Are these Solicitor fees legal??

[gravytrain]

Re: Are these Solicitor fees legal??

You are liable for the bill - it was 90 minutes after all - even though his rate is on the high side. If the estate is fairly simple, then £3500 for dealing with the whole matter is ridiculous, particularly when it is extremely likely that someone else will actually do the work. Using cheap junior staff (or even students), whilst charging for a partner, is a common dodge.

You could protest that it was not actually 90 minutes. Hinting that you might dispute the total may induce a little flexibility. Pay the final bill and get hold of the Will. Then you can go elsewhere.

Personally I wouldn't, unless they could demonstrate that their rate of charges were displayed prior to the service being taken.

I think I would make a reasonable offer, being a solicitor though most will just pay up, as they are afraid of the threatened repercussions of not doing so

[MissFM]

Re: Are these Solicitor fees legal??

You are liable for the bill -You could be liable for A bill (debatable) it was 90 minutes after all - even though his rate is on the high side. Which should have been communicated to the OP in advance. If the estate is fairly simple, then £3500 for dealing with the whole matter is ridiculous, particularly when it is extremely likely that someone else will actually do the work. Using cheap junior staff (or even students), whilst charging for a partner, is a common dodge. Very True - and the OP should have been given the option of different pricing scales for different levels of seniority. There is also an onus on the firm to provide effective senior supervision for junior/trainee staff who are charged at a much lower hourly rate.

You could protest that it was not actually 90 minutes. Hinting that you might dispute the total may induce a little flexibility. Pay the final bill and get hold of the Will. Then you can go elsewhere.

You could argue that - and you could argue that, had you known the clock was ticking, you would not have spent a good proportion of the time on idle chit-chat to be polite.

Personally, I would definitely lodge an official complaint and see what transpires.

[MissFM]

Re: Are these Solicitor fees legal??

I think the best thing would be for the OP to contact ('phone) the LOS and/orSRA for accurate and impartial advice, as a first recourse, ASAP.