Here are some simple rules that you would be well advised to follow to try and keep your solicitors costs down:
1. Do your own research before you consult a solicitor or lawyer. Search
keywords for your legal problem on the internet and make sure they are properly qualified to deal with your request.
2. Some solicitors will allow you 30 minutes of their time free, though this
free time may now be subject to other clauses such as you must agree to pay
for any letters that subsequently need to be sent, etc.
3. If you have embarked upon actions advised at no 1 on this list you should
have gathered a few pertinent questions ready. Take along any paperwork you
feel is relevant to your case.
4. know what you will likely be paying for your consultation, and ask the solicitor
for his advice regarding this issue. Your defendant will likely be charged
with paying these fees if you win your case anyway. Let the solicitor know
of any restrictions you face in how much you are able to afford. Once agreed
between you – get it in writing.
5. Ask your solicitor to agree to use e-mail only if this will keep down costs
and is suitable for you and your solicitor. They will likely charge you for
phone calls made to you subsequently and also for letters to yourself and other
bodies or individuals involved with your case. Charges for emails most likely
will be lower though this method of contact may not be agreed to as generally
they will not consider the method secure enough.
Posted in Business Insolvency.
Tagged with Bury St Edmunds, Central London, City of London, England, Hampshire, how much do i pay for my solicitor, Institute of Legal Executives, Norwich City F.C., solicitors costs, Suffolk.
By admin
– July 28, 2009
At this point in time June 2009 we are facing an absolute cataclysm of Uk companies and business facing possible bankruptcy. The problem being not only the current economic situation but that finance for the company is not being sought early enough. Companies are trusting debt collection to useless debt collector companies who just send out letters and never honestly try to liaise with the company’s debtor. There is also the avenue of miss-sold insurance policies and the possibility of debt that the company holds being written off due to mistakes that were made in the creation of the existing contracts. There are many ways in which a company’s trading life may be lengthened with the benefit of sound advice from experienced insiders who know what they are talking about.
One culprit in a company’s downfall are often the companies own bankers with double charging of fees fairly common, not to mention downright illegal fees being added at the companies expense.
Posted in Business Insolvency.
Tagged with Bankruptcy, Business, Collection agency, Company, company rescue, Debt, debt recovery, Debtor, Finance, Financial Services, insolvency, Insurance.
By admin
– July 14, 2009
The Administration of Justice Act 1970 S.40 makes it a Criminal Offence for a creditor or a creditor’s agent (often a debt collection agency) to make demands (for money), which are aimed at causing ‘alarm, distress or humiliation, because of their frequency or publicity or manner’. Equally, a creditor will be committing an offence if they falsely imply that non-payment of the debt will lead to criminal proceedings; or the creditor pretends to be someone they are not e.g. a court official or bailiff. It is also an offence to send a person a document which looks like it has been sent from a court.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
If you feel you are subject to Debt Collection Harassment then this too could be classed as a criminal offence. Harassment can be verbal or in writing and would include making repeated calls to your workplace or in anti social hours. The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 makes it a Criminal Offence for any person to pursue a course of action “which they know, or ought to know, amounts to harassment of another person”.
Debt Collection Guidelines
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has produced a set of Debt Collection and Debt Management Guidelines which sets out the types of debt collection practices which the OFT considers to be unfair. The guidelines do not apply to routine debt collection but are applicable to all accounts where payments have been missed, or are in arrears. The Guidelines include a section on ‘contacting debtors at unreasonable times and intervals’. Whilst the guidance does not spell out the types/times of when contact should occur, it does provide a list of examples which it might consider unfair: repeatedly calling at unsociable hours, calling places of work, or calling on Neighbours and disclosing the reason they are making these enquiries.
If you think a creditor has broken the law or has breached these guidelines- you should first raise it with the creditor or collector concerned. To start this process you will need to gather evidence. The first step is to record the times and contents of visits and calls, and to save any threatening letters. You should then write a letter of complaint informing the creditor that you are aware of the Debt Collection Guidelines and believe they are in breach of these as well as possibly been in breach of section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act. Ask them to stop what they are doing. You must however, tell the creditor how you would prefer to be contacted. If the situation does not improve you can make a more formal complaint against a creditor.
If the creditor continues to harass you then you can contact the following for further advice:
* Trading Standards
* Citizens Advice Bureau
* Office of Fair Trading
If the behaviour of the creditor (or any bailiffs or credit collection companies acting on behalf of the creditor) becomes at all violent or extremely threatening, the Police should be informed immediately.
with thanks to: http://www.payplan.com/debt-library/bailiffs-harassment.php
Posted in Business Insolvency.
Tagged with Administration of Justice Act, Business, Citizens Advice Bureau, Collection agency, Creditor, Debt Collection, Financial Services, Office of Fair Trading.
By admin
– July 14, 2009
