Bill of costs but no invoices?

[samanthamplified]

Hello,

(I'm a litigant in person)

I've received a bill of costs (with commencement), but no copies of invoices issued from the solicitors to their client?

I've asked for the invoices.

But, how do I proceed?

Do I still send a points of dispute with the assumption the (ridiculous) hours they say to have charged are true?

If not, then what do I do if they don't provide invoices?

Thanks in advance!

(I really appreciate the input from people on here, it means a lot x)

[samanthamplified]

Anybody?

[samanthamplified]

Please?

[Collaborate]

You're not entitled to the solicitor/client invoice. You must serve your points of dispute based on what the BoC contains. You need to either claim that they didn't spend as long on the case as they claim, or that it was unreasonable for them to spend as long as they did.

[MrsBertBibby]

Also check the status of fee earners. I've had bills lodged where the solicitor claimed to be Grade A (8 years plus PQE) yet she was only admitted 5 years before.

[samanthamplified]

Hi,

Thanks.

But, seriously, they don't need to provide invoices?

They're cowboys and their client did not pay them or was charged the money they claim - I'm 100% sure of this

Is my only avenue disputing each claim in a points of dispute?

Can I raise an issue that I think the whole claim is falsely exaggerated?

[Crazycatlady83]

You aren't entitled to the invoices between a solicitor and a client. They are private between them and protected by professional privilege. The bill of costs IS the invoice for your purpose and will probably be way more detailed than a invoice between the Solicitor and their client. It would have been prepared after detailed examination of the file, usually by an outside Costs Draftsman who specialises in preparing Bills of this sort. You have to file your points of dispute. You have already been ordered to pay the costs so unless you have appealed this Order, it's too late to say the whole claim is false. The only thing you can do is go through point as suggested by Collaborate

[TreaterAnita]

They don't have to show that they invoiced their client for the fees claimed, it only had to be the amount that their client would have been obliged to pay if unsuccessful (unless acting under a CFA).

However costs need to be reasonable and proportionate - you're better advised to focus your POD on that rather than alleging fraud.