Solicitors and Credit Cards

northeast_villafan

Hi I’m in the process of purchasing some land from the local council and at the point where payment is due. I spoke with my solicitor and as the costings are within my credit card limit I broached the subject of using it for payment however they are reluctant to accept preferring to go with the option of a bank transfer. I feel it offers me more protection to use my credit card.
Would welcome any advice.

molerat

They can take or not take whatever method of payment they wish.  They likely don't want to take credit card payment due to the charges and they are not allowed to pass them on to you.  I don't think S75 would apply to the actual land purchase as you would have paid through an intermediary, in this case the solicitor.

Thrugelmir

Credit cards incur a sizable transaction fee for the recepient. Hence why solicitors will require a cash transfer to pay for both the land and their fees. 

LordSomebody

Every law firm I’ve ever worked at will take credit card. Is it a very small firm?

Thrugelmir

LordSomebody said:

Every law firm I’ve ever worked at will take credit card. Is it a very small firm?

Who paid the transaction charges ? 

jonesMUFCforever

I agree that some solicitors will take a credit card but only for their own fees.
IMO they would not take payment in a case like this for payment for land.
Even though you have already been told that there is no S75 cover here (which I agree with) what did you expect it to cover? Land is Land - you and your solicitor have to make your own enquiries as to what it can be used for BEFORE the purchase. I hope that you are not relying on it  for say something like  if planning permission was turned down etc.

eddddy

The purchase of land is not covered by s75.

However, paying by credit card would probably get you cover for breach of contract (or misrepresentation) by your solicitor. But solicitors are highly regulated anyway and have professional indemnity insurance.

If the solicitor breached the contract with you and you suffered a loss, you would have the Legal Ombudsman, the Solicitors' Regulation Authority and the professional indemnity insurers to fall back on.

Having said all that, if you just pay part of your solicitors' bill with a credit card you would have s75 cover for the whole contract with your solicitor.

jonesMUFCforever

eddddy said:

The purchase of land is not covered by s75.

However, paying by credit card would probably get you cover for breach of contract (or misrepresentation) by your solicitor. But solicitors are highly regulated anyway and have professional indemnity insurance.

If the solicitor breached the contract with you and you suffered a loss, you would have the Legal Ombudsman, the Solicitors' Regulation Authority and the professional indemnity insurers to fall back on.

Having said all that, if you just pay part of your solicitors' bill with a credit card you would have s75 cover for the whole contract with your solicitor.

The bill yes - but not the land itself.