'Disgraceful' solicitor overcharged estate by 574%
- Category: Private Client
- Date: 05-09-2017
'Disgraceful' Solicitor Overcharged Estate by 574%
An estate in the United Kingdom was recently overcharged by a solicitor for legal services by an outrageous 574%. The case, as reported by multiple news outlets, was deemed 'disgraceful' by the court.
The estate, owned by a family of four, originally hired a solicitor in order to help them manage their legal affairs, most notably the administration of their will. The family was shocked to find, however, that the solicitor had significantly overcharged them.
The court found that the solicitor had billed the family for an extraordinary amount of hours and had added on a number of additional costs and fees, totaling to a 574% increase on the original fee. On top of that, the solicitor had also failed to provide the family with a full breakdown of his work, making it impossible to determine the true nature of the bill.
The court, while sympathizing with the family, was unable to do anything to prevent the overcharging. Since the solicitor had followed the letter of the law, the court was unable to take any action against him. In response, the court urged all lawyers to be mindful of their clients and provide them with clear and transparent billing to prevent such cases from occurring in the future.
This case serves as a stark reminder to all who seek legal services. It is essential to fully understand the billing structure of any solicitor or legal firm, and to make sure all fees are transparent and reasonable. Doing so can help protect individuals and families from being taken advantage of.