager is not at fault.

They try everything under the sun to sell you products and make money. No sympathy for the client at all!

hollydays

leshunt1964 wrote: »

Why has no-one taken action so far against these monsters.

You would not believe the grief and misery they have put us through. They force you to use their 'associate' agents called Move with Us. They use their 'associate' solicitors called DC Law. They fail to tell you that these associates are actually linked to Simplify. They then charge you extortionate third party charges to use these associates and all along the money goes into Chorus Laws back pocket!!!

They take advantage of the situation and when you try to complain you are passed to a Team Manager rather than the actual complaints department.

The complaints department is a one man show, where they respond to you within 10 working days to tell you that their Case Manager is not at fault.

They try everything under the sun to sell you products and make money. No sympathy for the client at all!

Here's a few more names for Google

" .David Grossman.. ..has been appointed to lead the development of the newly created Simplify Group, of which Quality Solicitors is a subsidiary.
The announcement follows the recent news of an investment by Palamon Capital Partners in the group of legal companies including conveyancing brands Move with Us, DC Law and probate specialist Chorus Law, as part of its strategy to build the UK's largest legal service provider.
The current management teams of Simplify Group and of QualitySolicitors will stay in place and report directly to Grossman.has been appointed to lead the development of the newly created Simplify Group, of which Quality Solicitors is a subsidiary.
The announcement follows the recent news of an investment by Palamon Capital Partners in the group of legal companies including conveyancing brands Move with Us, DC Law and probate specialist Chorus Law, as part of its strategy to build the UK's largest legal service provider.
The current management teams of Simplify Group and of QualitySolicitors will stay in place and report directly to Grossman."

bod1467

Interesting ... I've seen TV ads for Quality Solicitors*. Now that I know they're in cahoots with LPC Law and Chorus Law that's a good reason to avoid them.

Perhaps this link needs to be made better known?

* Although anyone needing to put Quality (or similar words) in their name is of itself a good indication that they are anything but.

portlandboy

If you haven't joined yet, you are welcome to join our Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/104268162937758/

We are still putting pressure on these companies and getting members issues resolved.