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Hello
I am completley at my wits end with the situation I am in and really hope I will be able to get some help from you.
About two and a half years ago I contacted a solicitor by phone and asked them for advice to do
with a problem i had at the time. I asked for one letter to be sent and we agreed a cost of £275. I did speak about the fact the if this letter did not work to rectify the situation then I may need further services.
The letter was sent and solved my problem so nothing else needed to be done. I requested an
invoice to be sent so I could pay. I did not hear so requested again. An invoice was sent to me for
£2,000. I queried this amount as it was well over the original estimate but I was told to pay and they would tell me what works had been done.
I queried it again and was told the same. A few weeks later I received an email from them saying they were going to start court proceedings I asked why but was only told that the invoice was outstanding. As I was getting nowhere I told the firm that I would reply to the court when the papers were received.
I did not hear any more until about eights months ago when I checked my credit file and found a county court judgement. I called the court and was told that the firm had obtained judgement.
Paper work had been sent but to an incorrect address. (The solicitors have confirmed to me that they used the wrong address) I had moved since the original works were carried out but the firm did have the new address on file. I contacted the court and requested that the file be transfered to my local court and a hearing was requested to have the judgement set aside. During this time bailiffs came to my house on four occassions. They had been instructed by the solicitors.
Last week I went to court to have the judgement set aside. The judge did not read my statement and did not let my witness speak.
The solicitors tried to claim anther £2,000 costs. The judge said the fees were high but did add on another £700.
I have contacted the Law Society who have said that I need to get legal advice.
I feel that I should start from scratch with this and contact the solicitors to make a formal complaint. I have also been advised to send a subject access Data Request and send a payment of £10.
I did not sign their client customer care letter or send my ID. The customer care letter states that further instructions to the firm confirms acceptance of their terms but I did not give further instructions.
I completely dispute the original invoice, the firm refuse to provide even a brief statement of costs and have brazenly gone to court and explained that they carried out £2,000 worth of work.
Unfortunately the solicitor who I originally dealt with does not work at the firm anymore so this makes it very difficult for me to prove my case.
I would just like to know if anyone is able to offer any advice on what steps I should take.
Many thanks
I am completley at my wits end with the situation I am in and really hope I will be able to get some help from you.
About two and a half years ago I contacted a solicitor by phone and asked them for advice to do
with a problem i had at the time. I asked for one letter to be sent and we agreed a cost of £275. I did speak about the fact the if this letter did not work to rectify the situation then I may need further services.
The letter was sent and solved my problem so nothing else needed to be done. I requested an
invoice to be sent so I could pay. I did not hear so requested again. An invoice was sent to me for
£2,000. I queried this amount as it was well over the original estimate but I was told to pay and they would tell me what works had been done.
I queried it again and was told the same. A few weeks later I received an email from them saying they were going to start court proceedings I asked why but was only told that the invoice was outstanding. As I was getting nowhere I told the firm that I would reply to the court when the papers were received.
I did not hear any more until about eights months ago when I checked my credit file and found a county court judgement. I called the court and was told that the firm had obtained judgement.
Paper work had been sent but to an incorrect address. (The solicitors have confirmed to me that they used the wrong address) I had moved since the original works were carried out but the firm did have the new address on file. I contacted the court and requested that the file be transfered to my local court and a hearing was requested to have the judgement set aside. During this time bailiffs came to my house on four occassions. They had been instructed by the solicitors.
Last week I went to court to have the judgement set aside. The judge did not read my statement and did not let my witness speak.
The solicitors tried to claim anther £2,000 costs. The judge said the fees were high but did add on another £700.
I have contacted the Law Society who have said that I need to get legal advice.
I feel that I should start from scratch with this and contact the solicitors to make a formal complaint. I have also been advised to send a subject access Data Request and send a payment of £10.
I did not sign their client customer care letter or send my ID. The customer care letter states that further instructions to the firm confirms acceptance of their terms but I did not give further instructions.
I completely dispute the original invoice, the firm refuse to provide even a brief statement of costs and have brazenly gone to court and explained that they carried out £2,000 worth of work.
Unfortunately the solicitor who I originally dealt with does not work at the firm anymore so this makes it very difficult for me to prove my case.
I would just like to know if anyone is able to offer any advice on what steps I should take.
Many thanks
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