Slippy solicitor bills
Question
I recently used a solicitor and paid in advance by credit card. Some months after all business had been completed, they charged additional fees to the card. I didn't feel this was justified, and nor did I believe I had given my consent. However, I am having some difficulty with the credit card company in obtaining a refund. Where do I stand?
Answer
When you paid the initial bill, it should have stated that it was the final bill and, as such, that it was all you were contracted to pay. In this case, you should not have been charged any more.
If, however, it was not the final bill but an interim bill then they would be entitled to make the extra charges - once all the accounting was processed. It is good practice to send you a final account that clearly states: the amount already billed, the amount paid, and the final charges levied.
You have several courses of action, both informal and formal, that you can use to try and resolve this dispute. It's always recommended that you try to settle situations like this informally first by asking for an itemised bill, and also copies of any paperwork authorising them to make this further charge.
If this does not resolve the problem, you may want to issue a formal complaint through the firm's internal complaints procedure, which all solicitors must have.
Should this fail to sort things out, you could apply for a remuneration certificate or ask for an assessment . This will depend on the type of work done for you, the amount of the bill and the time since the final bill was paid. You can find out more about these, as well as ways to get redress from your solicitor, by visiting the Law Society's Consumer Complaints Service website or calling their helpline on 0845 608 6565. Ultimately, of course, you can always take the solicitor to court.
As to the credit card company, you will need to ask for a copy of their complaints procedure and use this to try and resolve the problem. If this fails you may need to involve the Financial Services Authority (FSA) or the Financial Ombudsman.
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Question answered by CAB
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