He requested the fee before the court appearance.
Hi, I had a court appearance recently for a minor motoring offence & the charge was struck out on the day. My solicitor never even had to utter a word in court but still charged me €300!! Is he entitled to do this? To the best of my knowledge, all he did prior to the court appearance was obtain a copy of the charge sheet? He requested the fee before the court appearance and I obliged naturally but do other posters feel this fee is merited or do I have recourse to request a (partial) refund? Thanks.
do posters think this represents good value or is it another example of the rip-off culture that exists among many of the professions in this country?
Appears the solicitor has lots of support on Askaboutmoney! Here's the course of events for reference....I placed a call to his office asking for representation which was fielded by his secretary (30 seconds). At her request, I fax through a copy of the charge sheet. Some time later, he calls me back to briefly (5 minutes) discuss the incident. Next time we meet is 1 minute before court convenes (1 minute conversation), 10 seconds of which is usurped by him asking for a €300 fee (paid in cash & no receipt). Later during the course of proceedings, the court clerk reads the charge to which a Garda Inspector replies, charge struck out. Solicitor doesn't even need to stand or utter a word. I leave court, he shakes my hand & wishes my good luck (5 seconds).
If he had to argue my case & then its struck out, I'd think ok, €300, not bad, but €300 for a 5 minutes phonecall & another 1.5 minutes on courtesies??? As far travelling to meet me, my case was about 50th on the list, by which time he had represented at a minimum 20 other clients, so I don't accept that he travelled just to represent me.
To Bronte: I agree, his fee would have been value had he had a role in the strike out.
To MF1: Wrt your doctor example, if he had a part in easing my pain, I'd have no issue paying (albeit feeling stupid that I didn't recognise that the only problem was a tight shoe!)
My original question stands - do posters think this represents good value or is it another example of the rip-off culture that exists among many of the professions in this country?
I fax through a copy of the charge sheet. Some time later, he calls me back to briefly (5 minutes) discuss the incident.
Not necessarily - some people are just trying to tease out the details after your initial sketchy post.Appears the solicitor has lots of support on Askaboutmoney!
Is there a possibility that simple by appearing on your behalf this helped secure the strike out or would that necessarily have happened anyway?I agree, his fee would have been value had he had a role in the strike out.
€300 fee (paid in cash & no receipt).
i agree that a professional has to be paid for time spent so my only query is regarding the above which i find strange - did he ask for cash? did you ask for a receipt / invoice? if not I would def ask for one now
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