Changing solicitor

[Click]

Hi,

I've decided to change solicitor, mainly due to poor service but also due to cost.

I had nearly sold my house + purchased another but it all fell through.

The solicitor had drawn up contracts for the sale of my house & sent them to purchaser’s solicitor etc. I also had some contract quires regarding the purchase of the other house.

As I said I never actually sold or purchased a house.

I have been hounding the solicitor for a bill for the above & eventually got one today 1500+vat.

I was prepared to pay for their time, I thought around 1K+vat might be the highest I could get charged.

I plan or ringing the solicitor tomorrow to discuss the amount.

What do other people think regarding the amount being charged, it covers writing up a contract for our house + dealing with some quires. How many hours would a solicitor put into something like this?

I want to be reasonable but I also do not want to be taken for a ride!!

Any comments appreciated (especially from any solicitors)

Many Thanks

 

[MOB]

It is hard to say without knowing more, but getting to contracts issued on the sale and receiving (and querying) contracts on a purchase would certainly come to 20\25% of the total work budgeted, and could come to as much as 50% of total work, depending on how the thing went.

 

[roker]

The solicitor should give you a written statement of cost before he/she starts.
I got a bill for over €4,000 for buying and selling two house. But because of the very bad service, I contacted the Law Society. Their first question was "did I have a written statement" which had not been produced. They took a considerable amount off the bill. You should put your complaint in writing to your solicitor first.