Solicitor won't Release my cheque for RTA claim

davidmcn

jillkc68 wrote: »

Still no money. Even though I went to the solicitors office and signed a form so that a BACS payment could be made straight into my bank account, I received nothing.

That's because the solicitor doesn't yet have any money to give you.

I rang my solicitor and he said the court had decided to post the cheque instead. Still no sign of my cheque. Apparently it will be arriving next week.

So there you go. You've been told as much as they know about the expected timescale. You'll just need to wait.

Manxman_in_exile

davidmcn wrote: »

That's because the solicitor doesn't yet have any money to give you.

So there you go. You've been told as much as they know about the expected timescale. You'll just need to wait.

Yeah, but...


A few things the OP has posted concern me a little... this sole practitioner was taken over by a larger firm because he had "financial difficulties"; then the solicitor was apologising because he'd lodged wrongly filled out forms with the court three times (!); the OP never got a "care letter" explaining the T&Cs and complaints procedure; and it sounds to me as if they practice from an office on their own with little supervision from the partners - but I may be mistaken about that.


I'm not suggesting that there is a problem here, but I wouldn't be using this solicitor again.


OP - have they actually given you a copy of their complaints procedure yet?

jillkc68

Sorry only getting chance to reply now. To scoobydoo I should've made it clear that I was told the cheque was in the post on Tuesday and was meant to arrive Friday. Then on Friday I was told it was being posted that day. Previous to that it was meant to be paid straight into my account! To Manxman, yes this solicitor had his own practice and was bought over and does indeed work on his own now and no I've not been given a copy of the complaints procedure. My issue is this. Surely if everyone has been paid except me then the court released money. The solicitor told me he was paid on 17th July. To DigforVictory, yes the court dont have an issue with proof of identity. Thanks all for your replies

CakeCrusader

There's quite a few red flags here, is this a firm in Belfast? I'd be inclined to make a complaint to the Law Society; https://www.lawsoc-ni.org/making-a-complaint, do make sure you do everything in writing as they will need it.

jillkc68

Yes firm in Belfast and I had downloaded the law society complaints form previously but didn't fill it in because the solicitor asked me to call to the office last Monday to give my bank details so that the cheque would be paid straight into my account. Then it was being posted on the Tuesday and then it was being posted on the Friday! I'm meant to get it next week now but i have little faith

CakeCrusader

jillkc68 wrote: »

Yes firm in Belfast and I had downloaded the law society complaints form previously but didn't fill it in because the solicitor asked me to call to the office last Monday to give my bank details so that the cheque would be paid straight into my account. Then it was being posted on the Tuesday and then it was being posted on the Friday! I'm meant to get it next week now but i have little faith

Keep hold of the complaints web site, something seems amiss here, and if they are doing this to one client the chances are that they are doing it to others. The Law Society could do with looking into what's going on at the firm. I don't think it's normal for firms to pay cheques into clients personal bank accounts.

gallifreyangirl

I work for a law firm in their accounts department and we do not pay client cheques into personal accounts.

Manxman_in_exile

CakeCrusader wrote: »

Keep hold of the complaints web site, something seems amiss here, and if they are doing this to one client the chances are that they are doing it to others. The Law Society could do with looking into what's going on at the firm. I don't think it's normal for firms to pay cheques into clients personal bank accounts.[/QUOTE]


I'd overlooked this from the OP. Again I'm not saying anything is wrong, but like you I can see some red flags.

Manxman_in_exile

gallifreyangirl wrote: »

I work for a law firm in their accounts department and we do not pay client cheques into personal accounts.

That makes sense.

jillkc68

Well i guess Ive given my bank details for nothing. I did it in good faith but it was obviously more stalling tactics. Dear Lord will this ever end. On Monday I may ring the senior partner again seeing this is whose office my cheque is ALLEGEDLY being sent to now!