More than one law firm representing me without my knowledge - Mis-sold car finance

Repobot123

I filled out on online free checker last year to see if I had been mis-sold car finance back in 2016. I was 18 at the time and really had no experience regarding this. Since the checker, I have received emails from two different law firms both saying that they are representing my claim. Now, this was well over a year ago and I can't for the life of me remember doing this, but I can see my signature for both. I was on my emails this week because the inbox was full and that was the only reason I even saw these emails which were updates on 'my' claims. I'm pretty sure I can't have two legal firms representing me?? So, I rang both and asked how much it would be at this point to cancel the claim (I am aware that I missed the cooling off period over a year ago etc so I knew there would be charges). I am accepting the huge mistake I clearly made.

However, the first firm I rang said they have already done a huge amount of work on my claim including sending letters and creating some kind of report. The man I spoke with said that report alone can cost upwards of £800. This has caused me great panic. The other firm have said it needs to go their accountant and then I will receive an itemised bill. Once these are received I will make a decision to cancel.

My question is, how stupid have I been? The first law firm I rang said the claim checker website is an introductory website which then sends them over the information for them to make the claims. I can't for the life of me remember reading any of this information. They also never sent me any contract, they said this was on a web page instead. They also never sent me a signed client engagement pack or a copy of their terms/finance breakdown.

Can anyone please give me any advice about this? I am worried that lots of other people will have made the same mistake and gone with multiple firms too. This online checking is a bigger con than the mis-sold car finance and more worrying!

dunstonh

 I'm pretty sure I can't have two legal firms representing me??

Its worth noting that they are not using the legal system.   The process is under financial regulation controlled by the FCA.   It is a free-of-charge to use process.   So, in theory you can have multiple claims companies submit complaints in your name.   You will only get paid once (assuming you qualify) but you will pay multiple claims companies their share.

However, the first firm I rang said they have already done a huge amount of work on my claim including sending letters and creating some kind of report.

In reality, they have probably done no more than add your name and details to a spreadsheet and emailed it to every finance company along with every other mug that signed up with them that day.

My question is, how stupid have I been?

Very.  But no point dwelling on that but instead use it as a learning exercise to not do it again.

They also never sent me any contract, they said this was on a web page instead. They also never sent me a signed client engagement pack or a copy of their terms/finance breakdown.

But you say they both have your signature?

 I am worried that lots of other people will have made the same mistake and gone with multiple firms too. 

Probably.  We have seen multiple posters on here say they have done the same.

This online checking is a bigger con than the mis-sold car finance and more worrying!

Car finance wasn't really missold.   Consumers are getting lucky because the regulator and the finance companies didn't interpret the law the same way the courts did.    The activities of many of these claims companies is disgraceful but this board has been saying that for over 20 years.

MyRealNameToo

Repobot123 said:

However, the first firm I rang said they have already done a huge amount of work on my claim including sending letters and creating some kind of report. The man I spoke with said that report alone can cost upwards of £800. This has caused me great panic. The other firm have said it needs to go their accountant and then I will receive an itemised bill. Once these are received I will make a decision to cancel.

My question is, how stupid have I been? The first law firm I rang said the claim checker website is an introductory website which then sends them over the information for them to make the claims. I can't for the life of me remember reading any of this information. They also never sent me any contract, they said this was on a web page instead. They also never sent me a signed client engagement pack or a copy of their terms/finance breakdown.

Can anyone please give me any advice about this? I am worried that lots of other people will have made the same mistake and gone with multiple firms too. This online checking is a bigger con than the mis-sold car finance and more worrying!

Law firms and claims management companies work in similar ways, they have fee earners (collective term covering solicitors, paralegals and secretaries) who do work on cases and record their time. If it's a good firm then it will be in 5 minute blocks, if it's a bottom of the barrel it will be in 15 minute chunks. Each time they receive/read an email, each time they write a response etc. There was a story in the press earlier this year where a woman was exchanging emails with her solicitor about Xmas holiday plans and was surprised when the bill showed she'd been charged 5 minutes per email with more than a dozen emails on the matter it was over an hours billing with was something like £600 

Lots of people are going to be falling for it and signing up with multiple firms, you arent the first one here to do it and you won't be the last. MSE is good at whipping up the blood lust about "compensation" and ambulance chasers are happy to spend significant money advertising on social media. People tend to leave their brain at the door when they go on Facebook etc and blindly sign up for things and buy stuff despite the mass of red flags. 

Whilst you can have more than one law firm represent you they both need paying and so its generally not sensible to do so in most circumstances unless you need specialist advice or multinational advice in which case the second firm is normally recommended by the first and the two firms work together and reduce duplication. 

Grey_Critic

Maybe instead of filling forms in online people should be looking on sites such as this and wait and see. You will not lose out by not filling in that form. Once a decision has been made by the court you can then contact the relevant authority and submit your claim. Just because you were not in court with the chancer law firms does not mean you cannot claim. That is why people are advised to wait and submit your claim direct.

But then people see the pound signs flashing

MyRealNameToo

Grey_Critic said:

Maybe instead of filling forms in online people should be looking on sites such as this and wait and see.

'This site told you that you should be filliing in an online form last year?

Now admittedly this form generated a letter for you to send to the dealer rather than instructing a claims management firm but its odd to say dont fill in forms but read a website that tells you to fill in a form. 

Grey_Critic

Yet we keep being told not to use these third parties and that really is the key. On several occasions over the years I have become a creditor to companies. I submitted my claims to the people appointed as receiver - just as I did for my employers. 

Nasqueron

MyRealNameToo said:

Grey_Critic said:

Maybe instead of filling forms in online people should be looking on sites such as this and wait and see.

'This site told you that you should be filliing in an online form last year?

Now admittedly this form generated a letter for you to send to the dealer rather than instructing a claims management firm but its odd to say dont fill in forms but read a website that tells you to fill in a form. 

This site is notorious for jumping the gun on things like this, it's like how they ask for a DSAR with the form for some reason they won't explain other than they were told so by lawyers

dunstonh

'This site told you that you should be filliing in an online form last year?

The bulletins said people should be the forums here told people to wait until the FCA report.