Any lawyers know about getting bill's assessed?

[superduperdiva]

Being chasd for unpaid solicitors's fees but think we've been overcharged.

Bills from 2009 to the summer. Trying to understnad the rules and i cant get my head around them. I've been told anything more than 12m ago we must pay and cant have re-assessed? Or there must be special circumstances? Like what? I think we've been overcharged, is that a special circumstance?

What about the ones from less than 12m ago? Can they be reassessed? Does that need special circumstances too or can I just apply to a court for a reassessment?

Long story why we've not paid them yet - been waiting for house to sell and then that fell through. Know I need to pay them and solicitors firm is being ok about it although saying they wont change the bill now.

I just cant get my head around this

When the matter, to which the costs relate, has been concluded should there is a time limit in England & Wales of three months to commence detailed assessment proceedings. A late application will only exceptionally be accepted if the party can show good reason for not having applied sooner. Examples of good reasons would be damage to documents because of fire or flood, court delays in sending out a final order, related actions awaiting final disposal that prevent reassessment.

But this isnt costs awarded in court this is fees due to my solicitor. What youre saying there is court costs.

Are you saying that you've been billed over the past two years, and you only now want to dispute it, or are you saying that you have been given one bill for that entire time? If the latter, were you sent cost update letters throughout that time to keep you up to date with the costs?