Solicitor dealing with my debt has gone into liquidation, can I get money back I've already paid?

Greylady58

I only found out by accident when solicitor stopped responding and I checked with the Solicitor Regulation Authority they they had closed, since found out they have gone into liquidation. I had a contract with them and agreed to pay monthly for fees where they would act on my behalf to try and get some reduction or write off of my debts with credit card creditors.  I had been with this firm of solicitors since April 2022, paying a monthly fee, then they stopped communicating with me in July this year and I've since braved up and phoned the creditors and sorting a payment plan, seems this solicitor was taking my money but not acting on my behalf, creditors were aware but had no letters or emails from solicitors

So I phone the SRA for advice to see if I could get my money back and to find out what had happened to my file and personal details/letters etc.  SRA said as they didnt close the solicitors down, I couldnt apply to their compensation fund.

Letters/emails etc to solicitors have been rejected, even my letter of complaint about their service, which the SRA told me I'd need for the legal Ombudsman

I tried phoning legal ombudsman for advice, over an hours wait later I gave up. I can see I can complain to them online but I have to provide evidence where the solicitor has refused my complaint.  There is no refusal, they just failed to reply and now the office is closed.  Had I have known this I would never have accepted this solicitors offer but the contact I signed, was a no win, full refund if they couldnt do what they said.

Im now with StepChange on a payment plan, in hindsight I should have done this last year

My "beef" now is on how I get my fees repaid and what has happened to my file etc

Be grateful for suggestion please.  Thankyou

fatbelly

Welcome to the board. It's a shame you didn't discover us 18 months ago as we would have suggested that you stop paying their fee.

Even if you had a claim against them you would be unlikely to get anything back from a bankrupt organisation. At least you are now with a charity that does not charge a fee

Grumpelstiltskin

Welcome to the board, as Fatbelly says if they are bankrupt you have virtually zero chance of getting any money back.

Now you have gone with Stepchange but have you jumped in too quickly?

Was any money paid over to your creditors?

If not did any of them default you?

A number oof questions as this could be a messy situation.

Honestly the best thing you could do is complete a S O A ( see the sticky at the top of this forum ) and when we can see the full picture we can advise you of  the best way forward.

YelllowOrangeFlower

What is an SOA please ? I have a question 

Grumpelstiltskin

YelllowOrangeFlower said:

What is an SOA please ? I have a question 

If you read through this thread it gives you the information.

In Debt and Wannabe Debt Free? first Steps to take are here, please read, then ask questions. — MoneySavingExpert Forum