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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
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One for the property boffs
sold a flat in last year. completed Apr'19.

I'm still waiting for solicitors to refund £500 which was help back should the service charge have escalated once accounts are made up.

Evil or Very Mad
Post #834803 2nd Jun 2020 4:18pm
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RFT



Member Since: 13 Nov 2010
Location: Cheshire
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Solicitor will sit on your money until you ask them for it. Such a lovely customer focussed profession!!!! 130 Puma HCPU with an Artica 240LR Demountable Camper
Post #834804 2nd Jun 2020 4:22pm
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Green Machine



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They'll probably charge you for having to look after it for you too.

Sorry to not be more helpful, hopefully someone else can suggest the best tactic to achieve a result. Having lots of dealings with solicitors lately and finding it extremely, extremely trying! It appears the only person who does well out of any situation involving solicitors, is the solicitors. 2005 Td5 | 90 Station Wagon | Tonga Green
Post #834810 2nd Jun 2020 5:39pm
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red zepplin



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Solicitors and prostitutes 1 f@#ks you for money the other f@#ks your money for you WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG
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Post #834837 2nd Jun 2020 8:09pm
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Grenadier



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Send a registered letter asking for it back and the estimated amount you would have made in interest (how ever small) in the meantime. Give them a time limit (from the signature for the registered letter) to pay you. Add that you'll report them to the SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) if they do not do so, and will go to the Small Claims Court to recoup the funds, for which they will be liable to pay full your fees if it is found in your favour. No (normal) solicitor will want their name mentioned to the SRA or dragged through the courts, and certainly not over £500. If that doesn't get your money back, tell them you will write letters to the local paper, Watchdog, Martin Lewis, the local council, the local Citizens Advice Bureau and the local Trading standards.

These are all quick and easy pressure points that take no more than half an hour and cost nothing. Should work. Thumbs Up Monsieur Le Grenadier

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Post #834861 2nd Jun 2020 9:34pm
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jst



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What did they say when you last asked them for it? Cheers

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Post #834866 2nd Jun 2020 9:47pm
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Muddybigdog



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Post #834875 2nd Jun 2020 10:20pm
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
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thanks guys.

I've asked and chased more times than I care to recall. they've said they can't give me the money back until the accounts / service has been finalised. Looking at the service charge and sale of property the service charge runs Apr-Mar. The property completed 15 May - which was another screw up. they some how managed to drag the sale out almost 5 months which when you consider this was a first time buyer sale is in my books a complete screw up in itself.

?
Post #834906 3rd Jun 2020 8:29am
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Tim in Scotland



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Sounds like you might need to refer them to their professional standards body Pangea Green D250 90 HSE with Air Suspension, Off-road Pack, Towing Pack, Black Contrast roof , rear recovery eyes, Front bash plate, Classic flaps all round, extended wheel arch kit and a few bits from PowerfulUK Expel Clear Gloss PPF to come
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Post #834907 3rd Jun 2020 8:39am
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RFT



Member Since: 13 Nov 2010
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Don't waste your time with a referral to their prof body, they are as useless and the property ombudsman.

Contact the management company and get their final statement of account for the period and confirmation that there is no outstanding money owed, then send that to solicitor and demand outstanding money. Remind the solicitor that they are working for you.

I used to be secretary of a small property management company (6 flats) and the stupidity, rudeness and general ineptitude of solicitors beggars belief.

We assesses service charge fee in advance charged quarterly and ran as 'sinking fund' for future maintenance jobs, made agreeing money owed at sale so much easier as money was paid on due date by the flat owner irrespective of the number of days in the quarter the flat was owned. This was clearly laid out for the solicitor upon the first communication and still some solicitors needed it explaining several times over - very much a case of "Hard of Thinking" 130 Puma HCPU with an Artica 240LR Demountable Camper
Post #834936 3rd Jun 2020 11:08am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
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there are some very sweeping generalisation topics on here. I wasn't aware solicitors were hard of thinking for one, not meaning to specifically highlight that thread.

Caterham sounds like you need to take it a stage further if your background information is correct and its not something you agreed to on initial instruction. Cheers

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Post #834992 3rd Jun 2020 3:12pm
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Caterham



Member Since: 06 Nov 2008
Location: Birmingham
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England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey
jst wrote:
What did they say when you last asked them for it?


the solicitor basically said it was more than his job was worth to release the monies.
I guess I need to get on to the management company and find out if accounts have been completed.

looking back there probably an element of really poor timing (which I blame of the solicitor) - if the sale completed mid May and accounts end March then I guess it's still reasonably early days for the accounts to be completed / verified etc Sad

I wrote to solictor this morning asking for monies back before referring to a 3rd party for advice.


thanks guys Thumbs Up
Post #835010 3rd Jun 2020 4:50pm
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
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i would suggest they are legally bound to hold the funds to ensure its cleared from the previous accounting period.

due to the timings for what ever reason they came about means you are waiting a while. Cheers

James
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Post #835125 4th Jun 2020 10:44am
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Huttopia



Member Since: 23 Feb 2016
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RFT wrote:
Don't waste your time with a referral to their prof body, they are as useless and the property ombudsman.

Contact the management company and get their final statement of account for the period and confirmation that there is no outstanding money owed, then send that to solicitor and demand outstanding money. Remind the solicitor that they are working for you.

I used to be secretary of a small property management company (6 flats) and the stupidity, rudeness and general ineptitude of solicitors beggars belief.

We assesses service charge fee in advance charged quarterly and ran as 'sinking fund' for future maintenance jobs, made agreeing money owed at sale so much easier as money was paid on due date by the flat owner irrespective of the number of days in the quarter the flat was owned. This was clearly laid out for the solicitor upon the first communication and still some solicitors needed it explaining several times over - very much a case of "Hard of Thinking"


Cracks me up, I'm pretty sure solicitors would have a similar view of property agents! (I'm not a solicitor btw). It is a stressful transaction and at the point of the pyramid is the solicitor, reliant on a whole host of other parties to do their bit correctly and in a timely manner. In Caterham's case the solicitor is acting responsibly by ensuring there is no liability down the line.
Post #835128 4th Jun 2020 11:15am
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Lodelaner



Member Since: 04 Feb 2010
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jst wrote:
i would suggest they are legally bound to hold the funds to ensure its cleared from the previous accounting period.

due to the timings for what ever reason they came about means you are waiting a while.


This thread has reminded me that I'll be due a refund of over £100 in the next few weeks!

I've just been through a house sale and had the same - the management company needs to produce final accounts for the period in case there have been any increases to the charge or extraordinary expenditure that would have an overlap of liability between me and my buyers.

All pretty normal, mildly annoying and I'll need to chase in the next few weeks once I receive the final accounts. JB

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Post #835145 4th Jun 2020 2:01pm
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