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Complaint about late parent will writing firm - which escalation route first, or all of them?

3 replies

Clementin50 · 24/07/2023 14:25

The law firm and estate is in England. I'm Scotland. I am the Executor and a joint beneficiary. Originally when complaining, I didn't want anything other than an apology and a 'we'll do better for the next client'.

However their partner has said my experience was acceptable (I'm not going to bore with full details here but as a professional I'd have been put on a performance plan,if not fired outright, for some of the behaviour experienced - fortunately I have lots of the evidence in writing which helps).

I now want to get it "on record" at how the dishonest employees working at their law firm practice. I don't want another grieving family going through what I did. (It involves a solicitor and their secretary, so 1 professional staff member and a support colleague.)

I have no final response to my complaint - I've asked for one but been ignored after a response email from them saying their service was acceptable and to request a review if I don't agree; I requested a review. Literally zero response. I think they're hoping I go away.

Do I go via the ombudsman first?
SRA?
Law society?
Google review?

All are options but I want to escalate things in the most logical order.

Note I'll be speaking to my legal household insurance provider this week, but I'm wondering what the best route is in the meantime.

(I'd be happy to throw £s at involving another law firm to sue for distress and unnecessary costs here too, but donate any gain to charity. My main desire is to publicly and professionally force this firm to acknowledge poor and dishonest practice which their own partner appears to endorse.)

OP posts:
XelaM · 24/07/2023 14:27

Report them to the SRA

KitKateKat · 24/07/2023 15:23

When we went through a similar experience with a dishonest solicitor (the partner / name of half the company) and threatened to take them to court over it, they shrugged and said we'd be dealing with their insurer not themselves as they pass it on, and they basically couldn't give a monkeys. You'd think they would just keep their noses clean and follow the law, but it seems they felt no need to do so. We haven't taken it further yet due to potential costs but it would have been satisfying to have them exposed. If you can afford to do it, please do it for all the people out there who have been let down.

XelaM · 24/07/2023 15:28

KitKateKat · 24/07/2023 15:23

When we went through a similar experience with a dishonest solicitor (the partner / name of half the company) and threatened to take them to court over it, they shrugged and said we'd be dealing with their insurer not themselves as they pass it on, and they basically couldn't give a monkeys. You'd think they would just keep their noses clean and follow the law, but it seems they felt no need to do so. We haven't taken it further yet due to potential costs but it would have been satisfying to have them exposed. If you can afford to do it, please do it for all the people out there who have been let down.

Report them to the SRA. Firms like this get intervened by the SRA on a regular basis. There is no cost involved. You can also complain to the Ombudsman.

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