Now I've received a bill for the phone calls, him reading the documents I sent him, and the time for the meeting.
That is nearly like walking into a shop and a shop assistant spends an hour helping you pick out some items they have for sale. However for argument sake lets say the items weren't price marked and nothing was mentioned. Then when you get to the checkout you realize these items were way more expensive than you thought. You don't suddenly have to fork out for all the 'help' you got from the assistant, he/she should've let you know in advance so tough luck and I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time it happened either so they should be more conscious of letting the customers/clients know from the outset!!
A solicitor is obliged to send a s.68 estimate only when they can first reasonably establish the amount of work and type of work involved. We are not psychic and cannot assess this prior to getting initial instructions, and sometimes relevant papers/title etc. So it doesn't sound to me as though the solicitor here was necessarily late in sending a s.68 at all.
Furthermore the lack of a s.68 does not mean a solicitor cannot charge fees. If a solicitor doesn't send a s.68 it is an internal disciplinary matter within the Law Society, and has no bearing on whether the costs are actually due.
That's a nonsense comparison.
From my experience all solicitors charge a per hour fee (for most work) so why would it matter about the work involved.
Not all solicitors time cost their work.
Secondly, solicitors are entitled to charge for initial consultations.
Maybe so, but not exactly the best way to establishing long term relationships with new clients or growing a business based on good customer service! It would be very short sighted as the vast majority of people use the same solicitor for most of their life!!
It all depends on the circumstances. In the particular case here, clearly the OP had telephone conversation/s, sent in documents which the solicitor had to spend time reading and a consultation during which it may well be that not only instructions were taken but initial advice given. They were then contacted to say their services would no longer be used. In those circumstances I would think the solicitor was quite right to charge. They have every right to do so and , and, it seems from the limited information available, that the s.68 letter was given at the appropriate time. So your initial knee jerk reaction advice to the OP to point blank refuse to pay and complain to the Law Society are way off base.
So saying the solicitor was dishonest is a very far reaching statement in the circumstances, and frankly, your statement referring to paying good money for their services is ironic given that you initially advised OP to pay nothing at all.
I think it's appalling that you wouldn't think it was correct behavour to pay him for his services. His time costs money. It was up to you to agree a no fees initial consultation if you so wished and it was also up to you to at the very least ask him how much his fees are.
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