Solicitor Ignores Complaint and now Sent Letter before action

[ShaftedAgain]

Hi All,

I hope you can help with this.

I instructed a firm of Solicitors to help with some issues I had.

To begin with all was fine. I had them in the background and was instructing as and when needed.

Then they started doing things without instructions.

The final straw came when I asked for a one hour consultation, I received a vague email and an hour bill for it.

I asked to complain via phone and was told to put it in writing. All complaints ignored.

I have now received via email to my work email address a letter before action.

I am about to go to the legal ombudsman.

My questions are this.

1) Can they sue me?
2) Should I pay Bill is £1500+VAT. I could possibly pay but it would create hardship.
3) Should I do anything else.

Thanks in advance.

[thedirtyhound]

The solicitor should have issued you with a letter of engagement when you first consulted them, including details of their fee structure. That is your starting point. Did you get one?