Robbing fecking solicitors

[dancingqueen345]

Just received a letter from my solicitor today (buying) stating that I've currently racked up £240 worth of charges for queries I've sent to them at £20 a time.

Now inevitably this will be buried in the terms and conditions somewhere but I'm just fuming with how unethical it seems and unfair!!

No point to this really I'm just angry and needed to vent!

I would only use a conveyancer who charged a fixed fee. Otherwise how can I compare quotes as I have no idea what issues will arise. Obviously the firm can charge as they wish, but should make this very clear so people can make informed decisions.

It does sound wrong. Where are you at with the transaction?

Sorry no, the £1800 includes disbursements, and that is gross of VAT.

I don't want to name them until I've spoken to them and given them to opportunity to explain in case I've completely missed something!

Did they actually itemise it as £20 per query or did you calculate that yourself? Cos £240 for sending a solicitor's letter sounds plausible, regardless of contents. However as others have said, this sounds like something that should be included in the fixed fee so definitely query it.

@ButteredScone they have just issued me with the contract for signature, the fixtures and fittings form and the property enquiries form so hopefully be ready to exchange in a couple of weeks.

Sounds rubbish op. I'd be complaining and then taking it to the SRA? ( can't recall the exact acronym) but they have a regulatory body you can escalate things to.

Sounds rubbish. It is not typical to charge for additional for that - part and parcel of a transaction.

I'm a conveyancing solicitor. If I was charging 1800 plus additional enquiries, I'd be loaded. Most conveyancing is fixed fee nowadays.

Bit late but you should have checked. Should be fixed fee and there's a letter of engagement detailing charges.

When I was house selling I went round the high street dinosaurs. One was going to charge extra for each photocopy!

So of the £1800 how much is their actual fee?

This has happened to me recently, solicitors bill came to a couple of hundred pounds more than the quote I was given. I plan to query this and this thread has spurred me on.