extortionate solicitors fees?

[CleverClogs]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

I think that It's disgusting that the law allows solicitors to be criminals.

It doesn't.

Rodney Hylton Potts was gaoled and struck off for his role in a multiple mortgage fraud.

[enquirer]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

It doesn't.

True ... they just enforce it selectively.

I know of one solicitor who stole at least £40,000 from clients.

He started off in one practice. When he was caught, they covered up and allowed him to resign. He then went down the road and set up on his own, where he went for it, big time. He was caught, but never prosecuted. He's still walking round the town, laughing at everyone he stole from.

[CleverClogs]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

I see that the buggers charged £225.56 for "Trustee Act Notices".

This is odd, as only one notice is required, in the London Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette or the Belfast Gazette; as no property is involved, no announcement need be made in a local newspaper.

The attached file explains it a little more clearly and sets out the prices...

[scottay2hottay]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

I see that the buggers charged £225.56 for "Trustee Act Notices".

This is odd, as only one notice is required, in the London Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette or the Belfast Gazette; as no property is involved, no announcement need be made in a local newspaper.

The attached file explains it a little more clearly and sets out the prices...

Thanks for that, so by saying notices, they are implying more than 1 notice, and you are saying that only 1 notice was necessary. Could there be another reason as to why they charged so much?

[CleverClogs]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

Thanks for that, so by saying notices, they are implying more than 1 notice, and you are saying that only 1 notice was necessary. Could there be another reason as to why they charged so much?

Greed?

Stupidity?

If you look at the prices charged by the appropriate Gazette, you will see that all are whole pounds. It is difficult, then, to understand the listed expense of £225.56 unless they placed an unnecessary advert in the local press or performed some strange calculation involving the date.

[scottay2hottay]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

I just noticed that solicitors were supposed to charge 1% value element of the total estate. On their final bill they charged £650
The total value of the estate was £19,000
£650 isn't 1% of 19000, it is approx 3.5% by my calculation

[MissFM]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

Brill Scottay - keep going. Also have just spotted really excellent advice from Enquirer on another thread qv "See if any of the solicitors in question appear on the SRA disciplinary hearings website"

[scottay2hottay]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

Brill Scottay - keep going. Also have just spotted really excellent advice from Enquirer on another thread qv "See if any of the solicitors in question appear on the SRA disciplinary hearings website"

I have already tried that a while back lol, they didn't appear on there.

[MissFM]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

Maybe they should

[scottay2hottay]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

I just wish that someone with more experience could have a look at these figures because I am convinced that something dodgy is going on with them.I am absolutely rubbish at maths. Also just because they have stated that they made x amount of phone calls and composed x amount of letters, doesn't mean they actually did that. I think that considering the amount that they have charged, they should prove to me how much work they carried out.

[MissFM]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

That's why you need the detail - unit by unit for every task along with the hourly rate and official role of who carried it out. As I understand it, the official route if you complain about a solicitor's bill is for an independent legal costs draughtsman to reassess it.

[alham]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

Totals as they stand are correct but a few points: VAT on travel?, you are correct about uplift on value element(about 3.5%). Administration charges (£4,200) seem very high for an estate this size unless all the money was deposited in multiple accounts, but even then one standard letter should do (obviously this amount includes travel time for all the meetings but considering they only charged £12 travel expenses it must have been very local, so 6 hours in total should be sufficient). Rest of processes are absolutely standard. Ask for a rate card and detailed breakdown as per other emails.

[gaz2006]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

if they were supposed to get 1% of estate that will be 1% plus disembursemenst ie if they have to pay out £500 for something that is added so it means they get 1% profit from estate estate is cash house possessions ertc so if estate inc all is 100k they would get 19k plus any costs they have paid out challenge them but real problem is your dad having them as executor it causes this problem

[wales01man]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

As the Op did not instruct the solicitor the deceased did does the OP have the legal right to contest the bill.on the other hand doesnt the solicitor have to provide a complete breakdown of costs and charges?

[gaz2006]

Re: extortionate solicitors fees?

yes he has legal right to challenge it through the appropriate channels first the actual solicitor then i presuem as im not clued up on al of this ombudsman or solicitors regulatory body etc