Solicitor overcharged me

john1

Have a look at this https://anthonygold.co.uk/insight/ang_articles_accurate_costs_estimates
This judgement has fundamental implications for all solicitors and careful consideration must be given not only when providing a costs estimate at the outset of a case, but also when revising estimates as the case goes on.

scoobyjones1

Anikats said:

The solicitor should also have provided a warning if you were going to overrun the estimate with an explanation, though that email itself will have come with a bill. 

No warning - at the end he sent an email asking for additional £700+VAT if I want to get his legal advice. At that point I just said that I don't need his services anymore. I was charged even for his emails notifying me that he is going for holiday(3 times he went holidays for that period)

Proves my earlier point. That's just theft! He is making excuses for not doing the work in a timely manner and charging YOU for the info! They do tend to go on holiday rather a lot as well, in my experience.

PHK

I'm not sure there's such a thing as a simple neighbour boundary dispute. 

You say you didn't get any advice? Is that right and if so how did that come about?

Anikats

PHK said:

I'm not sure there's such a thing as a simple neighbour boundary dispute. 

You say you didn't get any advice? Is that right and if so how did that come about?

In shor that is my story: In late 2024, storms destroyed the old fence between my property and my neighbour’s. For safety reasons, I briefly stepped into her garden to clear the fallen panels and reinstall the posts in the same place. I didn’t cause any damage and even apologised several times afterwards, offering to fill a small gap next to the fence on her side. Despite this, my neighbour accused me of trespass, nuisance, and of putting the fence on her land. She then hired solicitors and refused to speak to me directly.

Her “evidence” is just some photos showing slight paving disturbance. The Land Registry plans don’t show an exact boundary, and I’ve measured it myself with a laser — the fence line is still exactly on my land, using the original end posts. My neighbour insists she’ll only accept her own fencing company rebuilding the fence at my expense, otherwise she’ll take me to court.

I hired a solicitor who said he’d need about two hours to review the documents and advise me. Instead, he billed £2,215 for 6½ hours, mostly for emails and admin work, with hardly any advice. The only thing he did was write one short letter asking the other side for photos. I am now dealing with the neighbour’s solicitor myself.

A local builder has quoted about £2,000 to remove the fence and install a new concrete one (only seven posts), and I’m considering offering this as a final compromise. But I’m not sure if that’s the right move or whether I should stand firm since the fence seems to be fully on my land.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation — or can recommend how to find a reasonable solicitor who can just explain my legal rights and the best next step?

sheramber

Do you have legal cover on your house insurance?

Anikats

sheramber said:

Do you have legal cover on your house insurance?

no unfortunately 

saajan_12

What exactly did the initial quote say? They should usually warn you if its going above the quote so you can decide whether to proceed.

Also some of the admin work may be what I'd expect to be non-billable hours eg their choice to send you holiday notifications. However without the full breakdown people can't really see whether that's the tip of the iceberg or an exception. 

Does sound to me llike you had grounds for a complaint, though paying and asking for a refund is much harder than disputing a bill beforehand. 

born_again

I would be tempted in a spirit of compromise to undo all the work you did & just say. It's back how it was when the wind blew it down. As you were unhappy with the result of my work.
I will let you sort it out.

Worst thing is you now have a dispute to declare if you sell the house.