Solicitor non-payment of Estate Agent Fees

anoushka7

To be fair they have had over 4 weeks to sort it out!  Another 4 weeks if not paid, then I am going to the Ombudsman.

teachfast

Standard solicitor practice, sadly. You assume they will care about your circumstances and they don't. Download their complaints policy, keep everything in writing and don't be intimidated by their legalese speak. The law respects the lay people and will support you if you take this further. 

Don't be intimidated. Play them at their own game. It really is not as difficult as they would make you believe. 

It's like car repair: when you see the quality, professionalism and intellect of some of the people that do it for you, you have to consider: "how hard can this really be?".

Good luck.

eddddy

anoushka7 said:

I am 66 years of age and I am so stressed over this I am not sleeping.

I doubt that the EA isn't sleeping over this, and I doubt that the solicitor isn't sleeping over this - so you shouldn't be losing sleep either.


It might be that the solicitor has made a mistake - and 'forgotten' to pay the EA, or got the EAs account details wrong, or put the wrong reference on the payment.

Or it might be that the EA has made a mistake - and allocated the solicitor's payment to the wrong customer account,

Or I guess it might be the bank that's made a mistake (but I think that's less likely).

But it doesn't sound like you've made any mistake. So you should be sleeping with a clear conscience. 



The EA is chasing your solicitor. The EA is also chasing you in the hope that you will chase your solicitor as well. You're doing that - so there's not much else you can do.

GDB2222

anoushka7 said:

To be fair they have had over 4 weeks to sort it out!  Another 4 weeks if not paid, then I am going to the Ombudsman.

You really don't need the estate agent suing you. And, preferably, you don't need them harassing you either. So, I suggest that you concentrate on placating them.

I would start off by sending the EA a copy of the completion statement, showing that the solicitor has their fees. Also, send a copy of your complaints. Any sensible estate agent will then calm down for a while. 

This will, of course, get sorted out. eventually, but you need to keep people informed. 

saajan_12

What does the solicitor actually say happened - could it be the EA not spotting the payment in their acc?

Ask the solicitor for proof they paid the EA, date, amount, account no etc

anoushka7

Finally it is all sorted!  Obviously the solicitor has not apologised but the main point is the Estate Agents have been paid!  Thanks for all your comments, a problem shared etc .....

Skiddaw1

That's good to hear OP!

Titus_Wadd

Enjoy your new home, and thank you for updating your thread.