Freeholders solicitor overcharged

Freeholders solicitor overcharged

9:07 AM, 24th June 2014, About 10 years ago 13

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When I recently sold my flat in London the freeholders solicitor produced the management pack with bills for ground rent, insurance and service charges after I paid the fee for this. Some charges had been paid over the 3 years of ownership but there was a discrepancy of £400 as some cheques had not been cashed. Laterly I had been paying into the freeholders solicitors client account. Freeholders solicitor overcharged

Just before completion the freeholders solicitor double charged for the 2014 ground rent making an overpayment of £600. In order to complete the sale this was settled with pro-rata refund from the buyer for the 2014 payments made.

How do I go about getting back:-

1) the £200 double charged for the 2014 ground rent.

2) the £400 overpayment and

3) the estimated £900 paid for nothing to the freeholder (interim payment £200 p/a less fictitious payments) as nothing had been done by the freeholder during my ownership.

I believe the freeholders solicitor has made a mistake but he has been unhelpful and won’t look again at the figures.

Can I make a complaint to the regulatory body for the solicitor ?

Can I bring a claim in the land court ?

Any advice please?

Many thanks

Steven


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Comments

Si G

23:18 PM, 29th July 2014, About 10 years ago

I have served a seven day letter to pay and instructed a firm to collect the debt, I will add interest and costs from 1st August. I am also preparing a complaint to the solicitors regulator and will start a small claim. If this small firm of London solicitors want to play hardball then thats fine with me as I have plenty of time and experience, all I am asking from them is to repay me the money extorted from me when i sold my flat, perhaps they will value their reputation more than the money which was overcharged ?

Si G

15:49 PM, 5th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Update - £200 double charging for 2014 ground rent refunded.
Debt collectors instructed to collect the remaining £400 overcharging from freeholders solicitor (this prompted a quick response from the partners of the firm !)
Client preparing a small claim for the £400 overcharged (deadline was 1st August)
No response from freeholder as to what the £500 annual payment was for
Other lesees questioning the freeholder about charges and lack of maintenance

Puzzler

16:35 PM, 7th November 2014, About 10 years ago

Shakeel, I have just come back to this thread and sadly I agree that in some cases you are right. However I was speaking on the premise of what is required by law to be provided (accounts etc. ). If the parties do not do so then it is very tricky.

Simon, I am puzzled as the original poster was Steven?

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