Solicitor demanding extra money after final bill settled

ontheroad1970

fred246 said:

It's always worth employing a solicitor. That way you know all the paperwork will be done correctly.

You wouldn't watch youtube videos and then do it yourself?

thorsoak

fred246 said:

It's always worth employing a solicitor. That way you know all the paperwork will be done correctly.

A solicitor should, of course, always do the paperwork correctly, efficiently and produce bills at the correct time.  That is what the public expect a solicitor to do.

Retireby40

Solicitors are scum of the earth. Every penny they can extract they do. They recieve money and hold on to it not telling you until you actually say....x told me they sent money to you that I overpaid and then they say oh yes. We will forward it onto you once everything is done despite already paying for what they had to do. They keep the money sitting in their accounts building interest and give you it last second.

They also have many "oversights". If I have an oversight I have to pay the extra. However when a solicitor has an oversight or makes a mistake I still have to pay extra. It's no wonder they are so lacklustre with their work when even when they make a mistake it doesnt cost them.

jonesMUFCforever

Greyteam1959 is on the right lines.
Write a letter of complaint - address it to the senior partner of the law firm (this information most likely will be on their website).
Explain the situation that you had a final bill and ask for a full explanation of the new one.
They have threatened you with debt collection - throw it back at them by saying you will be contacting the Law society if your complaint is not resolved satisfactorily
Give them a couple of weeks to reply..

Saddlerstu

Thanks all, have had an update from the solicitors. They've provided 2 invoices, the first was for an initial start for using their services (we've never received a copy of this invoice until now), and a 2nd invoice which is their final bill, which they admit contains several mistakes and is different to the one we received and paid in full in Feb. Citizens advice to be contacted again today, and a copy of the solicitors complaints procedure has been requested

fred246

I once complained to a solicitor using their complaints procedure. They just ignored it and never replied.

Saddlerstu

AskAsk said:

i don't know if the OP's solicitors had given him a fixed quote.  solicitors tend to give a general quote with an hourly rate as it will depend on how long something takes.  in the case of divorce, i doubt they would give a fixed quote as there are unknowns.

Partner was asked for a fixed sum to start the case (verbal), which was paid at the time, we then received a final bill once complete in Feb.
Have now had an invoice for the start of the case, states the fixed sum, plus some disbursements, dated November 2019, which we never received. 2nd invoice for close of the case is different to the one we received in Feb this year, with several errors they admit to. They've offered a final settlement figure different to the outstanding total (lower, as a sign of goodwill), but still amounts to £800

pphillips

fred246 said:

I once complained to a solicitor using their complaints procedure. They just ignored it and never replied.

You're sure they received your complaint? I believe you can still go to the Legal Ombudman if they don't reply.

Comms69

pphillips said:

fred246 said:

I once complained to a solicitor using their complaints procedure. They just ignored it and never replied.

You're sure they received your complaint? I believe you can still go to the Legal Ombudman if they don't reply.

SRA isnt it?

pphillips

Comms69 said:

pphillips said:

fred246 said:

I once complained to a solicitor using their complaints procedure. They just ignored it and never replied.

You're sure they received your complaint? I believe you can still go to the Legal Ombudman if they don't reply.

SRA isnt it?

SRA can only deal with complaints about a solicitors behaviour.
Legal Ombudman deals with complaints about the service they provide.