Letter before action - HD Law

[els77]

Hello,

Last year i received an unexpected PPI payout from HD Law. I had no idea i was due to receive a payout and had no recollection of using HD Law, at the time i presumed my ex had made the claim and i was just receiving my half of what was owed.

Six months after receiving the money i got an invoice from HD Law for their fees. I rang them and explained i had not instructed them to act on my behalf, they then sent me copies they had of my digital signature. After asking on here i was advised that I could have possibly clicked on something on Facebook and that is how they have got me my refund. I emailed HD Law explaining this and put in a formal complaint for about 4/5 months i haven't heard a thing from them. Yesterday i received an email from a legal team explaining that as they haven't heard from me they were about to prepare a Letter before claim in line with County Court procedures.

I did reply yesterday explaining that this was in dispute and i had contacted HD Law and have not heard anything since from them.

Can anyone advise me with what next steps i should take?

Thankyou in advance

[echat11]

Check that they are regulated by the SRA. If so lodge a complaint with the SRA and the Legal Ombudsman service as they hadn't responded previously. They might send a final response (or they might not). Don't talk to them over the phone, keep all communications in writing.

[els77]

Check that they are regulated by the SRA. If so lodge a complaint with the SRA and the Legal Ombudsman service as they hadn't responded previously. They might send a final response (or they might not). Don't talk to them over the phone, keep all communications in writing.

Thankyou, they are regualted by the SRA. Would it be advisable to send an email informing them of my intention to lodge a compliant with the SRA? It was about a year ago i received the money, then an invoice around February time and now this.

[echat11]

I would, give them a full summary of what's happened, explain that they haven't addressed the original complaint, they haven't followed their own complaints procedure (they should respond within a specified period), send a copy of the email you sent 4/5 months ago and explain that you will consider lodging a complaint with the Legal Ombudsman.

[els77]

After sending the legal team a copy of what I sent HD law when they invoiced me months ago. Today I received an email from the legal team saying I should have by now received a Letter before claim off them. Nothing has been delivered as of yet, no have the legal team acknowledged the emails I have sent regarding me disputing the invoice.

What do I do now!

[echat11]

EXC Can you kindly take a look.

They still haven't addressed you complaint as per their complaints procedure, even after 4 / 5 months. I would make a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.

https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/make-a-complaint/

[els77]

Should I email them again informing them they have not addressed the compliant I sent ages ago?

Also, when I receive the Letter before claim am I still able to put in a compliant to the Legal Ombudsman. I am presuming it will land on the door mat today or tomorrow as they’ve sent me the message about it this morning.

[echat11]

Should I email them again informing them they have not addressed the compliant I sent ages ago?

Also, when I receive the Letter before claim am I still able to put in a compliant to the Legal Ombudsman. I am presuming it will land on the door mat today or tomorrow as they’ve sent me the message about it this morning.

You complained 4/5 months ago and again a week ago, they still haven't addressed your concerns. Although they've started pre action protocols, you haven't received a claim. I would file a complaint, you lose nothing in doing that. Once they file a claim you won't be able to go to the Ombudsman.

There is no point in sending another email to them.

[els77]

Ok, Thankyou I’ll file a claim with the ombudsman today. Should I not notify them that I am doing this? I do t understand how this all works with the letter of action procedure.

[EXC]

You complained 4/5 months ago and again a week ago, they still haven't addressed your concerns. Although they've started pre action protocols, you haven't received a claim. I would file a complaint, you lose nothing in doing that. Once they file a claim you won't be able to go to the Ombudsman.

There is no point in sending another email to them.

Indeed. els77 needs to follow this advice and register the complaint with the LO ASAP, before the 6 month time limit from when the firm should have responded to the initial complaint expires.

[echat11]

Ok, Thankyou I’ll file a claim with the ombudsman today. Should I not notify them that I am doing this? I do t understand how this all works with the letter of action procedure.

You've complained, they've ignored your complaints. No you don't need to tell them, You'll be fine, new things always take a bit of time to understand. Just update the thread and do things in a timely fashion.

'm learning stuff all the time.

[EXC]

Just to say I think it's better to tell HD Law that you've filed a complaint with LO. That way it makes it difficult for them to continue to pursue payment while the formal complaints process is in play.

[echat11]

Just to say I think it's better to tell HD Law that you've filed a complaint with LO. That way it makes it difficult for them to continue to pursue payment while the formal complaints process is in play.

I stated the following on the 20th September, 'send a copy of the email you sent 4/5 months ago and explain that you will consider lodging a complaint with the Legal Ombudsman.' I'm not sure if that's been acted on.

But as you say, it won't hurt to inform them.

[els77]

Thankyou all. I received the Letter before claim yesterday. I will inform them that I’m putting a complaint in to the ombudsman again. I haven’t done it yet but it will be done by the end of today. Thankyou all for your help so far and o will keep you updated.

[els77]

Update,

I put in a complaint to the ombudsman and they are investigating