Solicitor Fees

lub006

Hi,

I was dealing with a Solicitor for 5months about an issue. I have never met this Solicitor and we only discussed the issue over the phone and I emailed her the information required. The case went so far, and I wasn't confident in getting the result I required, so I thought I was going to loose in court and I decided to cancel my case.

Point is, It didn't reach the courts, I never met the Solicitor (Couldn't tell you what they looked like). Their fee was 1000 euro. and then the charges for everything else, including an Affidavit by a Barrister (450euro). The total was 1950 euro.

The thing is, I cancelled because I was broke, I new I would wind up owing thousands if Barristers got involved and it didn't go to plan. I was thinking I would owe around 600-700 euro.

I can't afford to pay this. What happens if you are unable to pay the fees??

blueythebear

lub006 wrote: »

Hi,

I was dealing with a Solicitor for 5months about an issue. I have never met this Solicitor and we only discussed the issue over the phone and I emailed her the information required. The case went so far, and I wasn't confident in getting the result I required, so I thought I was going to loose in court and I decided to cancel my case.

Point is, It didn't reach the courts, I never met the Solicitor (Couldn't tell you what they looked like). Their fee was 1000 euro. and then the charges for everything else, including an Affidavit by a Barrister (450euro). The total was 1950 euro.

The thing is, I cancelled because I was broke, I new I would wind up owing thousands if Barristers got involved and it didn't go to plan. I was thinking I would owe around 600-700 euro.

I can't afford to pay this. What happens if you are unable to pay the fees??

If you can't afford this, then why on earth would you engage the assistance of a professional when you have no money or intention of paying for it? There was clearly no mention of a no-foal no-fee arrangement here going by what you've said above.

If you are unable to afford the fees, then the solicitor could take you to court for the fees and you will have a judgment against you. This will affect your ability to obtain credit into the future and worse still, there are then various enforcement mechanisms open to the solicitor to get you to pay up, from sending the sheriff out, to docking sums directly from your wages to imprisonment.

First thing you should be doing is to request a detailed breakdown of the amounts owed and make an offer of an installment type payment plan.

lub006

blueythebear wrote: »

lub006 wrote: »

Hi,

I was dealing with a Solicitor for 5months about an issue. I have never met this Solicitor and we only discussed the issue over the phone and I emailed her the information required. The case went so far, and I wasn't confident in getting the result I required, so I thought I was going to loose in court and I decided to cancel my case.

Point is, It didn't reach the courts, I never met the Solicitor (Couldn't tell you what they looked like). Their fee was 1000 euro. and then the charges for everything else, including an Affidavit by a Barrister (450euro). The total was 1950 euro.

The thing is, I cancelled because I was broke, I new I would wind up owing thousands if Barristers got involved and it didn't go to plan. I was thinking I would owe around 600-700 euro.

I can't afford to pay this. What happens if you are unable to pay the fees??

If you can't afford this, then why on earth would you engage the assistance of a professional when you have no money or intention of paying for it? There was clearly no mention of a no-foal no-fee arrangement here going by what you've said above.

If you are unable to afford the fees, then the solicitor could take you to court for the fees and you will have a judgment against you. This will affect your ability to obtain credit into the future and worse still, there are then various enforcement mechanisms open to the solicitor to get you to pay up, from sending the sheriff out, to docking sums directly from your wages to imprisonment.

First thing you should be doing is to request a detailed breakdown of the amounts owed and make an offer of an installment type payment plan.

I engaged and quit because I was assuming it was gonna cost around 600-700 quid. That I was able to pay and in installments. This quote just blew me out of the water and if the solicitor is willing to except payment by installments, it'll be over 2-3 years..... 1000 euro fee and VAT for someone I never even seen..... They must think people are buttoned up the back. I will be contacting them to arrange that 1000 to be itemised and since I requested the bill last year, I will also be contesting the 23% VAT they slapped on too.....

Milk & Honey

It sounds absolutely ludicrous that a solicitor accepted you as a client over the phone and instructed counsel without ever meeting you. Did you receive a letter setting out the basis of the charge before any work was done?

lub006

Milk & Honey wrote: »

It sounds absolutely ludicrous that a solicitor accepted you as a client over the phone and instructed counsel without ever meeting you. Did you receive a letter setting out the basis of the charge before any work was done?

To be honest, I did receive letters that I had to sign, none had stated what the charges would be. I'm going to go over all the letters at the weekend before I contact them..... But I know for sure, there was never a letter stating the amount they would be charging... I wouldn't have pursued it, knowing it was that much.

Sala

I will also be contesting the 23% VAT they slapped on too

I don't there is any point contesting VAT as well, you have to pay it at 23% regardless. They should have given you a s68 letter saying they estimate you will have to pay x amout + VAT + outlays.

Edit: Just realised, are you contesting it on the grounds it should be 21% - given that it just went up recently? I still think you have to pay VAT at the rate it is set at when you are billed not when the services are provided.

potsy11

A family member had a similar experience where she made an inquiry with a solicitor regarding legal separation. The solicitor consulted with a Barrister (for all of 2 mins). the family member then decided not to pursue the separation.

Solicitor fee €1000
Barrister fee €750

Plus Vat

Year was 2009. Not bad for 2 consultations with solicitor...

:eek:

lub006

I'm not too sure if I received an S68 letter, but there was deff no guidance on how much it was going to cost. I understand it to cost money, I'm totally for that too... I find 1000 euro + VAT on top of the cost they incurred while investigating.... I wouldn't have went ahead with it. To be honest I would have been content with 500-600 euro. Paid it off over time, but this is something I can't actually afford..... A friend of a friend has a family member who is a solicitor and is going to look at the letters and said off hand that the charge is ridiculous!!!

lub006

potsy11 wrote: »

A family member had a similar experience where she made an inquiry with a solicitor regarding legal separation. The solicitor consulted with a Barrister (for all of 2 mins). the family member then decided not to pursue the separation.

Solicitor fee €1000
Barrister fee €750

Plus Vat

Year was 2009. Not bad for 2 consultations with solicitor...

:eek:

Did she pay it?? Or what way did she pay it? I can't imagine that people go in and pay it fully in one go?? But it saying that, I wouldn't be able to pay 50 a week for a year either....

Jimdagym

lub006 wrote: »

I'm not too sure if I received an S68 letter, but there was deff no guidance on how much it was going to cost. I understand it to cost money, I'm totally for that too... I find 1000 euro + VAT on top of the cost they incurred while investigating.... I wouldn't have went ahead with it. To be honest I would have been content with 500-600 euro. Paid it off over time, but this is something I can't actually afford..... A friend of a friend has a family member who is a solicitor and is going to look at the letters and said off hand that the charge is ridiculous!!!

When you were having your phone chats with your solicitor, did you mention that you would pay the bill over time, or just assume it would be ok?

d4head77

I had call to hire a solicitor and barrister recently. The circumstances required more than what you detail and my bill was €3000. But the solicitor told me up front and was clear about it. I have asked him to price something further that arose out of the initial case, but haven't heard yet, but he has an email from me asking. I won't proceed unless I hear back, and the cost is affordable.

lub006

Jimdagym wrote: »

lub006 wrote: »

I'm not too sure if I received an S68 letter, but there was deff no guidance on how much it was going to cost. I understand it to cost money, I'm totally for that too... I find 1000 euro + VAT on top of the cost they incurred while investigating.... I wouldn't have went ahead with it. To be honest I would have been content with 500-600 euro. Paid it off over time, but this is something I can't actually afford..... A friend of a friend has a family member who is a solicitor and is going to look at the letters and said off hand that the charge is ridiculous!!!

When you were having your phone chats with your solicitor, did you mention that you would pay the bill over time, or just assume it would be ok?

I assumed it would be ok to leave money in anytime I got my hands on it. They or I have no other choice really..... I'll call their office on Monday and explain to them that I don't have the money. And will they accept payments over a period of time..... I did hear that they can Issue a letter under a certain act.... But sure if they take me to court it will result in that way too... As I said, I'm not objecting to paying them, I am objecting to the fee and if made pay the total it will have to be done over a very long period of time.

qz

lub006 wrote: »

I assumed it would be ok to leave money in anytime I got my hands on it.

How can you legitmately expect any professional to operate on the same basis as you if this is how you retain services?