Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

[DandD]

I'm a bit naive about this. But do all solicitors need to be members of the Law Society?

I have had a letter from a Solicitor in London demading a payment of £20,000 that I don't owe (I've NEVER personally had any money from his client).

He has done personal searches on me and knows all about me, so he is holding data on me.

I've tried to do a search on him via the Law Society website, but he doesn't exist, I've Googled him but he doesn't exist and I've looked at Yell and he doesn't exist.

I'm starting to think that this is a scam.

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

D

[Curlyben]

Re: Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

In short, YES.
The Law Society regulate all UK practices.

Who's the "solicitor" ?

[rameses_qc]

Re: Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

It's also an offence to pretend you're a solicitor when you'e not. The Solicitors Regulation Authority will want to see a copy of the letter so they can take action against them

[acsadvice]

Re: Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

D G Solicitors is an 'in-house legal function' for HSBC Bank (& First Direct) and they take over once HSBC have assigned debts to Metropolitan Collection Services. On 28/11/2011 the Solicitors Regulation Authority advised me that D G Solicitors are listed with them/Law Society only as a Commerce and Industry Organisation and are not SRA Regulated. They confofirmed again on 25/07/2012 that D G are not regulated and have now started an investigation because DG falsely state on their letterheads 'Regulated by the SRA -ID 346635. D G also use the consumer credit licence issued to HSBC and the OfT are currently investigating whether this is allowed. DG solicitors are, in effect, a dubious debt collection service who use threats and intimidation to bully former HSBC clients into paying off unsettled debts

[acsadvice]

Re: Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

For a solicitor to act as a solicitor and to claim to be a regulated solicitor they must be registered with the SRA. To check whetrher a solicitor is regulated e:mail:- contactcentre@sra.org.uk and if a solicitor is not regulated report it to report@sra.org.uk, providing evidence that they are claiming to be solicitors.

[bluebottle]

Re: Do Solicitors NEED to be members of the Law Society?

It is likely to be the Fraud Intelligence Unit of the SRA that is looking into D G Solicitors over their claims of being SRA-regulated. In addition to it being an offence under the Legal Services Act 2007 to pretend to be a legal professional and a barrister, it is also an offence under Section 2, Fraud Act 2006 (Fraud by False Misrepresentation).

If the OP does not owe any money and in view of the other factors involved, in my considered judgement, this matter needs to be referred to the Economic Crime Unit of the OP''s local police force.