Frustrated by my solicitor

ronctlsmile

Dear all,

I wondered if I could look for a complaint and even a compensation for the following incident:

I bought a flat outright via a housing association in November last year. Since then, I didn't pay attentions to my flat service charges for almost a year (Yes indeed, it was my fault). Up to last week, I rang up for the property management company regarding my flat service and maintenance charges. In the whole phone call, the property management company told me that they were not informed by my solicitor and the housing association for my flat being fully purchased. After then, I called my solicitor and the housing association about this. The reply of the housing association was very unhelpful. They pretty much passed me around to different departments. Completely waste of time.!!! Then I called my solicitor about my situation of my service charges. My solicitor said she would look into it. After a day, her secretary called me to pay the difference between the notification fees and the money left behind in my account to the property management company. I was furious about it and there is something sloppy going on in my solicitor and she didn't deal with my case properly. I paid the money in a very reluctant manner.

Something I was not so sure. I dont' think I deserve the malpractice of my solicitor. First, how on earth there is still some monies in my case but they didn't give back to me almost for a year? Second, they didn't handle my case properly until now and asked me more money to pay the notification fees requested by the property management company. I don't know how to look for a complaint and compensation. Is any way I could do it? I paid quite a bit money for the solicitor but all I can see is the rubbish service.

tykesi

When you engaged the solicitor they would have given you a copy of their complaints procedure, if you have a complaint you need to follow this in the first instance.

eddddy

It sounds like you got poor service from your solicitor - failing to notify your freeholder of the transfer, and failing to return the balance of your funds.

But now the matter is resolved, you haven't lost any money as a result, have you? So I don't think you're due any damages/compensation?

But if you complain, you might get an apology (or you might get fobbed off and get even more frustrated). It's up to you whether it's worth it.

DoaM

In theory ... could OP sue the solicitor for not releasing the funds, at the rate of Bank of England base rate plus 8%, pro-rated for the duration the solicitor held said funds? (This is equivalent to what's allowed to be claimed for the late payment of invoices).

csgohan4

is it estate agent linked solicitors?

ronctlsmile

csgohan4 yes, it is one of the solicitors recommended by the housing association.

eddddy- I still don't know if they still hold any fund in my case. They said the case was closed. Is there any way I could ask them about the remaining fund? Would they be honest about it? Hard to find.

DoaM-Wow, I don't know how I could do it.

I seriously want to publicly shame this law firm and let other people know. When I looked back, they were very terrible to deal with my case :mad::(

eddddy

ronctlsmile wrote: »

eddddy- I still don't know if they still hold any fund in my case. They said the case was closed. Is there any way I could ask them about the remaining fund? Would they be honest about it? Hard to find.

If a solicitor deliberately lied to a client about money left in a client account, they could be fined or struck off by the SRA. So they would have to be extremely desperate to do that.

But obviously they can make a mistake.

If you want to check for yourself, have a look at your completion statement - it will show all the money you paid to your solicitor, and all the money your solicitor paid out on your behalf. So you can see f any money is unaccounted for.