Charges for DWP investigation

[Smurfy]

How much do solicitors charge for handling a DWP investigation?
My sister and myself are executors of our late mother's will. The family solicitor is handling all of our legal affairs with regards to probate at an agreed fee.
Mum didn't leave much and claimed even less. A few weeks after her death our solicitor got in touch to say the DWP wanted to investigate to see if she'd been overpaid any benefits. It came back negative with no money owing back to the DWP.
We are now are in the process of completing the sale of mum's house (below £100,000). A statement has arrived from the solicitors that has two charges on it that we do not understand. One of them is an extra charge of £800 +VAT which equates to four hours work.
When we asked about it they blithely said "That was the DWP investigation".
Surely all they had to do was supply bank statements and fill in one form for the DWP?
Can anyone verify this as I can't believe this was no more than an hours work given that my mums finances were so simple and she didn't owe anybody anything.

[nemesis45]

Re: Charges for DWP investigation

How much do solicitors charge for handling a DWP investigation?
My sister and myself are executors of our late mother's will. The family solicitor is handling all of our legal affairs with regards to probate at an agreed fee.
Mum didn't leave much and claimed even less. A few weeks after her death our solicitor got in touch to say the DWP wanted to investigate to see if she'd been overpaid any benefits. It came back negative with no money owing back to the DWP.
We are now are in the process of completing the sale of mum's house (below £100,000). A statement has arrived from the solicitors that has two charges on it that we do not understand. One of them is an extra charge of £800 +VAT which equates to four hours work.
When we asked about it they blithely said "That was the DWP investigation".
Surely all they had to do was supply bank statements and fill in one form for the DWP?
Can anyone verify this as I can't believe this was no more than an hours work given that my mums finances were so simple and she didn't owe anybody anything.

Good morning, welcome to LB.

£200 per hour is not unreasonable, dealing with the DWP can be difficult and prolonged, you can request a full explanation on how and why the fee has been calculated. e.g. what level was the fee earner entitled to claim, the disbursements etc.

nem

[Smurfy]

Re: Charges for DWP investigation

Thanks Nem. But it does seem to suggest that whilst my mum was honest and left very little, someone from DWP decides to investigate, they find nothing untoward and we get slapped with a bill for £960!

[nemesis45]

Re: Charges for DWP investigation

Thanks Nem. But it does seem to suggest that whilst my mum was honest and left very little, someone from DWP decides to investigate, they find nothing untoward and we get slapped with a bill for £960!

It does I agree, yet if a principal fee earning solicitor had dealt with this then one would expect the fee to be around double what has been charged.

nem