Completion question - Urgent!!

[Cabbages97]

I am completing on Friday (leasehold flat) and just been sent final solicitor's bill. It's extortionate but also, it doesn't seem to add up. I have gone through with a fine tooth comb.

One question - one item is listed as
"Your advance payment of service to..."
and left blank after the word "to", - no name or anything.
The fee for this is a large amount of ££.

Is this the service charge for the building?

If so, then I have already spoken to the building management who say we can just pay by monthly direct debit and set up once we move in.

is there anything else this could be??

About to go hungry for the rest of the month until payday

It does sound a bit ambiguous. Best to ring your sols and ask them what it is for.

Also congratulations, buying is a great feeling but can be very stressful!

Definitely query that before you pay!

Call them and ask them to explain each item. Go back to your original correspondence with them where you agreed their fee and compare.

Sounds like they are paying for the service charge as an annual one off on your behalf , ring the solicitor and ask , your final bill should only be their fees plus any fees made on your behalf ie searches, stamp, land registry etc perhaps they don't realise that you are in contact with the management company and have made your own agreement ?
Good luck with the property it's a wonderful feeling getting a new place

Thank you everyone. Still not managed to get through to completion department at solicitors as they are unavailable - aah! Need to get an answer today though!

I really hope that is what this item is (service charge) and not something I genuinely have to pay the solicitor for. Can't think what else it would be though, other than building service charge.

Turn out this was paid in advance by the seller so we we them - but we didn't know this or authorise it!

I think that's quite common,the charge is apportioned between the seller and the purchaser

Sooo, update in case this happens to anyone else. The seller paid a year instalment in advance starting this month and this is what I am refunding on the completion statement. However, I had already set up an arrangement with the management agent of the building to pay my charges on monthly direct debit starting in July! (as we all knew we were completing end of June anyway).

And my solicitor was aware of this. 1 week prior to exchanging the seller hadn't paid this so for some reason they have decided / been advised to do this since then and they have paid it all on my behalf without my knowledge.

Luckily the managing agent said they will refund the seller and I can set up my direct debit as agreed.

If not I would be shelling out ££££ which I have set aside for decorating and furniture costs.

So just need solicitor to re-issue the completion statement sans the service charge amount.

Glad it's all resolved reasonably, there's so much to go wrong but it'll all be forgotten once you have the keys!