Extra legal fees - do we have a case?

sleepymans

Our solicitor has informed us that our conveyance fees will be increased by several hundred pounds above the estimated fee level agreed at the outset due to the level of delay and repeated chasing they have had to do on our sale and purchase.



Our vendors were represented by an online conveyancing outfit who have been extremely uncommunicative and unco-operative and our mortgage company were represented by a worldwide legal firm also using online conveyancing and who also have been (her phrase) "unbelieveably picky and slow".

Both ourselves and our vendor have been unable to avoid having to purchase unnecessary indemnity policies requested by our mortgage company's solicitors just to remove stalemate minor issues which our solictor had expressed no concern over.

We realise we cannot escape the additional costs which have to be paid up front before exchange of contracts, but do we have grounds for claiming the excess from the 2 sources responsible?
Can we complain to the Law Society and if so, dont they all just stick together?

This all feels as if it is a contrived "system" to wear us down through stress and delay so that we just keep shelling out in order to move and get our lives back!:eek:

Remind me never to move house again!!

TBagpuss

Your vendors can complain about the poor service from their conveyancers. If their complaint is not resolved then if the firm are solicitors (it sounds as though they may not be) then they can escalate to the legal ombudsman.

It doesn't sound as though your solicitor has done anything wrong so you would have no grounds for complaining against them.

The situation with the company who were representing your lender is more complex as although you were paying them, their client is the lender, not you. You could write a letter of comaplaint and cc it to the complaints department of the lender.

And no, if you have the basis for a complaint to the Ombusdsman they don't 'all stick together' . However it looks as though it would be your vendors, not you, who are more likely to have grounds for a complaint.

sleepymans

Thank you for your response - I do understand your points TBagpuss, however its us that have suffered financial loss, not the vendor, nor the mortgage company.

So we have no case - even if we are incurring the costs? That seems rather harsh on us.

G_M

You will need to check your contrat with your solicitor. Was it a fixed fee agreement? If so, was there anything in the smallprint (eg Terms of Business) allowing for additional fees in the event of xyz?

If so, has xyz materialised (in which case you can be charged for it).

We cannot answer your question without examining your contract.