Solicitor increased fees by third with no notice… ideas on what I can do

Redbinnie

So I am buying a flat ( share of freehold).  We signed a contract to pay £1995 for conveyance on the flat.

we are ready to exchange so need to sort out all the financials .. the solicitor has said actually it now costs £3k but as a gesture of goodwill it will only be an extra £600

at no point did she warn me of an increase.  She said she  would normally tell me but has been so busy with the stamp duty deadline she didn’t have  time, hence the goodwill discount.

She said it was unusual to have an increase.. and unusual to not give notice… but is still “deeply suprised “ that I want to dispute the bill

any ideas on what I can do?  I have asked to speak to office manager but they are also on vacation.  Plus I was due to exchange on Monday.. which I now have no idea on where this leaves me.

thank you 

m0bov

Ask for a breakdown of costs. What's the extra for? £2k is a lot anyway. Stamp duty?

Redbinnie

Will do. Thank you

£1950 was fees only, the surveys etc were extra.  It was a lot, but was for my elderly mom and she wanted to use a local firm with real people.   It backfired as they were not in office due to COVID and solicitor allocated preferred to use email over phone.  But had signed contract and was what she wanted.   But do agree felt significant to start with… hence why being told it was going to go up to £3k felt shocking.   The lack of notice though is what was most upsetting.. particularly as she said she would usually give notice and it was unusual to increase.

Nte the sale of the house is separate… and fees were £1795 in addition 

newlywed

https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/guidance/transparency-in-price-and-service/

Redbinnie

So helpful thank you.   It looks like it is reasonable to have expected notice and to be concerned.  

AdrianC

What is the precise wording of the £1,995 figure?
What is the precise wording on the invoice for £2,600?

teachfast

I completed on my sale and moved out before purchasing and my useless solicitor added on hidden and undeclared amounts, so on my purchase (which I was already well into with the same clown), I checked regularly that there would be no additional amounts. He refused to respond at all to this but when he went on holiday I checked the same question with the partner of the firm that took over and he was good enough to answer me: no extra fees likely.

tooldle

What does your contract withe solicitor say? It is normal to receive and be asked to sign their ‘terms of business’. This document should explain what is covered in their fee and what would constitute an additional cost.

purplebutterfly

In my original contract with my solicitor, it clearly states that ANY additional fees for extra work will have to be agreed to before the solicitor undertakes the work.

It is laid out with the basic fee, then the potential costs for searches, bank transfer fee, anti money laundering fee etc 

If your contract states that you will be notified of additional charges before they are added to your account, then you shouldn't have to pay them if you weren't informed.