Auctioneer fee after 2 1/2 years

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roker

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"2 1/2 years ago I sold my house and assumed that the solicitor paid the auctioneer fees minus the deposit from the sales of the house. I have just receive an invoice from the estate agent dated 2005 and addressed to the solicitor for €2,500 which is still outstanding. As the solicitor has all of the details I am reluctant to pay this. Any thoughts on this
 
Did you not get a breakdown of fees and outlay from the solicitor. They should have provided you with a full statement.

Usually the auctioneer would write to the solicitor with a closing account which the solicitor would pay off. However an assumption isn't the strongest defence!
 
It shows you how the market has turned. Check your paperwork. I think, but not 100 % sure, but would say you are liable.
 
It is the posters liability in the first instance. After all they would have instructed the auctioneer. Unless the solicitor said he had paid it and kept the money it will remain the OP's liability.
 
roker said:
"2 1/2 years ago I sold my house and assumed that the solicitor paid the auctioneer fees minus the deposit from the sales of the house. I have just receive an invoice from the estate agent dated 2005 and addressed to the solicitor for €2,500 which is still outstanding. As the solicitor has all of the details I am reluctant to pay this. Any thoughts on this
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Did you not check your own figures? You were selling your house. You engaged a solicitor and an auctioneer. You are responsible for both their fees. As much as possible, I try to stay out of the auctioneer end of things ( I'm a solicitor) and I ask the clients/auctioneers to deal with each other.

Its not good enough to say the solicitor has all the details - you should know yourself or make sure you find out yourself what the eventual figures were.

mf
 
call your solicitor and ask them to send you a copy of the balancing statement from the house sale.
 
Usually the auctioneer will take his fee from the deposit and send the remainder to the solicitor. Regarding mercmans input, even in the boom period I don't know of any auctioneer that would simply let a fee go. Its either a serious admin fault on the EA's behalf, or he is double charging (by mistake maybe). I wouldn't pay out until you are happy with all paperwork provided an invoice after 2.5 years alone is not good enough.
 
Thank you all for your reply. The solicitors bill was complicated because I was billed for three transactions. The purchase of the original house and the sale of it 18 months later, plus the purchase of my present house.

Stifter
Could you explain what is meant by "poster" and OP

MrMan
I agree that I should get all of the details before paying. I must pay what I agreed to pay, but there was extra on this invoice that I did not agree to. I would not have normally seen this bill if it was not for the alleged none payment as it was sent direct to the solicitor.

mf1
My own figures seem to be OK, but then I am a tradesman not an accountant, that is why I hire a solicitor. Note, that transactions are normally carried out with out the seller or buyers knowledge of what is going on behind the scene. The Estate agent gets a deposit, the solicitor has the privilege of holding another deposit (and subsequent interest), and also accepting the full payment for the house, deducting fees and finalising the account. How can you keep out of it?

There is clearly negligence from both parties. after 2 1/2 years to be hit with a bill that is not bugeted for. I do not want to pay twice.
How long can a bill be outstanding? can it go on 10 years or forever, when I am pensioner?
 
Poster= someone who writes a post (like what I'm doing now).
OP= Original poster, the person who started the thread/ asked the question.
Best regards
 
Roker, There appears to be a few comments that this matter remains your fault. Unless I am completelyu wrong, I as in the case of most, work on the principle that if money is owed, I will pay on receipt of Invoice and statement. I will never ever chase a person or company to send me an Invoice. And if I don't receive one, I don't pay. You are not at fault here.
 
In my experience the auctioneer's fee is taken from the deposit. In some situations the deposit is not enough to pay the auctioneer and then it is sometimes paid by the solicitor out of the funds received by the seller from the sale of the property. Others pay it directly to the auctioneer. In any case when you got a bill from the solicitor you should have checked to see that the auctioneer was paid and the auctioneer should have sent you a receipt as it is you who hired the auctioneer. I think it's wrong of the auctioneer to send you a bill 2 and a half years later, but if it hasn't been paid you will be liable.
 
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