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Solicitor fee/scam?

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Legacy_user
Legacy_user Posts: 0 Newbie
in House buying, renting & selling
I completed on selling my property through Premier Property Lawyers 6 days ago and chose the option to have the settlement sent by cheque as they wanted £46.80 to do a BACS transfer. Not only do I think BACS is an unusual way to transfer such a large sum of money but that this is an extortionate charge to do so.
However, 6 days later I am still awaiting the cheque. On calling this morning I am told it was posted first class on the day of completion. They cannot tell me if the delivery was recorded in any way without checking with the post room! If they have no evidence of posting the cheque where do I stand in terms of insisting on a free electronic transfer or holding them liable for lost interest whilst another cheque is sent?
Is there any one else out there who has also had the same delay from them suggesting a company policy rather than a postal problem?
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Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 35,242 Forumite
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    As with all scams on MSE, that's not a scam.

    Ask them to reissue payment.
  • Mr.Generous
    Mr.Generous Posts: 3,379 Forumite
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    I too dislike the stupid big charge, but the business will get a hefty charge from the bank for the transaction so they pass it on plus a few £. Go into the branch and collect the cheque then pay it into your own bank. Expect the cashier to make casual enquiries about the cheque due to money laundering regs.
  • SmashedAvacado
    SmashedAvacado Posts: 1,262 Forumite
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    Companies have costs that they incur when they transfer sums of money. Most of them will want to pass those costs onto their customers. The costs of sending money will include the fees they have to pay the bank and also the cost of employing various people that need to deal with that.

    You asked for a cheque - they posted it. If you don't get it, you can ask them to send you another one and agree to destroy the first one if it doesnt show up.

    You are not entitled to lost interest.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,094 Community Admin
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    If I do this and they again say it is the fault of the postal system that it has not arrived but cannot prove that they even put it into the postal system what recourse do I have?
  • SmashedAvacado
    SmashedAvacado Posts: 1,262 Forumite
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    You have none. The post isn't guaranteed.

    Not everything involves "compensation". Its not their fault. You haven't suffered anything other than very mild inconvenience.

    also the interest on a couple of days will be buttons.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,094 Community Admin
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    I am not looking to gain the lost interest - I realise that is minimal. I am more concerned in verifying that the cheque has actually been dispatched as promised and ensuring that this does not become a process that takes weeks to resolve instead of days. Just wanted to see what I could request from them as evidence that their part has been completed successfully.
  • steampowered
    steampowered Posts: 6,176 Forumite
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    I don't think there is anything you can do other than ask for confirmation that the cheque was sent.

    If it doesn't arrive, you can ask for it to be reissued.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    I'd be surprised if it was BACS. How much was it for?


    More likely it is a CHAPS payment for which banks typically charge between £25 and £45. As explained above there are also busines costs to be covered.


    I may be unfairly maligning Premier Property Lawyers but are they one of the cheaper online warehouses? If so, it's common for there to be costs on top of their 'headline' quotes. But their fees will be specified somewhere in the paperwork you initially received..........


    N0 - not a scam.


    Whether the cheque was lost in the post (it happens) or not actually sent due to oversight or poor internal communication somewhere can only be established in the same way as any other leter that does not arrive- through chasing the sender.


    At worst the cheque may need o be cancelled and re-issued. Be aware that banks often charge a fee for cancelling a cheque ....
  • Tom99
    Tom99 Posts: 5,371 Forumite
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    G_M wrote: »
    I'd be surprised if it was BACS. How much was it for?
    More likely it is a CHAPS payment for which banks typically charge between £25 and £45. As explained above there are also business costs to be covered.
    So would I, but their blurb say they receive the sale proceeds from the buyer by telegraphic transfer and send you the proceeds via bank transfer. Deliberately vague.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
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    Tom99 wrote: »
    So would I, but their blurb say they receive the sale proceeds from the buyer by telegraphic transfer and send you the proceeds via bank transfer. Deliberately vague.


    Telegraphic transfer has no real meaning in the UK anyway, so they are probably the same thing.
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