How do you deinstruct a solicitor without paying?

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I met and instructed one 2.5 weeks ago on a Mon and she said she'd look at our case and call me on Wed.

She didn't call on wed, Thurs or fri. On Mon I had a legal deadline to meet that I dealt with myself without guidance as otherwise would have missed it.

On Wed and every day since I have called for her secretary to tell me she'll call me back the next day. She hasn't.

She us VERY expensive.

How do I de-instruct her and get away without paying whatever it might be she has claimed to have done since instruction.

Many tia.

You don't. What you do is de-instruct the solicitor, pay the bill and complain to the person in the firm designated to deal with complaints. If you are unhappy with the outcome of that you then go to the legal ombudsman.

I don't know what the bill might be. I haven't a clue what she has been doing. She never returns my phonecalls but it is clear there hasn't been one outcome or anything produced. I don't think I should receive a bill as I have to fork out again for another solicitor.

Have you signed a client care letter, aka a terms of business letter?

Yes, she asked to meet with me and I had to bring signed t&c, which I did. Not heard or seen her since and have met one deadline myself and am about to miss another so want to instruct someone else.

What we did in a similar situation -

1. we sent a letter uninstructing useless solicitor
2. we got a £5K bill
3. nearly had a heart attack
4. phoned the legal ombudsman
5. did not pay bill
6. wrote a letter of complaint to solicitors' complaint person highllighting crap service and that we are disputing the bill and will be taking them to ombudsman
7. received a letter denying all responsibility but reducing the bill to £2.5K
8. wrote a second letter insisting on full write off
9. received letter of apology for crap service with bill fully written off

Successful outcome but it took a couple of months and was extremely stressful. Also had to find a new solicitor after this which is even more expensive but at least actually doing something.

Okay, I've just had an apology email saying solicitor had to be away from work quite a bit and will contact me on fri.

Hmm.

Will phone person who recommended her and ask whether this is an unusual blip or normal before I decide.

Thank all.